The Carpet Makers
The carpet maker is an award-winning science fiction novel by German author Andreas Eschbach. He was released in 1995, was the first major success of the author and has been translated into French, Italian, Czech, Polish, Spanish and English. Was based on the novel of the same short story that appeared in the literary magazine of fly ash in December 1985; it now forms unchanged the first chapter of the book.
In his novel Quest Eschbach said later with The rediscovery another story from the carpet makers universe, which is located from the carpet makers in time about eight thousand years before the events.
Content
In thousands and thousands of planets in the galaxy in Gheera ruled by Emperor star universe has existed since 80,000 years the highly respected profession of hair carpet maker. The carpet makers produce from the hair of their wives, concubines and daughters hair carpets for the palace of the eleventh Star Emperor. They work their whole lives to a carpet. If they sell it at the end of their lives to the imperial carpet dealer, the family of each single son lives his further life long from the proceeds of this carpet, and the Son in turn linked another carpet for the supply of the next generation.
After thousands of years of manipulation by the priesthood of the people of the carpet makers planet in the star looks Emperor a godlike beings. Speculation or reports of a rebellion are considered heresy and are usually punishable by death.
In fact, this revolution has taken place. With the exception of Berenko Chebar Jubad also the Council of the rebels is not known that the star emperor, tired after 100,000 years, infinite power and infinite life, had 300 years previously sown the seeds of rebellion itself. With the captured rebels Jubad he plans to detail the storm his palace and his own death. By order of the Star Emperor, however, people should never learn of his involvement in the revolt. The human race had to live in the conviction of having gained the victory over the Emperor on their own in order to proudly look in the future.
About 20 years after the star emperor was overthrown, the Council of the rebels stumbles upon the secret of the hair carpets. Since the palace of the emperor star exists not a single carpet, this raises the question of where the carpets disappear
Emparak, the old archivist of the Star Emperor, the young rebel Lamita finally revealed the secret of the hair carpets. The tenth Star Emperor, defeated in spite of or because of its incredible durability with baldness, conquered the galaxy Gheera, because she is there. When you visit Gheerh the Emperor awaited a public gesture of submission of the defeated ruler. Instead humbled Pantap, that was the monarch him with the words: " Your power may be so large that it forces our submission, but it is not large enough to grow hair on your head, bald-headed emperor. "
Pantap was then chained to his throne, and connected to a life support system. Millennia he had to watch as the surface of his home planet systematically destroyed and covered with hair carpets of his subordinates. The galaxy Gheera was redeemed from all star charts and data stores, and the star system Gheerh hidden in an artificial dimension fold - a 80,000 years lasting revenge.
Form / style
The story is told in detail, usually only loosely linked episodes that contribute in varying degrees to reveal the relationships. The stories are influenced by the cut-up technique. It allows the reader to also read the chapter by each other and still always be able to put them into a common context.
As a single text, the stories are primarily distinguished by their high narrative power. Credible, multi-layered characters are a trademark of the author. Eschbach is with this book proves that he can tell sensual strong even without treatment supporting protagonist. In sum, an intense, complex picture of multiple interwoven societies arises.
Awards
Expenditure
Translations
- French: Des milliards de tapis de cheveux. Éditions L' Atalante, 1999, ISBN 2-84172-111-6 ( transferred from Claire Duval ), revision J'ai lu, Paris 2005, ISBN 2-290-33013-2
- Czech: Tkalci gobelinu. Albatros 2001 ( translated by Ondřej Müller)
- Italian: Miliardi tappeti di di capelli. Solaria, Fanucci Editore 2001, ISBN 88-347-1165-3 ( transferred from R. Benatti )
- Polish: Gobeliniarze. Solaris, 2004 ( transfer of Joanna Filipek )
- Spanish: Los de Tejedores cabellos. Bibliopolis, Madrid, 2004. ISBN 9788496173040 ( transfer of José María Faraldo )
- English: The Carpet Makers. Tor Books, 2005, ISBN 0-7653-0593-3 ( transferred from Doryl Jensen )
- Hungarian: Hajszönyegszövök. Metropolis, Budapest, 2009. ISBN 978-963-9828-26-1 ( translated by Csaba Varga )