The Bromeliad

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The Bromeliad Trilogy (also known as in the UK as The Nome Trilogy) is a trilogy of children's books by Terry Pratchett consisting of

  1. Truckers, 1990
  2. Diggers, 1991
  3. Wings, 1991

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 world and, once they learn of their history from an artifact known as "The Thing", make plans to return home.

References in the books suggest that they are set in the same world as Pratchett's Johnny Maxwell novels (19921996), which begin with Only You Can Save Mankind. Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People (1971/1992), is also about a race of tiny people (presumably much, much smaller than Nomes), but they are not Nomes and the book is unconnected to this series.

The title "Bromeliad" was given to the first editions of the books in the UK; subsequent printings do not carry this title, though they have been collected into a single volume titled The Bromeliad Trilogy. In the US the books have always been known as "The Bromeliad Trilogy". Diggers and Wings are both sequels to Truckers, following different characters through (mostly) concurrent events.

A stop motion animated series of Truckers was produced in the United Kingdom by Cosgrove Hall. The entire trilogy is due to be turned into a film by Dreamworks.

The title refers to the fact that some species of small frogs live their entire lives inside Bromeliad plants, a metaphor used in the books to explore some of the series' themes. It is also a pun on The Belgariad, a fantasy series by David Eddings, and The Iliad by Homer.

Central Characters

  • Masklin- The leader of the Outside Nomes, Masklin is brave and adventurous.
  • The Thing- A small, sentient computer. A part of 'The Ship'
  • Grimma- A female counterpart to Masklin, who hates sexism.
  • Gurder- A religious store nome. Later becomes the abbot.
  • Angalo De Habedasheri- Store nome obsessed with the 'Outside'.
  • Dorcas- The most scientific of the nomes. Interested by electricity.
  • Granny Morkie- Elderly outside nome.
  • Arnold Bros. (est 1905)- The 'founder' of the Store and godlike figure to the nomes.

Appearing Only in Truckers

  • [[Old Torrit]- an elderly nome from the Outside.
  • The Abbot- The leader of the Stationeri. Dies of old age in Truckers.
  • The Count de Habedasheri-Angalo's father. The leader of the Habedasheri.
  • Bargains Galore and Prices Slashed

Appearing Only in Diggers

Appearing only in Wings

[edit] Translations

  • Trilogia del Piccolo Popolo (Italian)
    • Il Piccolo Popolo dei grandi magazzini
    • Il Piccolo Popolo all'aria aperta
    • Il Piccolo Popolo decolla
  • Le Grand Livre des gnomes (French)
    • Les Camionneurs
    • Les Terrassiers
    • Les Aéronautes
  • Die Schlacht der Nomen (German)
    • Trucker
    • Wühler
    • Flügel
  • Trylogia Nomów (Polish)
    • Nomów księga wyjścia
    • Nomów księga kopania
    • Nomów księga odlotu
  • Noumi (Serbian)
    • Kamionci
    • Buldožerci
    • Krilci
  • El éxodo de los Gnomos (Spanish)
    • Camioneros
    • Cavadores
    • La Nave
  • Resan Hem (Swedish)
    • Vi far
    • Vi flyr
    • Vi flyger
  • Onttujen kirjat (Finnish)
    • Suuri ajomatka
    • (not known yet)
    • (not known yet)
  • Manák trilógiája (Hungarian)
    • Sofőrök
    • Földvájók
    • Szárnyalók
  • Трилогия за Номите (Bulgarian)
    • Масклин
    • Грима и Доркас
    • Крилете на Масклин
  • Τα ανόντα(Ελληνικά)
    • Φορτηγατζήδες πάνω στη γη
    • Σκαπανείς κάτω από τη γη
    • Φτερά και πούπουλα στον αέρα
In other languages