The Nome Trilogy (1996)

The Nome Trilogy, also known as The Bromeliad, is a trilogy of children's books by British writer Terry Pratchett, consisting of the books Truckers (1989), Diggers (1990) and Wings (1990). The trilogy tells the story of the Nomes, a race of tiny people from another world who now live hidden among humans. Through the books they struggle to survive in the human world and, once they learn of their history from an artefact known as "The Thing", make plans to return home.

Diggers and Wings are contemporaneous sequels to Truckers, as each book follows different characters through mostly concurrent events. Masklin is the central character throughout Truckers and Wings, while both Dorcas and Grimma serve as central characters in Diggers.

Themes

Pratchett covered the idea of small people in some of his early writing, including his unconnected first novel, The Carpet People (1971/1992), about the tiny inhabitants of a household carpet, even smaller than Nomes. In 1973 Pratchett wrote "Rincemangle, the Gnome of Even Moor", one of many serialised children's stories for the Bucks Free Press, in his own words "an earlier and shorter version of what became Truckers".

The main theme in the trilogy is the struggle of challenging society's accepted beliefs in the face of new information. This theme recurs through the books and includes changes in the scientific establishment, political establishment, religious beliefs, accepted history and family values of the Nomes.

"The Bromeliad" was used as the title for the collected trilogy in the US, as well as some UK editions. It refers to the story told by Grimma in Diggers that some species of small frogs live their entire lives inside the flowers of epiphytic bromeliad plants, which is a metaphor used for the Nomes' experience throughout the books. The frogs themselves appear in Wings. The name is also a pun on Iliad and, according to the Annotated Pratchett File, The Belgariad.

Continuity

References in the books - primarily that they are both set in the fictional town of Blackbury - suggest that they are set in the same world as Pratchett's Johnny Maxwell novels (1992–1996), which begin with Only You Can Save Mankind.

After being asked if he would write about the Nomes' return (as implied at the end of Wings), Pratchett replied that there could be another book about the Nomes. No such book had been announced as of his death.

US version

Unusually for Pratchett's work, the books were localised. One notable difference between the US and UK versions is the earth-moving machine in Diggers, which is called "Jekub" (from JCB) in the UK version, "CAT" in some US editions and "Big John" in others. All three names refer to common generic trademarks for heavy equipment in their respective countries.

Plot synopses

Truckers (1989)

Masklin, a 4-inch high Nome, lives in a grass verge by a motorway service station with his friend Grimma and the remaining elders of their once-large tribe, which has been dwindling due to food shortage and predation by foxes, while several Nomes have headed across the motorway. The other younger members of the tribe departed some time before to find a new place to live, but never returned after crossing the motorway, where they were inevitably killed by cars or lorries. Masklin, finding it increasingly difficult to find food for the group, formulates a plan to escape on a truck from the nearby service station, the final straw being when a fox runs into the path of a lorry after attacking two elder Nomes called Mr Mert and Mrs Coom, killing them both. The Elders, led by Granny Morkie and Old Torrit, initially oppose the move but finally agree, bringing with them 'The Thing', a small black cube that has been the tribe's symbol of authority for as long as anyone can remember.

The truck finally delivers them to the loading bay of Arnold Bros department store, where they are greeted by Angalo De Haberdasheri, an 'Inside' Nome. Angalo introduces the 'Outsiders' to his father Duke Cido de Haberdasheri, leader of the Haberdasheri clan, where they learn that most 'Inside' Nomes do not believe that 'Outside' exists, being contrary to the religion of Arnold Bros (est 1905), which states that 'The Store' contains 'All Things Under One Roof'.

Ejected from the Duke's presence, the Outsiders wander the underfloor corridors until 'The Thing' is accidentally dropped next to an electrical cable, where it starts to recharge itself. 'The Thing' then powers up and identifies itself as the navigational computer of the Galactic Survey Starship 'Swan'; the ship developed an engine fault many thousands of years ago, and marooned its Nome crew on Earth. When it asks its primary mission, Masklin tells it to keep the Nomes safe and get them home.

After the Thing picks up radio signals, indicating Arnold Bros is to be demolished, Masklin tries to persuade the 'Insiders' to evacuate. Only when the old Stationeri Abbot (who dies shortly afterwards) is convinced by the Thing, do they finally win the confidence of the Store Nomes. Taking command of the evacuation and guided by The Thing, Masklin, Grimma and a selected group of Nomes learn how to operate a truck using string and wood levers to operate the controls, then lead the Nomes to the loading bay and steal a truck filled with supplies. Arriving at an abandoned quarry, the Nomes begin a new life outside, while Masklin watches the planes at the local airport and plans the next step on their journey home.