cover image Diggers

Diggers

Terry Pratchett. Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, $14.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-385-30152-7

The Bromeliad trilogy, begun in Truckers , continues with this slapstick romp laced with some sharp, satirical barbs. Diggers again features the nomes, little people from outer space who have set up housekeeping in an abandoned quarry. But, as nomes often comment, wherever humans have been, they're sure to return, and the quarry is no exception. Soon the nomes are once again scrambling for safety, with hilarious results. While those familiar with Truckers are sure to have a ball with Diggers, the action will make no sense to the uninitiated. Pratchett may have bitten off more subplots than he can chew here, but he promises to resolve them--including the cliffhanger that ends this volume, in the final installment of the serial. Ages 10-up. (Feb.)