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Discworld #15
Въоръжени мъже
„Стани МЪЖ в Градската стража! Стражата се нуждае от МЪЖЕ!“
Само че тя се състои от ефрейтор Керът (технически смятан за джудже), редови стражник Къди (истинско джудже), редови стражник Детритус (трол), редови стражник Ангуа (жена... през повечето време) и ефрейтор Нобс (дисквалифициран от човешката раса за нечестно промъкване в нея).
Само че тя се състои от ефрейтор Керът (технически смятан за джудже), редови стражник Къди (истинско джудже), редови стражник Детритус (трол), редови стражник Ангуа (жена... през повечето време) и ефрейтор Нобс (дисквалифициран от човешката раса за нечестно промъкване в нея).
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Terry Pratchett
498 books43k followersBorn Terence David John Pratchett, Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe.
Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987, he turned to writing full time.
There are over 40 books in the Discworld series, of which four are written for children. The first of these, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal.
A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback - Harper Torch, 2006 - and trade paperback - Harper Paperbacks, 2006).
In 2008, Harper Children's published Terry's standalone non-Discworld YA novel, Nation. Terry published Snuff in October 2011.
Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received honorary doctorates from the University of Warwick in 1999, the University of Portsmouth in 2001, the University of Bath in 2003, the University of Bristol in 2004, Buckinghamshire New University in 2008, the University of Dublin in 2008, Bradford University in 2009, the University of Winchester in 2009, and The Open University in 2013 for his contribution to Public Service.
In Dec. of 2007, Pratchett disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On 18 Feb, 2009, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
Sir Terry Pratchett passed away on 12th March 2015.
Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987, he turned to writing full time.
There are over 40 books in the Discworld series, of which four are written for children. The first of these, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal.
A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback - Harper Torch, 2006 - and trade paperback - Harper Paperbacks, 2006).
In 2008, Harper Children's published Terry's standalone non-Discworld YA novel, Nation. Terry published Snuff in October 2011.
Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received honorary doctorates from the University of Warwick in 1999, the University of Portsmouth in 2001, the University of Bath in 2003, the University of Bristol in 2004, Buckinghamshire New University in 2008, the University of Dublin in 2008, Bradford University in 2009, the University of Winchester in 2009, and The Open University in 2013 for his contribution to Public Service.
In Dec. of 2007, Pratchett disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On 18 Feb, 2009, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
Sir Terry Pratchett passed away on 12th March 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,083 reviews
September 8, 2013
“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”
Things like this aren't the only reason I love Terry Pratchett, but they're one of the main reasons.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”
Things like this aren't the only reason I love Terry Pratchett, but they're one of the main reasons.
Read
June 24, 2014(This review is from 2006.)
All right, the short of it is I really liked the book. The long of it is, I’m very annoyed at Terry.
Those of you who have been following things here know that I just sold the Alcatraz books to Scholastic. They’re essentially humorous fantasy—evil librarians running the world and all that. I wrote them because I was a little frustrated at the market. I could find funny books (Snicket) and I could find books with good worldbuilding (Pullman) and I could find books with clever pacing and plotting (Rowling).
What I couldn’t find was a series that had both amusing text AND engaging characters. They all seemed to sacrifice one for the other—which is fine. After all, Douglas Adams didn’t give much of a hoot for compelling characters, and look where he went. Still, I wanted something with both. And, as it turns out, I happen to write books for a living. Hence, the ALCATRAZ books were born.
Turns out that Terry has been doing this for years. At least, he has been if Men at Arms is a good example. (Note—I realized all of my examples above were YA, and this is adult, but if you can’t make a forced metaphor once in a while, then what’s the good of having a literary license in the first place?)
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the book—perhaps as much as everyone told me that I would. Now, my Pratchett experience is limited. I tried The Color of Magic when I was younger (I’ve since learned that it is a poor representation of the series) and have read Good Omens (which was brilliant, and which ultimately led me to give Discworld another go.)
I guess the reason I liked Men at Arms was that balance. It was funny—and not in a cheap way either. It was funny in a clever, scholarly, satire sort of way, with an occasional bad pun or lowbrow shot to keep you on your toes. But, somehow, Pratchett still managed to make me care a great deal about his characters. (Thereby stealing my great, wonderfully original idea for the ALCATRAZ books—that of giving people character arcs.)
How well Terry did this is still a little dumbfounding to me. All of his characters seemed pretty single-sided at the beginning. And, they didn’t really get that much deeper as the story progressed. Yet, they became irresistible.
Good tension in books is based, in my opinion, on making the reader care about the characters. Any book will feel fast paced if the characters are in danger. And, Terry is obviously a very good craftsman, with excellent pacing beyond his character drama.
So, anyway, it’s a fine book. If you, like me, have been living in a hole and ignoring Pratchett, then this is a good one with which to start.
All right, the short of it is I really liked the book. The long of it is, I’m very annoyed at Terry.
Those of you who have been following things here know that I just sold the Alcatraz books to Scholastic. They’re essentially humorous fantasy—evil librarians running the world and all that. I wrote them because I was a little frustrated at the market. I could find funny books (Snicket) and I could find books with good worldbuilding (Pullman) and I could find books with clever pacing and plotting (Rowling).
What I couldn’t find was a series that had both amusing text AND engaging characters. They all seemed to sacrifice one for the other—which is fine. After all, Douglas Adams didn’t give much of a hoot for compelling characters, and look where he went. Still, I wanted something with both. And, as it turns out, I happen to write books for a living. Hence, the ALCATRAZ books were born.
Turns out that Terry has been doing this for years. At least, he has been if Men at Arms is a good example. (Note—I realized all of my examples above were YA, and this is adult, but if you can’t make a forced metaphor once in a while, then what’s the good of having a literary license in the first place?)
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the book—perhaps as much as everyone told me that I would. Now, my Pratchett experience is limited. I tried The Color of Magic when I was younger (I’ve since learned that it is a poor representation of the series) and have read Good Omens (which was brilliant, and which ultimately led me to give Discworld another go.)
I guess the reason I liked Men at Arms was that balance. It was funny—and not in a cheap way either. It was funny in a clever, scholarly, satire sort of way, with an occasional bad pun or lowbrow shot to keep you on your toes. But, somehow, Pratchett still managed to make me care a great deal about his characters. (Thereby stealing my great, wonderfully original idea for the ALCATRAZ books—that of giving people character arcs.)
How well Terry did this is still a little dumbfounding to me. All of his characters seemed pretty single-sided at the beginning. And, they didn’t really get that much deeper as the story progressed. Yet, they became irresistible.
Good tension in books is based, in my opinion, on making the reader care about the characters. Any book will feel fast paced if the characters are in danger. And, Terry is obviously a very good craftsman, with excellent pacing beyond his character drama.
So, anyway, it’s a fine book. If you, like me, have been living in a hole and ignoring Pratchett, then this is a good one with which to start.
October 19, 2015
This is the second book in the City Watch storyline in the Discworld novels. And I have to say, it's probably twice as good as Guards Guards.
All the characters are more fully realized and more compelling. What's more, it's obvious to me reading now that Pratchett has multi-book plans for the central characters: Carrot, Vimes, and Angua.
Detrius also has a pretty strong secondary arc in this one, and we see the begining of some of Pratchett's Troll Vs. Dwarf discussions that come to beautiful fruition in Thud.
Carrot still a focal character here, and he's interesting, charming, all that. But Vimes is consistently stealing the show. He's the Batman to Carrot's Superman.
Given that comparison, it's not surprising that Vimes keeps our attention more. Perfect characters just aren't compelling in the same way.
Part of me wishes that Angua's character and plot was bigger. But that's just fiddling and griping. Not every book can have everything. And this book has so much more than most.
Excellent read, absolutely worth your time.
All the characters are more fully realized and more compelling. What's more, it's obvious to me reading now that Pratchett has multi-book plans for the central characters: Carrot, Vimes, and Angua.
Detrius also has a pretty strong secondary arc in this one, and we see the begining of some of Pratchett's Troll Vs. Dwarf discussions that come to beautiful fruition in Thud.
Carrot still a focal character here, and he's interesting, charming, all that. But Vimes is consistently stealing the show. He's the Batman to Carrot's Superman.
Given that comparison, it's not surprising that Vimes keeps our attention more. Perfect characters just aren't compelling in the same way.
Part of me wishes that Angua's character and plot was bigger. But that's just fiddling and griping. Not every book can have everything. And this book has so much more than most.
Excellent read, absolutely worth your time.
August 16, 2020
Quota policy, by integrating minorities in the already chaotic and dysfunctional City Watch, while a military arms race and intrigues are boiling.
Prejudices and racism are some of the main tropes behind the curtain and this often used elements come to ingenious culminations with the integration of alternative fighters from contrasting fantasy folks. Using the different magic abilities, weaknesses, and natural hereditary enmities as metaphors, the City Watch turns into a multicultural melting pot of ideas, stereotypes, and vendettas.
I am not sure how many dark fantasy comedy detective novels could be seen as heirs of this idea of investigating trolls, werewolves, vampires, zombies, whatevers,…, but the potential of using the magic abilities for finding the nasty criminals has great potential, as it unites plot, character, and ability and enables manifold expansion options. As far as I know, Butcher did it best with his close to legendary Dresden Files series and I am too lazy to remember and name similar authors.
These two elements, open and hidden racism, the different abilities, secret superweapons, another evil force in the background next to Vetinari and, jay, a wedding, how romantic, make it one of Pratchett's best works. He is now at the peak of his craft, took some books to really get started and become more professional, and will, from the novels of this middle, golden age period on be one of the best, or even the best, humoristic author. Until he turns so dark that I still remember some of the extremely depressing and sad scenes he used in his later work.
Carrot is big in this, his subtle, Vetinari style cool badassness is urgently needed to handle the situation. I didn´t look enough for the innuendos and connotations surrounding Carrot´s secret and how it plays with the philosophy of good leadership and responsibility, I have to take a more detailed glimpse at it in the big reread.
I also don´t remember enough about the implications, innuendos, and gags regarding militarization and how new technology can be used, abused, and misused and how Pratchett instrumentalized one of the most defining elements of human history to satirize greed and misled patriotism. Technologies and ideologies and their influence on more or less primitive societies are an often seen element of his work, something reality should possibly cut a slice off from, because these two little critters are often underestimated, or simply overseen, harbingers of prosperity or doom.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
Prejudices and racism are some of the main tropes behind the curtain and this often used elements come to ingenious culminations with the integration of alternative fighters from contrasting fantasy folks. Using the different magic abilities, weaknesses, and natural hereditary enmities as metaphors, the City Watch turns into a multicultural melting pot of ideas, stereotypes, and vendettas.
I am not sure how many dark fantasy comedy detective novels could be seen as heirs of this idea of investigating trolls, werewolves, vampires, zombies, whatevers,…, but the potential of using the magic abilities for finding the nasty criminals has great potential, as it unites plot, character, and ability and enables manifold expansion options. As far as I know, Butcher did it best with his close to legendary Dresden Files series and I am too lazy to remember and name similar authors.
These two elements, open and hidden racism, the different abilities, secret superweapons, another evil force in the background next to Vetinari and, jay, a wedding, how romantic, make it one of Pratchett's best works. He is now at the peak of his craft, took some books to really get started and become more professional, and will, from the novels of this middle, golden age period on be one of the best, or even the best, humoristic author. Until he turns so dark that I still remember some of the extremely depressing and sad scenes he used in his later work.
Carrot is big in this, his subtle, Vetinari style cool badassness is urgently needed to handle the situation. I didn´t look enough for the innuendos and connotations surrounding Carrot´s secret and how it plays with the philosophy of good leadership and responsibility, I have to take a more detailed glimpse at it in the big reread.
I also don´t remember enough about the implications, innuendos, and gags regarding militarization and how new technology can be used, abused, and misused and how Pratchett instrumentalized one of the most defining elements of human history to satirize greed and misled patriotism. Technologies and ideologies and their influence on more or less primitive societies are an often seen element of his work, something reality should possibly cut a slice off from, because these two little critters are often underestimated, or simply overseen, harbingers of prosperity or doom.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
April 26, 2022
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
In the running for the funniest book of all time
Fans of fantasy or just fans of laughing need to stop what they are doing and read both this book, and it's predecessor Guards! Guards!. I can't remember ever reading books before that have not only made me have a fixed smile the whole time while reading, but also legitimately laughing out loud many times. Usually funny books make me give light chuckles, but I was nearly in tears multiple times to the point that my wife wondered if I was going to be okay.
Pratchett's stories are almost always "good to great", but he really shines with his character dialogue. There is a whole host of new characters added to the main cast in this book, and they are wonderful additions that play off each other so, so well. The watch has to recruit more members as part of an affirmative action initiative, so they bring in a dwarf, a troll, and a werewolf. But one of the main characters doesn't know the werewolf is a werewolf and thinks they have been recruited due to being a female.
Discworld is an amazing series, but the books can be pretty hit or miss, not only the books themselves but the sub-series that they are contained within. There is a lot of disagreement between Discworld fans on which series is the best, but by far the largest opinion is that the City Watch novels are by far the best (which is what this book is). If you haven't read Discworld before, do yourself a favor and start with this branch of books to really get the hooks into you.
In the running for the funniest book of all time
Fans of fantasy or just fans of laughing need to stop what they are doing and read both this book, and it's predecessor Guards! Guards!. I can't remember ever reading books before that have not only made me have a fixed smile the whole time while reading, but also legitimately laughing out loud many times. Usually funny books make me give light chuckles, but I was nearly in tears multiple times to the point that my wife wondered if I was going to be okay.
Pratchett's stories are almost always "good to great", but he really shines with his character dialogue. There is a whole host of new characters added to the main cast in this book, and they are wonderful additions that play off each other so, so well. The watch has to recruit more members as part of an affirmative action initiative, so they bring in a dwarf, a troll, and a werewolf. But one of the main characters doesn't know the werewolf is a werewolf and thinks they have been recruited due to being a female.
Discworld is an amazing series, but the books can be pretty hit or miss, not only the books themselves but the sub-series that they are contained within. There is a lot of disagreement between Discworld fans on which series is the best, but by far the largest opinion is that the City Watch novels are by far the best (which is what this book is). If you haven't read Discworld before, do yourself a favor and start with this branch of books to really get the hooks into you.
October 27, 2020
In the last few weeks the world has not been my friend, among some health issues and a recent string of mediocre books. In times like these, Terry Pratchett is a wonderful antidote to the world’s unpleasantness.
So a fair warning: this review will be yet another love letter to Discworld and his creator Sir Terry Pratchett. There my be some fangirl gushing. Read at your own risk.
————
To me, Men at Arms has always been a bit different from your usual Pratchett’s City Watch books. You see, as Ankh-Morkpork City Watch subcycle progresses, from Guards! Guards! to Snuff, the spotlight gets focused more and more on Sam Vimes, the Watch Commander and a noble by marriage, coming from humble beginnings and (often literally) the gutter, the sarcastic and gruff and unfailingly just, with all illusions about the world stripped away by life, leaving deep cynicism and excellent understanding of the small unpleasantnesses that drive human nature. But Men at Arms, the second in the Watch series, is a bit different from the rest. It’s not much of a Vimes book. No, it’s Captain Carrot’s book, his moment in the sun.
When we met Carrot in Guards! Guards!, he was naive and simple. A six-foot-tall dwarf (he’s adopted) and - as everyone knows but mostly does not say - a true heir to the ancient throne of Ankh-Morpork, he came to the Watch as a very young and astonishingly naive recruit, believing in life by the rules, with very strong sense of right and wrong and justice, with ample charisma that further underscored his apparent simplicity. But it was then. Now, in Men at Arms, Carrot gets his moment, his chance to show why, along with Vimes, he is the heart and soul of the Watch. This is Pratchett’s apology to Carrot for making him a bit of a buffoon in the previous story.
His wide-eyed simplicity turns out to have layers and a few unexpectedly sharp corners.
Enter Carrot Ironfoundersson, a six-foot dwarf and a rightful (although mostly secret) heir to the throne, with his charisma and lack of sarcasm or subtlety, and overwhelming sincerity, and an undeniable attraction to Corporal Angua, a new recruit who is a woman AND a werewolf (a vegetarian who works very hard to not become, well, a humanitarian).
And far from being silly, Carrot’s strict moral code and a sharp unyielding sense of justice are impossible not to admire. It’s him after all who utters one of the most profound statements that should - but sadly don’t - underscore how one should live life:
And of course I love it. Every sentence and every word.
For a rather short and humorously satirical book, this one in Pratchett’s trademark manner delves into pretty deep subject matters (responsibility, discrimination, ethnic tensions, gun control, just to name a few), peeks into the unpleasant recesses of human (or humanoid) soul, and while holding a mirror to the unsettling bits of ourselves still manages easily and seemingly effortlessly to shine with hope and kindness and sarcasm-tinged deep understanding of humanity. That’s quintessential Terry Pratchett for you.
And of course, as always, he underscores the power and the need to think for yourself instead of blindly following the mob, or a charismatic leader.
Needless to say, I love the wit and humor of this book. The puns, the humorous footnotes, the jokes - when Pratchett’s writing is involved I never find them overused or tiresome.
Unquestionable 5 stars. My hope in this world is partially restored.
————
My ever-expanding collection of Pratchett’s Discworld reviews:
- Guards! Guards!
- Men at Arms
- Thud!
- Lords and Ladies
- The Wee Free Men
- Hogfather
- Monstrous Regiment
So a fair warning: this review will be yet another love letter to Discworld and his creator Sir Terry Pratchett. There my be some fangirl gushing. Read at your own risk.
————
To me, Men at Arms has always been a bit different from your usual Pratchett’s City Watch books. You see, as Ankh-Morkpork City Watch subcycle progresses, from Guards! Guards! to Snuff, the spotlight gets focused more and more on Sam Vimes, the Watch Commander and a noble by marriage, coming from humble beginnings and (often literally) the gutter, the sarcastic and gruff and unfailingly just, with all illusions about the world stripped away by life, leaving deep cynicism and excellent understanding of the small unpleasantnesses that drive human nature. But Men at Arms, the second in the Watch series, is a bit different from the rest. It’s not much of a Vimes book. No, it’s Captain Carrot’s book, his moment in the sun.
“Sometimes it’s better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.”
When we met Carrot in Guards! Guards!, he was naive and simple. A six-foot-tall dwarf (he’s adopted) and - as everyone knows but mostly does not say - a true heir to the ancient throne of Ankh-Morpork, he came to the Watch as a very young and astonishingly naive recruit, believing in life by the rules, with very strong sense of right and wrong and justice, with ample charisma that further underscored his apparent simplicity. But it was then. Now, in Men at Arms, Carrot gets his moment, his chance to show why, along with Vimes, he is the heart and soul of the Watch. This is Pratchett’s apology to Carrot for making him a bit of a buffoon in the previous story.
His wide-eyed simplicity turns out to have layers and a few unexpectedly sharp corners.
“Colon thought Carrot was simple. Carrot often struck people as simple. And he was.
Where people went wrong was thinking that simple meant the same thing as stupid.”
Sam Vimes is set to leave the Watch after his impending nuptials to Lady Sybil Ramkin, the noblest and richest woman in Ankh-Morpork (“The Ramkins were more highly bred than a hilltop bakery, whereas Corporal Nobbs had been disqualified from the human race for shoving.”). All while the Watch expands and diversifies - now they employ a troll, a dwarf, and a w- .... ummm, let’s just say a woman - while a string of suspicious murders with a strange new weapon eventually known as a gonne occur - and ethnic tensions between dwarfs and trolls intensify, including in the Watch, and someone needs to sort it all out.
“Murder was in fact a fairly uncommon event in Ankh-Morpork, but there were a lot of suicides. Walking in the night-time alleyways of The Shades was suicide. Asking for a short in a dwarf bar was suicide. Saying 'Got rocks in your head?' to a troll was suicide. You could commit suicide very easily, if you weren't careful.”
Enter Carrot Ironfoundersson, a six-foot dwarf and a rightful (although mostly secret) heir to the throne, with his charisma and lack of sarcasm or subtlety, and overwhelming sincerity, and an undeniable attraction to Corporal Angua, a new recruit who is a woman AND a werewolf (a vegetarian who works very hard to not become, well, a humanitarian).
And far from being silly, Carrot’s strict moral code and a sharp unyielding sense of justice are impossible not to admire. It’s him after all who utters one of the most profound statements that should - but sadly don’t - underscore how one should live life:
“Personal isn't the same as important.”
And of course I love it. Every sentence and every word.
For a rather short and humorously satirical book, this one in Pratchett’s trademark manner delves into pretty deep subject matters (responsibility, discrimination, ethnic tensions, gun control, just to name a few), peeks into the unpleasant recesses of human (or humanoid) soul, and while holding a mirror to the unsettling bits of ourselves still manages easily and seemingly effortlessly to shine with hope and kindness and sarcasm-tinged deep understanding of humanity. That’s quintessential Terry Pratchett for you.
“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. This was the Captain Samuel Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”
One of the absolute highlights of this book is a slow budding friendship between the traditionally sworn enemies, a dwarf (Cuddy) and a troll (Detritus). It’s interesting to see the slowly unraveling of ingrained stereotypes, the tentative building of trust and respect, the learning to look beyond the superficial - appearance, ethnicity - and discard the focus on differences and instead see and understand the individual underneath it all - a friend, a colleague, a *person*. Pratchett is amazing and making you see the bigger whole instead of smaller insignificant parts, and I absolutely love it.
And of course, as always, he underscores the power and the need to think for yourself instead of blindly following the mob, or a charismatic leader.
“People ought to think for themselves, Captain Vimes says. The problem is, people only think for themselves if you tell them to.”
Needless to say, I love the wit and humor of this book. The puns, the humorous footnotes, the jokes - when Pratchett’s writing is involved I never find them overused or tiresome.
“Besides, when you hit your thumb with an eight-pound hammer it’s nice to be able to blaspheme. It takes a very special and strong-minded kind of atheist to jump up and down with their hand clasped under their other armpit and shout, “Oh, random fluctuations-in-the-space-time-contiuum!” or “Aaargh, primitive-and-outmoded-concept on a crutch!”
Unquestionable 5 stars. My hope in this world is partially restored.
————
My ever-expanding collection of Pratchett’s Discworld reviews:
- Guards! Guards!
- Men at Arms
- Thud!
- Lords and Ladies
- The Wee Free Men
- Hogfather
- Monstrous Regiment
August 13, 2021
*** 2021 reread -
This is one of the best Discworld books, not just for the writing and plot, which are as usual excellent, but for the scope of Pratchett's vision and for the depth and complexity of his satire.
The heavily satirical themes are no doubt what led me to make the comparison with Vonnegut four years ago in my review below, and it had the same playfully acerbic wit as the famous Hoosier writer, but this is so much more.
While Samuel Vimes is and remains a great Discworld character, I paid closer attention to other members of the watch like Carrot, Angua, Detritus, Nobby and the late lance constable Cuddy. Carrot's role as supposed long lost heir to the Ankh throne is especially noteworthy and Pratchett's description of Carrot as a natural leader was inspired - the scene at the end between Carrot and the Patrician was golden.
Also noteworthy was the personification of the "gonne" and Pratchett's satirical voice was in full form here as the sociological and political undertones are apparent, but he's never so heavy handed as to preach, he was too good for that.
**********
Was Terry Pratchett the English Kurt Vonnegut?
Here is another example of playful satire that thinly hides a stinging social and cultural admonishment. In his 1993 Discworld novel Men at Arms (the 15th Discworld adventure and the second to feature Sam Vimes and his City Watch crew) Sir Terry tackles such heavy subjects as racism, sexism, political correctness, class distinctions and the inhumanity of marshal technology but in a decidedly not-too-heavy format; impishly mocking what needs mocking and throwing down not the gauntlet but instead the soft mitten.
Discworld fans will love to see the return of the City Watch along with a deterministically diverse set of new recruits, demonstrating Ankh-Morpork’s commitment to employment equality. In Ankh-Morpork, a multi-cultural, pluralistic, metropolitan city if ever there was one, humans live together with trolls, dwarfs and any number of other kinds of folk and Pratchett waxes poetic about the strengths of diversity but at the barstool rather than the pulpit.
We also get to know The Patrician better and really a winning element of this book is Pratchett’s mature and qualitative characterization. We knew these players before, but in these pages, Pratchett provides more illuminating introductions – like getting to know acquaintances and becoming better friends.
Discworld seems to be to Pratchett what Mars was to Bradbury: his vehicle for metaphor and allegory, the canvas for his brush, the macaroni to his cheese. In Men at Arms, like so many of these enjoyable Discworld escapades, what goes on atop Great A’Tuin is in periphery of what goes on in our minds, an idyllic statement about how things should be, or at least as they would be if more fun.
This is one of the best Discworld books, not just for the writing and plot, which are as usual excellent, but for the scope of Pratchett's vision and for the depth and complexity of his satire.
The heavily satirical themes are no doubt what led me to make the comparison with Vonnegut four years ago in my review below, and it had the same playfully acerbic wit as the famous Hoosier writer, but this is so much more.
While Samuel Vimes is and remains a great Discworld character, I paid closer attention to other members of the watch like Carrot, Angua, Detritus, Nobby and the late lance constable Cuddy. Carrot's role as supposed long lost heir to the Ankh throne is especially noteworthy and Pratchett's description of Carrot as a natural leader was inspired - the scene at the end between Carrot and the Patrician was golden.
Also noteworthy was the personification of the "gonne" and Pratchett's satirical voice was in full form here as the sociological and political undertones are apparent, but he's never so heavy handed as to preach, he was too good for that.
**********
Was Terry Pratchett the English Kurt Vonnegut?
Here is another example of playful satire that thinly hides a stinging social and cultural admonishment. In his 1993 Discworld novel Men at Arms (the 15th Discworld adventure and the second to feature Sam Vimes and his City Watch crew) Sir Terry tackles such heavy subjects as racism, sexism, political correctness, class distinctions and the inhumanity of marshal technology but in a decidedly not-too-heavy format; impishly mocking what needs mocking and throwing down not the gauntlet but instead the soft mitten.
Discworld fans will love to see the return of the City Watch along with a deterministically diverse set of new recruits, demonstrating Ankh-Morpork’s commitment to employment equality. In Ankh-Morpork, a multi-cultural, pluralistic, metropolitan city if ever there was one, humans live together with trolls, dwarfs and any number of other kinds of folk and Pratchett waxes poetic about the strengths of diversity but at the barstool rather than the pulpit.
We also get to know The Patrician better and really a winning element of this book is Pratchett’s mature and qualitative characterization. We knew these players before, but in these pages, Pratchett provides more illuminating introductions – like getting to know acquaintances and becoming better friends.
Discworld seems to be to Pratchett what Mars was to Bradbury: his vehicle for metaphor and allegory, the canvas for his brush, the macaroni to his cheese. In Men at Arms, like so many of these enjoyable Discworld escapades, what goes on atop Great A’Tuin is in periphery of what goes on in our minds, an idyllic statement about how things should be, or at least as they would be if more fun.
April 29, 2023
A murder mistery in a fantasy parody world? Only Pratchett could come up and succeed with such a bizzare idea. As ussually he plays with the genre stereotypes: we have a troubled cop tired of city's corraption and is about to retire; new recruits from the rival gangs who are ment to become best friends and unlikely but quite obvious love match. Al in all, it could've been a dark noir thriller if it wasn't set in Ankh-Morpork. So here we have light funny read with a detective intrigue, and not without serious thoughts - the gun-violence allusion is unfortunatly still topical.
March 16, 2021
Men at Arms (Discworld #15), Terry Pratchett
Men at Arms is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 15th book in the Discworld series, first published in 1993.
Edward d'Eath, an Assassin and son of a down-and-out noble family, becomes convinced that the restoration of the Ankh-Morpork monarchy will solve the social change in the city which he blames for his family's humbling.
He researches the history of the royal family and determines that Carrot Ironfoundersson is in fact the rightful heir to the throne.
Meanwhile, Captain Samuel Vimes, captain of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, prepares for his imminent wedding to Sybil Ramkin, the richest woman in Ankh-Morpork.
He also must deal with a new group of recruits that he has been required to take on for the sake of diversity: Cuddy (a dwarf), Detritus (a troll), and Angua (a werewolf—but Carrot is unaware of this, and believes she is included because she is female).
When a string of seemingly random murders occur among the Guilds of the city, Lord Vetinari forbids Vimes to investigate in a successful ploy to ensure Vimes does investigate.
Cuddy and Detritus are forced to work together, resulting in them becoming friends as they overcome their deep-seated racial enmity. Angua works with the talking dog Gaspode, and also forms a romantic connection with Carrot, who loses his virginity to her but handles the discovery that she is a werewolf poorly.
It turns out that d'Eath has stolen the gonne, the Disc's first and only handheld firearm, from the Assassins' Guild, with the intention of discrediting Vetinari's government through the murders.
Any possessor of the gonne seems to become obsessed with the device. After d'Eath reveals his plan to Dr. Cruces, head of the Assassin's Guild, Cruces murders him and takes up the plan himself.
The Watch prevent Cruces from killing Vetinari, but Cuddy and Angua are killed in the process. Vimes and Carrot confront and disarm Cruces, and Carrot helps Vimes resist the gonne's allure.
Cruces gives Carrot the evidence that he is the royal heir, upon which Carrot kills Cruces with his sword and has both the evidence and the dismantled gonne buried with Cuddy.
Angua gets shot 3 times by Cruces; as a werewolf can only be killed with a silver weapon, Angua is revived upon the moon's rising.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز دهم ماه آوریل 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب پانزدهم: مردان مسلح؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بز��گ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنو��ن یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زما�� (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: رنگ جادو؛ کتاب سوم: زنان جادوگر؛ کتاب چهارم: مرگ؛ کتاب پنجم: سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)؛ کتاب ششم: خواهران ویرد؛ کتاب هفتم هرم ها؛ کتاب هشتم: نگهبانان! نگهبانان؛ کتاب نهم: اریک؛ کتاب دهم: تصاویر متحرک؛ کتاب یازدهم: مرد دروگر؛ کتاب دوازدهم جادوگران خارج؛ کتاب سیزدهم: ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)؛ کتاب چهاردهم: لردها و بانوان؛ کتاب پانزدهم: مردان مسلح؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 25/12/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Men at Arms is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 15th book in the Discworld series, first published in 1993.
Edward d'Eath, an Assassin and son of a down-and-out noble family, becomes convinced that the restoration of the Ankh-Morpork monarchy will solve the social change in the city which he blames for his family's humbling.
He researches the history of the royal family and determines that Carrot Ironfoundersson is in fact the rightful heir to the throne.
Meanwhile, Captain Samuel Vimes, captain of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, prepares for his imminent wedding to Sybil Ramkin, the richest woman in Ankh-Morpork.
He also must deal with a new group of recruits that he has been required to take on for the sake of diversity: Cuddy (a dwarf), Detritus (a troll), and Angua (a werewolf—but Carrot is unaware of this, and believes she is included because she is female).
When a string of seemingly random murders occur among the Guilds of the city, Lord Vetinari forbids Vimes to investigate in a successful ploy to ensure Vimes does investigate.
Cuddy and Detritus are forced to work together, resulting in them becoming friends as they overcome their deep-seated racial enmity. Angua works with the talking dog Gaspode, and also forms a romantic connection with Carrot, who loses his virginity to her but handles the discovery that she is a werewolf poorly.
It turns out that d'Eath has stolen the gonne, the Disc's first and only handheld firearm, from the Assassins' Guild, with the intention of discrediting Vetinari's government through the murders.
Any possessor of the gonne seems to become obsessed with the device. After d'Eath reveals his plan to Dr. Cruces, head of the Assassin's Guild, Cruces murders him and takes up the plan himself.
The Watch prevent Cruces from killing Vetinari, but Cuddy and Angua are killed in the process. Vimes and Carrot confront and disarm Cruces, and Carrot helps Vimes resist the gonne's allure.
Cruces gives Carrot the evidence that he is the royal heir, upon which Carrot kills Cruces with his sword and has both the evidence and the dismantled gonne buried with Cuddy.
Angua gets shot 3 times by Cruces; as a werewolf can only be killed with a silver weapon, Angua is revived upon the moon's rising.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز دهم ماه آوریل 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب پانزدهم: مردان مسلح؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بز��گ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنو��ن یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زما�� (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: رنگ جادو؛ کتاب سوم: زنان جادوگر؛ کتاب چهارم: مرگ؛ کتاب پنجم: سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)؛ کتاب ششم: خواهران ویرد؛ کتاب هفتم هرم ها؛ کتاب هشتم: نگهبانان! نگهبانان؛ کتاب نهم: اریک؛ کتاب دهم: تصاویر متحرک؛ کتاب یازدهم: مرد دروگر؛ کتاب دوازدهم جادوگران خارج؛ کتاب سیزدهم: ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)؛ کتاب چهاردهم: لردها و بانوان؛ کتاب پانزدهم: مردان مسلح؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 25/12/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
October 18, 2020
5 STARS
Fact: I don’t like to read fantasy.
Fact: The very idea of reading a book without chapters seems like hard work.
Fact: I own more than 40 Terry Pratchett novels.
Fact: I have read every Discworld novel at least twice.
Why, you ask?
Quite simply: Terry Pratchett was the funniest writer in the world!
I discovered him by accident. While visiting family one day, I had 15 minutes to kill, so I grabbed the only book I could see. The cover looked somewhat juvenile, but it beats being bored. Two hours later I was thinking of excuses why I had to borrow the book.
I can’t write reviews for all his books, because the Discworld series is much too dear to me – they all deserve 5 stars (or more)! His main characters are so well described and human, I can usually place someone I know or have met before in their shoes, or I’ll find myself meeting someone and thinking: This person reminds me of…
I laughed my ass off in all the Discworld novels and, if I gave it about two years between readings, I would laugh even harder the second time I read it.
Alzheimer’s took Sir Terry Pratchett from us, and it was a loss for our world. My wife told me when I heard the news, it was almost like a death in our own family.
Today I’d like to think that he’s having a ball wherever he may be – no glands to worry about – and maybe even playing the odd practical joke on DEATH.
RIP, good Sir, you made the world a better place while you were here.
Fact: I don’t like to read fantasy.
Fact: The very idea of reading a book without chapters seems like hard work.
Fact: I own more than 40 Terry Pratchett novels.
Fact: I have read every Discworld novel at least twice.
Why, you ask?
Quite simply: Terry Pratchett was the funniest writer in the world!
I discovered him by accident. While visiting family one day, I had 15 minutes to kill, so I grabbed the only book I could see. The cover looked somewhat juvenile, but it beats being bored. Two hours later I was thinking of excuses why I had to borrow the book.
I can’t write reviews for all his books, because the Discworld series is much too dear to me – they all deserve 5 stars (or more)! His main characters are so well described and human, I can usually place someone I know or have met before in their shoes, or I’ll find myself meeting someone and thinking: This person reminds me of…
I laughed my ass off in all the Discworld novels and, if I gave it about two years between readings, I would laugh even harder the second time I read it.
Alzheimer’s took Sir Terry Pratchett from us, and it was a loss for our world. My wife told me when I heard the news, it was almost like a death in our own family.
Today I’d like to think that he’s having a ball wherever he may be – no glands to worry about – and maybe even playing the odd practical joke on DEATH.
RIP, good Sir, you made the world a better place while you were here.
May 1, 2024
Terry Pratchett is a brilliant writer. Men at Arms is Terry Pratchett at his best.
Captain Samuel Vimes prepares for his wedding to Lady Sybil Ramkin, the richest woman in Ankh-Morpork. And it’s clear he struggles a bit with his vision for his own future as this is a very big change in his life. But things are about to change in more ways than one. The watch has some new recruits for the sake of diversity: a dwarf, a troll and a werewolf. But dwarves and trolls hate each other. And people are scared of werewolves.
A big explosion at the Assassin’s Guild takes Ankh-Morpork by surprise. Someone has stolen a dangerous weapon the guild was ordered to destroy a long time ago but they had secretly kept it for themselves.
Someone has found out a very big secret that could change the faith of Ankh-Morpork forever. And to get what he wants, he starts killing people.
On the surface it is a murder mystery plot, elevated by the introduction of a more modern weapon in a medieval style fantasy world featuring swords and sorcery. But beneath the surface, larger themes lurk which Pratchett loves to tackle. In this case: social status, justice, power and racism. Compared to previous books in the Discworld series, the plot has gotten more refined and more complex while the comedy shines through even more beautifully because it is interwoven in the characters and plot.
The characters are amazing in this book. In Guards Guards, we are introduced to Sam Vimes and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. In Men at Arms we fall in love with them. It is the pairing of the characters and the way they interact with each other that really makes this story such a pleasure to read.
So much to love, easily one of my favorite books ever. Would recommend to anyone.
Captain Samuel Vimes prepares for his wedding to Lady Sybil Ramkin, the richest woman in Ankh-Morpork. And it’s clear he struggles a bit with his vision for his own future as this is a very big change in his life. But things are about to change in more ways than one. The watch has some new recruits for the sake of diversity: a dwarf, a troll and a werewolf. But dwarves and trolls hate each other. And people are scared of werewolves.
A big explosion at the Assassin’s Guild takes Ankh-Morpork by surprise. Someone has stolen a dangerous weapon the guild was ordered to destroy a long time ago but they had secretly kept it for themselves.
Someone has found out a very big secret that could change the faith of Ankh-Morpork forever. And to get what he wants, he starts killing people.
On the surface it is a murder mystery plot, elevated by the introduction of a more modern weapon in a medieval style fantasy world featuring swords and sorcery. But beneath the surface, larger themes lurk which Pratchett loves to tackle. In this case: social status, justice, power and racism. Compared to previous books in the Discworld series, the plot has gotten more refined and more complex while the comedy shines through even more beautifully because it is interwoven in the characters and plot.
The characters are amazing in this book. In Guards Guards, we are introduced to Sam Vimes and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. In Men at Arms we fall in love with them. It is the pairing of the characters and the way they interact with each other that really makes this story such a pleasure to read.
So much to love, easily one of my favorite books ever. Would recommend to anyone.
August 29, 2018
Discworld Re-Read project #15. :)
I remembered that there was one particular Watch novel that lunged the entire Watch novels out of the stratosphere in terms of how much I grew to LOVE them. I had forgotten that THIS was that novel.
Vimes was great, but who really stole the show was Carrot. I'll love Vimes a lot more in the future, but for now, Carrot is KING.
Or not. That's a matter of perception and some small debate, all of which Carrot himself will probably have the right precedent and moral outlook and word to set right.
Other than that, this novel deals with racial prejudice in a big way. Trolls and Dwarves are at each other's throats. And then the Assassin's guild is deep in the muck thanks to a little theft and ideology. And then there's Gaspode.
I don't think there's any part of the novel I disliked. At all. Wolves and dogs and romance and bringing back the old monarchy kinda reverberated with a previous novel, of course, but I didn't mind. This was a different kind of beast. This time there was rioting in the streets rather than dragons. :)
Too cool. :)
I remembered that there was one particular Watch novel that lunged the entire Watch novels out of the stratosphere in terms of how much I grew to LOVE them. I had forgotten that THIS was that novel.
Vimes was great, but who really stole the show was Carrot. I'll love Vimes a lot more in the future, but for now, Carrot is KING.
Or not. That's a matter of perception and some small debate, all of which Carrot himself will probably have the right precedent and moral outlook and word to set right.
Other than that, this novel deals with racial prejudice in a big way. Trolls and Dwarves are at each other's throats. And then the Assassin's guild is deep in the muck thanks to a little theft and ideology. And then there's Gaspode.
I don't think there's any part of the novel I disliked. At all. Wolves and dogs and romance and bringing back the old monarchy kinda reverberated with a previous novel, of course, but I didn't mind. This was a different kind of beast. This time there was rioting in the streets rather than dragons. :)
Too cool. :)
April 25, 2020
So, what do I think ? Well, when I started (in Jan 19) (re)reading these Discworld novels in order (it had been some years since I last read any of them) I started remembering characters from my earlier reads. I remember thinking " oh Rincewind is just excellent", then it was" oh but the three witches are so funny", and of course" DEATH is the best character, and then as you move through the books, you come across the Night Watch and you suddenly realise that they are your new favourite.
This book was just so well written, and the characters in the Night Watch including the new recruits are so well formed after even only a couple of ages. The existing NW characters are of course like old friends, Vimes, Carrot and Nobby, and they are also joined by Gaspode the talking dog and a couple of cameo appearances from CMOT Dibbler.
A great story with a worthy end, and truly deserving of the 5 stars.
This book was just so well written, and the characters in the Night Watch including the new recruits are so well formed after even only a couple of ages. The existing NW characters are of course like old friends, Vimes, Carrot and Nobby, and they are also joined by Gaspode the talking dog and a couple of cameo appearances from CMOT Dibbler.
A great story with a worthy end, and truly deserving of the 5 stars.
May 10, 2013
Vimes smiled. Someone was trying to kill him, and that made him feel more alive than he had done in days.
And they were also slightly less intelligent than he was. This is a quality you should always pray for in your would-be murderer.
Murders are rare in Ankh-Morpork. Suicides and assassinations...well, they're a dime a dozen, but genuine murders are pretty darned rare. But DEATH has been busier than usual lately, and it's up to Carrot and Vimes of the Night Watch to figure out what the heck is going on.
This is a most excellent entry in the Discworld series. In addition to the thrilling mystery, we get to:
* Meet an adorable gargoyle.
* Dine at a dwarf deli, where it seems impossible to order anything that doesn't come withSpam rat.
* Attend the funniest clown funeral since Chuckles bit the dust on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
There's all this...PLUS, the Librarian gets to attend yet another wedding! Oook! Oook!
Did I enjoy this book?
Does a dragon explode in the woods?
And they were also slightly less intelligent than he was. This is a quality you should always pray for in your would-be murderer.
Murders are rare in Ankh-Morpork. Suicides and assassinations...well, they're a dime a dozen, but genuine murders are pretty darned rare. But DEATH has been busier than usual lately, and it's up to Carrot and Vimes of the Night Watch to figure out what the heck is going on.
This is a most excellent entry in the Discworld series. In addition to the thrilling mystery, we get to:
* Meet an adorable gargoyle.
* Dine at a dwarf deli, where it seems impossible to order anything that doesn't come with
* Attend the funniest clown funeral since Chuckles bit the dust on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
There's all this...PLUS, the Librarian gets to attend yet another wedding! Oook! Oook!
Did I enjoy this book?
Does a dragon explode in the woods?
September 1, 2018
Holy ... this was ... blimey!
I'm used to an awesome level of brilliance by Sir Terry but this novel might have outdone everything I've read about the Discworld so far!
We're back in Ankh-Morpork in this installment, in time for Sam Vimes' wedding to Lady Sibyl (she who breeds dragons). This also means that his retirement is at hand. For a career copper, you can imagine what that prospect means.
Moreover, the Night Watch has increased its ranks slightly thanks to the Patrician's inclusion initiative so we have Detritus the troll, Cuddy the dwarf and Angua who is a human female (most of the time) reinforcing Sgts. Colon, Nobby and Carrot.
When there is a string of murders, the Patrician explicitly forbids Vimes from investigating, starting some awesome police work, wonderful etymological history lessons and character studies as dark as a moonless night (please don't argue that moonless nights aren't all that dark thanks to the stars, Captain Vimes already had that discussion). Oh, and the city needs to be prevented from tearing itself apart because you know what they say about ...
Seriously, I was NOT prepared for and was VERY emotional about it! Both new pairs (Carrot and Angua as well as Detritus and Cuddy) were a banter-filled delight. I actually liked the troll-dwarf combo more than even my beloved Gaspode who also features prominently here.
If I had to name a favourite character, I honestly couldn't. Honest and generous Vimes, good-hearted Carrot, adorably smart Gaspode, Detritus, Cuddy, ... even Colon and Nobby or a certain psychotic poodle. Most of all, many of these shine when they are thrown in together (such as the Patrician with Carrot) and I love them all dearly. Just like the city itself with all its guilds and rules.
The humour is dark, the action breathtaking, the characters lively. I laughed and cried almost through the entire book and was once again astonished how on-point the author was about current events and human nature (especially considering the novel's age).
Once again, the tragedy as well as the humour came in big and small moments (one small one being when DEATH tried to make a certain person's death "more enjoyable" *lol*).
Moreover, this definitely served as the gateway to making The Watch into what it is and opening up greater possibilities, giving us readers the promise of many more slap-stick adventures.
I'm used to an awesome level of brilliance by Sir Terry but this novel might have outdone everything I've read about the Discworld so far!
We're back in Ankh-Morpork in this installment, in time for Sam Vimes' wedding to Lady Sibyl (she who breeds dragons). This also means that his retirement is at hand. For a career copper, you can imagine what that prospect means.
Moreover, the Night Watch has increased its ranks slightly thanks to the Patrician's inclusion initiative so we have Detritus the troll, Cuddy the dwarf and Angua who is a human female (most of the time) reinforcing Sgts. Colon, Nobby and Carrot.
When there is a string of murders, the Patrician explicitly forbids Vimes from investigating, starting some awesome police work, wonderful etymological history lessons and character studies as dark as a moonless night (please don't argue that moonless nights aren't all that dark thanks to the stars, Captain Vimes already had that discussion). Oh, and the city needs to be prevented from tearing itself apart because you know what they say about ...
Seriously, I was NOT prepared for and was VERY emotional about it! Both new pairs (Carrot and Angua as well as Detritus and Cuddy) were a banter-filled delight. I actually liked the troll-dwarf combo more than even my beloved Gaspode who also features prominently here.
If I had to name a favourite character, I honestly couldn't. Honest and generous Vimes, good-hearted Carrot, adorably smart Gaspode, Detritus, Cuddy, ... even Colon and Nobby or a certain psychotic poodle. Most of all, many of these shine when they are thrown in together (such as the Patrician with Carrot) and I love them all dearly. Just like the city itself with all its guilds and rules.
The humour is dark, the action breathtaking, the characters lively. I laughed and cried almost through the entire book and was once again astonished how on-point the author was about current events and human nature (especially considering the novel's age).
Once again, the tragedy as well as the humour came in big and small moments (one small one being when DEATH tried to make a certain person's death "more enjoyable" *lol*).
Moreover, this definitely served as the gateway to making The Watch into what it is and opening up greater possibilities, giving us readers the promise of many more slap-stick adventures.
November 1, 2017
This was a reread - the last time I read it was so long ago I don't remember:)
Such a good book! This man only wrote good books and he is much missed. Men at Arms has to be a hit with me because it contains so many of my favourite characters. There is Corporal Carrot who was adopted as a child by dwarves but is probably the disinherited King of Ankh-Morpork. He has so much charisma he changes the world just by being in it. Captain Vimes is there too, about to get married and leave the Force and not happy about it. Veterinari plays a delightful role and even manages to make a mistake and get shot which is a first. And then of course there is Death, one of Pratchett's greatest ever characters. You have to read the books to appreciate why.
To enjoy these books you have to like the type of humour. I love it and could easily read the whole series again. In fact I probably will!!!
Such a good book! This man only wrote good books and he is much missed. Men at Arms has to be a hit with me because it contains so many of my favourite characters. There is Corporal Carrot who was adopted as a child by dwarves but is probably the disinherited King of Ankh-Morpork. He has so much charisma he changes the world just by being in it. Captain Vimes is there too, about to get married and leave the Force and not happy about it. Veterinari plays a delightful role and even manages to make a mistake and get shot which is a first. And then of course there is Death, one of Pratchett's greatest ever characters. You have to read the books to appreciate why.
To enjoy these books you have to like the type of humour. I love it and could easily read the whole series again. In fact I probably will!!!
March 19, 2022
В живота на всеки настъпва все някога такъв момент, че нещата се преобръщат. За някои това може да означава да заменят гадното ка��е, ниската заплата и набиването с тънкоподметкести ботуши по мокър калдъръм нощем за аристократична лицемерна компания, пури и самовзривяващи се в близък периметър дракончета. За други пък е да погледнат отвъд предразсъдъците си и там да намерят истински приятел. За трети може да бъде просто да се доверят.
Във „Въоръжени мъже“ този път протагонистът безсъмнено е Керът. Той направлява действието с онази убеденост на добрия човек, който е водач не защото му харесва, а защото знае, че по-добра алтернатива няма.
„Но хората неизменно бъркат „простодушен“ с „простоват“. Керът изобщо не се отличаваше с тъпота. Беше прям, честен, добросърдечен и почтен във всичко. Впрочем според жителите на Анкх-Морпорк това си беше тъпотия, и то каква (…)“.
Интересно, но хората и в реалния свят си мислят така. Всъщност винаги ми се е щяло да съм нещо като Керът и да мога да се сприятелявам бързо с всякакви… хора, но бих казала, че съм по-скоро като Ваймс. Добре де, без решителността и бъдещата богата рода.
А този път в града се е появило ново Зло, различно от традиционните за пейзажа дракони, което само нашите момчета от Нощната стража могат да озаптят. Нещата леко се бъркат от факта, че капитанът им се жени, новите разнорасови попълнения се гледат на кръв (очевидно заради една от онези вражди, в които участниците отдавна са забравили защо точно се мразят, но продължават от едната чест), а темата за следващия по старшинство е леко щекотлива. Разбира се, нощта е най-тъмна точно преди да се развидели и всичко някак следва естествения си ход към разплитане, като междувременно някои намират приятел, други – любов, а трети – цаката за глутница бесни кучета. За последното малко съобразителност и подходящото убеждение вършат чудеса:
„Гаспод побутна с лапа водоливника, който бе приклекнал над водосточната тръба.
- ‘акво и’каш?
- Ако не ми помогнеш да се смъкна на балкона, ще ти опикая ухото“.
Лайтмотив и нещо като квинтесенция за полицейската работа въобще беше въпросът на Керът „Нали знаете, че думата „полицай“ означава „човек на града“? Коренът ѝ е в древната дума „полис“. Ненапразно тази информация три пъти пробождаше фабулата като игла с вдянат бял конец в нея. За да се вижда. А всъщност чак накрая Керът получи отговор: „Не си ли се питал откъде произхожда и думата „политик“? Мисля, че над това последното доста политици могат да се поразмислят.
Все пак обаче не е нужно да заменяш търсенето на справедливост с пухкави домашни пантофи и това някой да ти търка гърба по време на баня. След като звъннат сватбените камбани, нещата определено няма да са същите, но кой е казал, че човек не може да има всичко?
Във „Въоръжени мъже“ този път протагонистът безсъмнено е Керът. Той направлява действието с онази убеденост на добрия човек, който е водач не защото му харесва, а защото знае, че по-добра алтернатива няма.
„Но хората неизменно бъркат „простодушен“ с „простоват“. Керът изобщо не се отличаваше с тъпота. Беше прям, честен, добросърдечен и почтен във всичко. Впрочем според жителите на Анкх-Морпорк това си беше тъпотия, и то каква (…)“.
Интересно, но хората и в реалния свят си мислят така. Всъщност винаги ми се е щяло да съм нещо като Керът и да мога да се сприятелявам бързо с всякакви… хора, но бих казала, че съм по-скоро като Ваймс. Добре де, без решителността и бъдещата богата рода.
А този път в града се е появило ново Зло, различно от традиционните за пейзажа дракони, което само нашите момчета от Нощната стража могат да озаптят. Нещата леко се бъркат от факта, че капитанът им се жени, новите разнорасови попълнения се гледат на кръв (очевидно заради една от онези вражди, в които участниците отдавна са забравили защо точно се мразят, но продължават от едната чест), а темата за следващия по старшинство е леко щекотлива. Разбира се, нощта е най-тъмна точно преди да се развидели и всичко някак следва естествения си ход към разплитане, като междувременно някои намират приятел, други – любов, а трети – цаката за глутница бесни кучета. За последното малко съобразителност и подходящото убеждение вършат чудеса:
„Гаспод побутна с лапа водоливника, който бе приклекнал над водосточната тръба.
- ‘акво и’каш?
- Ако не ми помогнеш да се смъкна на балкона, ще ти опикая ухото“.
Лайтмотив и нещо като квинтесенция за полицейската работа въобще беше въпросът на Керът „Нали знаете, че думата „полицай“ означава „човек на града“? Коренът ѝ е в древната дума „полис“. Ненапразно тази информация три пъти пробождаше фабулата като игла с вдянат бял конец в нея. За да се вижда. А всъщност чак накрая Керът получи отговор: „Не си ли се питал откъде произхожда и думата „политик“? Мисля, че над това последното доста политици могат да се поразмислят.
Все пак обаче не е нужно да заменяш търсенето на справедливост с пухкави домашни пантофи и това някой да ти търка гърба по време на баня. След като звъннат сватбените камбани, нещата определено няма да са същите, но кой е казал, че човек не може да има всичко?
August 12, 2018
I'll keep this short. If I had to describe what I think about this story in one sentence it would be as if I need more reasons to love the Watch. There are so many highlighted parts that I gave up after a while.
I didn't read the blurb before, and now I see it has a spoiler in it. At least, I enjoyed finding out that particular thing in the book itself.
I loved it.
I rarely listen to audiobooks, but Men at Arms has an excellent narrator (Nigel Planer, but I checked the other one too and he too is pretty good). Everyone has a distinct voice - from trolls to werewolves.
As if I needed another reason to love the Watch.
I didn't read the blurb before, and now I see it has a spoiler in it. At least, I enjoyed finding out that particular thing in the book itself.
I loved it.
I rarely listen to audiobooks, but Men at Arms has an excellent narrator (Nigel Planer, but I checked the other one too and he too is pretty good). Everyone has a distinct voice - from trolls to werewolves.
As if I needed another reason to love the Watch.
June 3, 2021
“The Librarian considered matters for a while. So…a dwarf and a troll. He preferred both species to humans. For one thing, neither of them were great readers. The Librarian was, of course, very much in favor of reading in general, but readers in particular got on his nerves. There was something, well, sacrilegious about the way they kept taking books off the shelves and wearing out the words by reading them. He liked people who loved and respected books, and the best way to do that, in the Librarian’s opinion, was to leave them on the shelves where Nature intended them to be.”
April 12, 2020
Another lovely installment. I was worried because I thought something bad would happen for Vimes but I needn't have. Delightful and a great attack on the ridiculousness and danger of personal firearms.
Content warnings: death, racism, mild misogyny.
Content warnings: death, racism, mild misogyny.
June 17, 2015
I'm probably biased, but I'm come to love everything I've read so far by Terry Pratchett, so perhaps my 5 stars should be taken with the proverbial "grain of salt". Still, I enjoyed this one immensely. The Discworld books sometimes have series within the overall series that follow a group of characters. This book is the 2nd in what I call the "Guards" series, following the Night Watch of Ankh-Morpork which is led by Sam Vimes.
After the events of Guards! Guards! the Watch is being expanded, both in number and in ethnicity. Affirmative action of a sort has come to the Watch, and the new hires include trolls, dwarves, and werewolves, among others. Sam Vimes is planning on retiring from the Watch after his upcoming wedding, and a series of mysterious murders is occuring with an apparently new type of weapon, which fires metal pellets through the air.
I recommend reading the book Guards, Guards first if you can, but like most all of the Disworld series that I've read, this one can stand alone or even be your first foray into the Discworld if this is the only book available at the moment. I definitely urge anyone who enjoys fantasy, adventure, humor, satire and a touch of hard boiled mystery to check this one out asap.
After the events of Guards! Guards! the Watch is being expanded, both in number and in ethnicity. Affirmative action of a sort has come to the Watch, and the new hires include trolls, dwarves, and werewolves, among others. Sam Vimes is planning on retiring from the Watch after his upcoming wedding, and a series of mysterious murders is occuring with an apparently new type of weapon, which fires metal pellets through the air.
I recommend reading the book Guards, Guards first if you can, but like most all of the Disworld series that I've read, this one can stand alone or even be your first foray into the Discworld if this is the only book available at the moment. I definitely urge anyone who enjoys fantasy, adventure, humor, satire and a touch of hard boiled mystery to check this one out asap.
![Profile Image for Anna [Bran. San. Stan].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1593184464i/98245866._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 24, 2022
I really wish I had started reading Pratchett sooner! I need this brand of humor in my life.
I’m just gonna leave this delightful oath of office Constable Carrot faithfully and earnestly recites by heart for the new recruits of the City Watch to repeat after him here for you:
I’m just gonna leave this delightful oath of office Constable Carrot faithfully and earnestly recites by heart for the new recruits of the City Watch to repeat after him here for you:
“I comma square bracket recruit’s name square bracket comma do solemnly swear by square bracket recruit’s deity of choice square bracket to uphold the Laws and Ordinances of the city of Ankh-Morpok comma serve the public trust comma and defend the subjects of His stroke Her bracket delete whichever is inappropriate bracket Majesty bracket name of reigning monarch bracket without fear comma favour comma or thought of personal safety semi-colon to pursue evil-doers and protect the innocent comma laying down my life if necessary in the cause of said duty comma so help me bracket aforesaid deity bracket full stop Gods save the King stroke Queen bracket delete whichever is inappropriate bracket full stop”
December 18, 2021
🐩🗡️
“Colon thought Carrot was simple. Carrot often struck people as simple. And he was.
Where people went wrong was thinking that simple meant the same thing as stupid.”
A welcome return to the Night Watch, with Carrot still diligently writing his letters home, to my great amusement, as well as becoming an exemplary officer of the law. So much happens in this book really and I don't want to give anything away, but I loved every moment of it. I adore the variation of this series, and the way I never really know what to expect beyond the fact that I will have a wonderful time while I am reading it.
“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. This was the Captain Samuel Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”
*******
“Colon thought Carrot was simple. Carrot often struck people as simple. And he was.
Where people went wrong was thinking that simple meant the same thing as stupid.”
A welcome return to the Night Watch, with Carrot still diligently writing his letters home, to my great amusement, as well as becoming an exemplary officer of the law. So much happens in this book really and I don't want to give anything away, but I loved every moment of it. I adore the variation of this series, and the way I never really know what to expect beyond the fact that I will have a wonderful time while I am reading it.
“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. This was the Captain Samuel Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”
*******
November 17, 2023
Stories around the subjects Sir Pratchett's plot are difficult to incorporate in a good way. As a result, this series appears to step backwards in comparison to his other and better works. 3 of 10 stars
Read
September 1, 2023Terry Pratchett’s Discworld never disappoints. Full of the sharpest wit, a grounded but hopeful view of society and human behaviour, and an endless flood of savvy metaphors and allegories for various elements of modern life, these books are bottomless fun. They’re also a kind of relief; a palate cleanser for when you’ve read too much heavy, literary stuff. They’re full of joy and humour, while still being smart and full of heart. Sir Terry was the wisest and kindest of us all, and I could sing his praises forever.
In fact, I often do. Exhibit A: https://booksandbao.com/where-to-star...
In fact, I often do. Exhibit A: https://booksandbao.com/where-to-star...
June 16, 2021
“Vimes'a göre zenginlerin bu kadar zengin olmasının sebebi, az para harcamayı başarabilmeleriydi.
Örneğin botlar. Vimes'ın maaşı ayda otuz sekiz dolar artı ikramiyeydi. Gerçekten kaliteli botlar elli dolara mâl oluyordu. Ama makul fiyatlı bir çift bot (yani bir iki mevsim idare edebilecek ve tabanındaki karton eridiği zaman deli gibi su alacak olan bir çift bot) aşağı yukarı on dolardı. Vimes her zaman bu botlardan alırdı ve onları, tabanları iyice aşınana dek, sisli gecelerde sırf parke taşlarının ayaklarına verdiği hisse bakarak Ankh-Morpork'un neresinde olduğunu anlayabileceği kadar incelene dek giyerdi.
Ama mesele şuydu ki, iyi botlar senelerce dayanırdı. Bir çift bota elli dolar verebilen bir adam on sene boyunca ayaklarını kuru tutabilirdi; buna karşılık ancak ucuz bot alabilen fakir bir adam aynı süre içinde bota yüz dolar harcardı ve yine de sürekli islak ayaklarla dolaşırdı.
Yüzbaşı Samuel Vimes'ın sosyoekonomik adaletsizlik hak kındaki "Bot Teorisi" işte buydu.”
Bekçi romanları serinin en iyilerinden.
Örneğin botlar. Vimes'ın maaşı ayda otuz sekiz dolar artı ikramiyeydi. Gerçekten kaliteli botlar elli dolara mâl oluyordu. Ama makul fiyatlı bir çift bot (yani bir iki mevsim idare edebilecek ve tabanındaki karton eridiği zaman deli gibi su alacak olan bir çift bot) aşağı yukarı on dolardı. Vimes her zaman bu botlardan alırdı ve onları, tabanları iyice aşınana dek, sisli gecelerde sırf parke taşlarının ayaklarına verdiği hisse bakarak Ankh-Morpork'un neresinde olduğunu anlayabileceği kadar incelene dek giyerdi.
Ama mesele şuydu ki, iyi botlar senelerce dayanırdı. Bir çift bota elli dolar verebilen bir adam on sene boyunca ayaklarını kuru tutabilirdi; buna karşılık ancak ucuz bot alabilen fakir bir adam aynı süre içinde bota yüz dolar harcardı ve yine de sürekli islak ayaklarla dolaşırdı.
Yüzbaşı Samuel Vimes'ın sosyoekonomik adaletsizlik hak kındaki "Bot Teorisi" işte buydu.”
Bekçi romanları serinin en iyilerinden.
February 23, 2017
The characters in this novel were superb, the plot and its ending was wholesome but not idealistic, and the narration was hilarious. I'm not sentimental about the series yet, but I bet I'll get there eventually. Man, Pratchett is something else. I can't think of an author I've read last that was able to comment on society, provide fleshed-out characters and a good plot, and present it all neatly with great humor. Maybe I just haven't been reading enough?
February 4, 2018
2013 July 4
Pratchett can write a novel about integration and politics and gun control that keeps one amused and engrossed and thoroughly engaged the whole time. I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I was finished I purchased the next Discworld book I hadn't yet read, Interesting Times, to start immediately.
And as many Pratchett books as I have read and loved at this point, I still find it hard to say why they're so great. There is always plot, often more than enough for several books. In this case there is a murder to solve and also the struggle of one man who's always been a cop and poorish to find a place for himself when he marries the wealthiest woman in town. And although are both compelling stories, I don't suggest you read his books to find out what happens. Without being at all precious or lyrical, the important thing about a Pratchett book is that you are being told a story. In the way that some actors could bring drama to the a reading of the phone book, Pratchett brings humor and insight to everything he writes, probably including his grocery lists. It's the literary equivalent of screwball comedy with everyone running about and delivering lots of dialogue very quickly and the leading characters are all quite clever.
I bought it.
Pratchett can write a novel about integration and politics and gun control that keeps one amused and engrossed and thoroughly engaged the whole time. I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I was finished I purchased the next Discworld book I hadn't yet read, Interesting Times, to start immediately.
And as many Pratchett books as I have read and loved at this point, I still find it hard to say why they're so great. There is always plot, often more than enough for several books. In this case there is a murder to solve and also the struggle of one man who's always been a cop and poorish to find a place for himself when he marries the wealthiest woman in town. And although are both compelling stories, I don't suggest you read his books to find out what happens. Without being at all precious or lyrical, the important thing about a Pratchett book is that you are being told a story. In the way that some actors could bring drama to the a reading of the phone book, Pratchett brings humor and insight to everything he writes, probably including his grocery lists. It's the literary equivalent of screwball comedy with everyone running about and delivering lots of dialogue very quickly and the leading characters are all quite clever.
I bought it.
October 24, 2018
The second City Watch story in the Discworld series sees an influx of new recruits to the Night Watch, which includes Cuddy (a dwarf), Detritus (a troll) Trolls and Angua (a women) as part of a diversity drive.
The problem is on Discworld is that trolls and dwarfs don’t tend to get along...
Pratchett’s clever multilayered story tackles racism in Ankh-Morpork, whilst giving the reader a murder mystery as a spate of dead bodies start appearing across the city.
The interaction between all the characters drive the story along and theirs plenty of surprises along the way!
The problem is on Discworld is that trolls and dwarfs don’t tend to get along...
Pratchett’s clever multilayered story tackles racism in Ankh-Morpork, whilst giving the reader a murder mystery as a spate of dead bodies start appearing across the city.
The interaction between all the characters drive the story along and theirs plenty of surprises along the way!
September 26, 2020
A great story and funny too. The main character, Corporal Carrot, believes in the inherent goodness in all creatures and comes out of this story as the hero, closely followed by all members of the watch. The dialogue is excellent and the antagonists are beautifully portrayed, even Havelock Vetinari the Patrician.
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