I was reading Guards! Guards! and realised that Carrot's odd name was not to do with his hair colour, but to do with his shape. So this seems to be a nickname (or a name given to him by his adoptive parents). But as he was adopted, he must have a real name. Is there any indication in any of the books as to what this is?
I think that has always remained obscure... The first name his adoptive parents gave him would be interesting enough - after all, no one starts out carrot shaped, do they? It can't have been what they called him first.
With Carrot's first appearance he is referred to as Carrot Ironfoundersson. His dwarf name is Kzad-bhat which is roughly translated as Head Banger. Probably an apt description considering his height when walking through the mine tunnels.
As Hsing said, he was probably not really tall or banging his head as a baby... EDIT: Originally said it was Buzzfloyd...
:question: Be prepared not to be surprised Buzzfloyd. From 'Guards! Guards!'... 'It is because of his shape. It is the kind of tapering shape a boy gets through clean living, healthy eating, and good mountain air in huge lungfuls. When he flexes his shoulder muscles, other muscles have to move out of the way first.' It seems all the information Terry thinks is necessary is that brief introduction. So Carrot has been called Carrot since he was a boy, at which time he would have been taller than his adopted parents in any case. Would it help to imagine him being called Aloicious Gulper the orphaned son of Matilda and Theodore Gulper, a journeyman tripe stippler from Bad Ass? Sort of loses its appeal that way.
Try drinking a full bottle of vodka before going to bed and start reading as soon as you wake up - you'll re-create the experience without any trouble.
One of the best, though not necessarily the funniest. I think the books get less funny as they go on in the series, but are better for it.
I think that some of the things that happen in Carpe Jugulum are truly hilarious but there is quite a bit of seriousness too, sort of like the graveyard scene in Hamlet. It is a truly satisfying read.
I think the jokes become more subtle as the series continues. One of my favourite episodes comes from 'The Truth'. pTerry has taken several pages to set up the fact that the vampire, Otto, is using Uberwaldian land eels to store dark light for his iconograph experiments; something that does not immediately catch your attention. It's only when you reach the argument much later in the book between William and Goodmountain you get to the punchline... ''I didn't think dwarfs were religious,' said William. 'We're not,' said Goodmountain. 'But we know unholy when we see it, and I'm looking at it right now, I'm telling you. I don't want any more of these, these . . . prints of darkness!' Dracula films were always a favourite with me, so why didn't I see that coming? There are also more adult subtleties making the odd appearance. (Same book) the exchange between Foul Ole Ron and William concerning the slice of lemon in his tea. If you don't get it - don't ask!
... I often don't because I am busy enough translating as it is. And reading the German version wouldn't help because obviously, some subtleties -especially puns like these - get lost I translation. I'm feeling like re-reading and I am going to ask a lot of stupid language related questions, but with such things - I would have just read over it.