Comet in Moominland

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Comet in Moominland
Author Tove Jansson
Original title Kometjakten
Translator Thomas Warburton
Country Finland
Language Swedish
Series Moomins
Genre(s) Children's novel
Publication date 1946
ISBN ISBN 0140302867 (English)
Preceded by The Moomins and the Great Flood
Followed by Finn Family Moomintroll

Comet In Moominland (Swedish title Kometjakten / Mumintrollet på kometjakt / Kometen kommer) is the second (or first according to some views) in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomins books, published in 1946.

An earlier story The Moomins and the Great Flood exists, but Comet in Moominland is sometimes accepted to be the first novel in the series as it introduces many of the main characters, like Snufkin and the Snork Maiden, and is set in Moominvalley.

It was later made into an animated Japanese movie, Tanoshii Moomin Ikka: Muumindani no Suisei .

The English language book is a translation of the first version of Jansson's book, which she was later to revise, which was published in 1968. It contains a number of minor differences; for instance, in the newer version, the Silk Monkey was changed to a kitten.

[edit] Plot summary

Moomintroll and his friend Sniff go into the forest and find a mysterious path. They follow it and meet the Muskrat and the Silk Monkey.

They go pearl fishing, and then discover a cave. However, they get scared when they see a comet in the sky above Moominvalley, which the Muskrat tells them may well destroy the valley.

So they set off in a boat to the Observatory in the Lonely Mountains to ask the Professor if the comet will destroy the Earth.

At first they get attacked by crocodiles who eat their trousers. They then meet Snufkin, who joins them, and Sniff has a run in with a giant lizard after he tries to steal its shiny pebbles.

The boat gets stuck in a cave and they almost fall into a dark hole when they are rescued by a Hemulen. They find the observatory, and the scientists tell them the exact time that the comet will arrive.

Moomintroll saves the Snork Maiden from a deadly bush, and she and her brother Snork join them on their way back to Moominvalley.

On the way they pop into the village store and buy each other gifts, and then attend a party in the forest. The heat from the comet has dried up the sea, and the group has to cross it on stilts.

On the way they meet the Hemulen again, who follows them home. At home, they find that Moominmamma has baked a welcome home cake, and they all flee to a cave, along with the Muskrat, Silk Monkey, and the Hemulen.

However, the comet passes by and doesn't hit the valley. The friends rejoice.

[edit] External links

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