Arlan is a boy who quickly finds friends in a new land, but sadly later realises that he is not welcome with the authorities because he can t remember his name. He is being persecuted by Inspectors and forced to go on the run. He has Iso to help him on his journey and together they overcome many obstacles in this strange and most of all foreign land. Some things exist but are hidden to the eyes or perhaps we just pretend they re not there. This is the spirit the story employs to recount the boy's adventures, which reflect current social issues and speak to the diktat of ownership, obsolete logic of money and social consensus on the value of people (two coins and a chip). The author also artfully takes on the question of religion and its role in searching for a new place in society (Plaster as Jesus Christ). The central theme of this unique book remains much more intimate, as it talks about friendship and love, it discloses completely unnecessary and redundant conflicts (mites and residents of the Land Under the Carpet).

Two sisters serve as an example of the role looks and vanity play, they reveal the game of fate, where small differences in character or actions can lead to unimaginable extremes (what would have happened if Hitler had been accepted to the academy of fine art, if Bijou s sister had not lost her ruby). The reader senses that Bijou and Sorellina are essentially the same character, the duality present in every one of us but which cannot exist in the world of fairy tales as it breaks down stereotypes who is defeated in the end, one of the sisters or the sinister side of the same person? The story opens our eyes to the way individual choices are projected to the collective, makes us realise the precious awareness of living in a connected world, of being co-dependent and in need of harmony. Another thing to note is the author s acceptance of progress and technology. A good example of this is the mirror which appears in the Land Under the Carpet. This novelty is too different, not everyone can handle it and some even get lost in it. Most of all, Arlan Under the Carpet brings new perspectives, original and unpredictable adventures and, of course, many reading pleasures.