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Discworld #31
Чудовищна команда
Започна се с една внезапна странна приумица...
Поли Пъркс спешно трябваше да стане момче. Да отреже косата си и да носи панталони беше лесно. Да се научи да пърди и да се оригва открито, както и да усвои маймунската походка, ѝ отне повече време... Но вече е в армията и търси изгубения си брат.
А има война. Винаги има война.
И изведнъж, без подготовка, Поли и бойните ù другари се оказват в центъра на военните действия, преследвани от врага.
Единствената им утеха е най-хитрият сержант в армията и вампир, жадуващ за кафе. Е... и Тайната. И така, поели към сърцето на врага, те ще трябва да използват целия арсенал на...
Чудовищната команда.
Поли Пъркс спешно трябваше да стане момче. Да отреже косата си и да носи панталони беше лесно. Да се научи да пърди и да се оригва открито, както и да усвои маймунската походка, ѝ отне повече време... Но вече е в армията и търси изгубения си брат.
А има война. Винаги има война.
И изведнъж, без подготовка, Поли и бойните ù другари се оказват в центъра на военните действия, преследвани от врага.
Единствената им утеха е най-хитрият сержант в армията и вампир, жадуващ за кафе. Е... и Тайната. И така, поели към сърцето на врага, те ще трябва да използват целия арсенал на...
Чудовищната команда.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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 2,638 reviews
April 17, 2022
One of the best Discworld books -- a fun take on sexism in the military
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
This book will go down as one of my favorite Discworld novels, and really surprised me as I really didn't know what to expect from this one. What I got was a fascinating story about a girl who pretends to be a boy and signs up for the military, and the hijinks that go into keeping it a secret. I don't want to spoil anything, but the twists in this book are equal parts hilarious and shocking.
Discworld books are pretty hit-or-miss for me, but I was constantly smiling and giggling while reading this book, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It wasn't quite as funny as the best that Discworld has to offer, but it was certainly one of the funnier ones. I did think the ending dragged on too far, and could have been successfully ended 30 pages earlier than it did, but that wasn't a major problem.
I strongly recommend this book to any fan of Discworld, it will not disappoint.
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
This book will go down as one of my favorite Discworld novels, and really surprised me as I really didn't know what to expect from this one. What I got was a fascinating story about a girl who pretends to be a boy and signs up for the military, and the hijinks that go into keeping it a secret. I don't want to spoil anything, but the twists in this book are equal parts hilarious and shocking.
Discworld books are pretty hit-or-miss for me, but I was constantly smiling and giggling while reading this book, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It wasn't quite as funny as the best that Discworld has to offer, but it was certainly one of the funnier ones. I did think the ending dragged on too far, and could have been successfully ended 30 pages earlier than it did, but that wasn't a major problem.
I strongly recommend this book to any fan of Discworld, it will not disappoint.
April 17, 2023
Pratchett addresses two questions here: (1)
“Do you think it's possible for an entire nation to be insane?”
and (2) Does - and, more importantly, should - a well-placed pair of socks (for 'certain' sort of padding) make a difference?
As far as Discworld series is concerned, this book can be easily read as a standalone novel. It brings us to the little backwards country of Borogravia, which is constantly at war with someone - this time it's with Zlobenia. Ankh-Morpork is expected to intervene, since, as Commander Sam Vimes points out in his cameo appearance, "the interests of Ankh-Morpork are the interests of all money-lov... oops, sorry, all freedom-loving people everywhere."
Polly Perks does not care about war, money, or patriotism. What she cares about is saving her not-too-bright brother who has disappeared in the war. So, of course, she chops her hair off and joins the army disguised as a boy. (Did I mention that lots of Nuggan's Abominations have something to do with women acting "non-womanlike"?) A mysterious unseen benefactor advises her on the benefits of a well-placed pair of socks in the 'nether regions'. And given that the title of the book comes from the infamous The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, the readers can easily guess the true nature of Polly's war comrades.
Like we have learned to expect from Sir Terry's novels, this book is witty and has plenty of funny moments. But, as many of his more recent novels, it is also sad, angry and frustrated with the events in Discworld clearly paralleling the things that make us angry in the "Roundworld".
I love that this book, like the rest of Pratchett's creations, makes me think. Some may complain that the message of this book is on the heavy-handed side, but I love it. I love that Pratchett is not shy or subtle about getting the message across about the evils and pitfalls of bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, and so-called patriotism bordering on jingoism. He is not subtle about the things that people should NOT be subtle about, and I love it. He is open about asking uncomfortable questions and stirring up trouble, and love this as well.
Another thing I love about Pratchett's writing is that he is one of the (regrettably) few male fantasy authors who can portray a woman as not a stereotype or a caricature or a mystery or an adorable nuisance or a far-fetched ideal but as a normal (well, normal for Discworld), real, and believable human being.
This is now one of my favorite Discworld novels. Five stars is not enough to describe how much I loved it. And I adored the little cameos from the other Discworld characters, especially Vimes (I am a true Vimes girl, why'd you ask?)
————
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
“The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.”
As far as Discworld series is concerned, this book can be easily read as a standalone novel. It brings us to the little backwards country of Borogravia, which is constantly at war with someone - this time it's with Zlobenia. Ankh-Morpork is expected to intervene, since, as Commander Sam Vimes points out in his cameo appearance, "the interests of Ankh-Morpork are the interests of all money-lov... oops, sorry, all freedom-loving people everywhere."
"Borogravia was a peace-loving country in the midst of treacherous, devious, warlike enemies. They had to be treacherous, devious, and warlike, otherwise we wouldn't be fighting them, eh? There was always a war."Borogravia's economy is on the verge of collapse, and the country has pretty much run out of eligible soldiers. But this does not stop the little country, governed by a "probably dead" Duchess, the country that follows the ever-expanding ring-bound (makes it easier to add pages) gospel of the god Nuggan, who seems to spend his time coming up with new Abominations - recently, we've had garlic, chocolate, dwarfs, cats, oysters and the color blue join the ranks.
"So what we have here is a country that tries to run itself on the commandments of a god, who, the people feel, may be wearing his underpants on his head. Has he Abomined underpants?"
"No, sir. [...] But it's probably only a matter of time."
Polly Perks does not care about war, money, or patriotism. What she cares about is saving her not-too-bright brother who has disappeared in the war. So, of course, she chops her hair off and joins the army disguised as a boy. (Did I mention that lots of Nuggan's Abominations have something to do with women acting "non-womanlike"?) A mysterious unseen benefactor advises her on the benefits of a well-placed pair of socks in the 'nether regions'. And given that the title of the book comes from the infamous The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, the readers can easily guess the true nature of Polly's war comrades.
Like we have learned to expect from Sir Terry's novels, this book is witty and has plenty of funny moments. But, as many of his more recent novels, it is also sad, angry and frustrated with the events in Discworld clearly paralleling the things that make us angry in the "Roundworld".
I love that this book, like the rest of Pratchett's creations, makes me think. Some may complain that the message of this book is on the heavy-handed side, but I love it. I love that Pratchett is not shy or subtle about getting the message across about the evils and pitfalls of bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, and so-called patriotism bordering on jingoism. He is not subtle about the things that people should NOT be subtle about, and I love it. He is open about asking uncomfortable questions and stirring up trouble, and love this as well.
“You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem.”
Another thing I love about Pratchett's writing is that he is one of the (regrettably) few male fantasy authors who can portray a woman as not a stereotype or a caricature or a mystery or an adorable nuisance or a far-fetched ideal but as a normal (well, normal for Discworld), real, and believable human being.
“This was not a fairy-tale castle and there was no such thing as a fairy-tale ending, but sometimes you could threaten to kick the handsome prince in the ham-and-eggs.”As it's becoming common in Pratchett's novels, the ending is not happy but has bittersweet undertones. There is an understanding that it takes a lot to change the world, to change people's beliefs and prejudices, that anything that is won is only a small step on a long road. "And now it wasn't that good things were happening, it was just that bad things had stopped." Pratchett is not reluctant to show that the world's ways of dealing with things that are uncomfortable, that challenge the status quo is to pretend that they never happened, pretend that they are the exception rather than the rule, pretend that ignoring things would make them go away.
"We weren't soldiers, she decided. We were girls in uniform. We were like a lucky charm. We were mascots. We weren't real, we were always a symbol of something. We'd done very well, for women. And we were temporary."************************************************
This is now one of my favorite Discworld novels. Five stars is not enough to describe how much I loved it. And I adored the little cameos from the other Discworld characters, especially Vimes (I am a true Vimes girl, why'd you ask?)
"The enemy wasn't men, or women, or the old, or even the dead. It was just bleedin' stupid people, who came in all varieties. And no one had the right to be stupid."
————
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
February 19, 2012
Five stars really aren't enough.
I think this might be my favorite Terry Pratchett book. I've read it at least 3-4 times, and re-reading it today, I'm delighted to discover that it's every bit as good as before.
As an added bonus, this book would be easier for new readers of Pratchett to pick up. There are a few characters from previous books, but they only have very brief cameo appearances. Other than that the book is pretty much self contained....
pat
December 6, 2015
This is the second most-frequently read of my favorite Terry Pratchett books, the first being Night Watch, which helped get me through the death of my mother. My latest copy of Monstrous Regiment is so battered and dog-eared that it’s falling apart. From sentence number one I was riveted and if you are wondering whether you should read this book, the short answer is yes, turn your cursor right now to a new tab and order it, or even better jog out to your local (probably half an hour away) bookstore (they’re an endangered species) and support them by buying it there.
It’s that good. Sir Terry is that good a writer. Read the book before finishing this review; you’ll thank me for the advice, and if you haven’t already devoured the Discworld series you are in for the rollercoaster ride and treat of your life.
By the way, Sir Terry is a personal hero of mine. When he died last March I cried for days. He went leaving the bravest self-written epitaph I have ever read: "Terry took Death's arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.
The End."
I was so stricken and devastated when I read this that I wrote a short response to it, which I kept to myself because I realized that I had no right to besmirch Sir Terry’s courage by imposing my own end-of-life beliefs on his in public. I get choked up just trying to write about this wonderful man and I ardently look forward to the day when we can cure Alzheimer’s disease and save the minds of other brilliant people like him.
And guess what? Monstrous Regiment is a “gender-bending” book, meaning that it’s about a girl who dresses up as a boy to get into the army of an extremely misogynistic and backward country so she can try to rescue her older brother Paul, whom she has taken care of since she was a child. That’s not a spoiler, by the way: that’s on the back cover. The entire story is about female and male roles, and whether or not they should change. Ahem. More about that later. But the point is, this is an extremely appropriate book for the first of my new reviews. It’s also a book that will probably make you think a few new thoughts, especially if female equality isn’t an obsession of yours, and therefore obviously worth reading.
Monstrous Regiment will also make you think about war. There is enough about realistic fighting in it to make you freeze in shock at points. Like Night Watch, like all of Sir Terry’s best writing, it deals with a serious subject in a loopy way, and the loopiness in turn has a deadly serious razor edge to it. Yes, yes, war is bad and grass is green (except in drought-stricken California, where it’s dun) but Monstrous Regiment will make you feel up close and personal what it’s like to be a soldier. And heaven only knows they know what war is really like. If you don’t feel some wheels turning in your head as you re-evaluate your position on whether anybody should fight anybody with anything after reading this book you are either smarter than everyone else left here in the world (and maybe a bodhisattva) or dumber than a pigeon.
The third subject Monstrous Regiment takes on is religion. Yes, organized religion and heavenly religion, too. And, once again, the book will probably surprise you. It astounded and amazed me by its bravery in handling this particular hot potato. I won’t go into the subject at length here because there are some spoilers that are pretty important to the discussion, but suffice it to say that new thoughts may well rocket back and forth in your head at the speed of a light clacks’ signals, which is to say at c for celeritas. Sir Terry is a genius when it comes to turning established “truths” on their heads and then turning them back over again . . . and back upside-down just for good measure.
So definitely, without doubt, read the book. There are some terrific characters introduced here. The protagonist, Polly Oliver Ozzer Perks, is a very likeable girl, and the question of whether she is a lovable girl—a hero to adore and/or emulate—doesn’t really even arise. I’d be entirely happy to have Polly on my team any day, and I’d not hesitate to call on her in time of need. She’s smart and solid. That’s high praise from me.
Overall: The action in the book is fast and furious, the humor is hilarious, the writing is fresh and vibrant, the ideas breathtaking, and there are even a few brief appearances by Samuel Vimes, who is my favorite of all Sir Terry’s characters, male or female. That is my conventional review of Monstrous Regiment, and I give it a conventional five out of five stars.
See the comments below for the rest of my review.
It’s that good. Sir Terry is that good a writer. Read the book before finishing this review; you’ll thank me for the advice, and if you haven’t already devoured the Discworld series you are in for the rollercoaster ride and treat of your life.
By the way, Sir Terry is a personal hero of mine. When he died last March I cried for days. He went leaving the bravest self-written epitaph I have ever read: "Terry took Death's arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.
The End."
I was so stricken and devastated when I read this that I wrote a short response to it, which I kept to myself because I realized that I had no right to besmirch Sir Terry’s courage by imposing my own end-of-life beliefs on his in public. I get choked up just trying to write about this wonderful man and I ardently look forward to the day when we can cure Alzheimer’s disease and save the minds of other brilliant people like him.
And guess what? Monstrous Regiment is a “gender-bending” book, meaning that it’s about a girl who dresses up as a boy to get into the army of an extremely misogynistic and backward country so she can try to rescue her older brother Paul, whom she has taken care of since she was a child. That’s not a spoiler, by the way: that’s on the back cover. The entire story is about female and male roles, and whether or not they should change. Ahem. More about that later. But the point is, this is an extremely appropriate book for the first of my new reviews. It’s also a book that will probably make you think a few new thoughts, especially if female equality isn’t an obsession of yours, and therefore obviously worth reading.
Monstrous Regiment will also make you think about war. There is enough about realistic fighting in it to make you freeze in shock at points. Like Night Watch, like all of Sir Terry’s best writing, it deals with a serious subject in a loopy way, and the loopiness in turn has a deadly serious razor edge to it. Yes, yes, war is bad and grass is green (except in drought-stricken California, where it’s dun) but Monstrous Regiment will make you feel up close and personal what it’s like to be a soldier. And heaven only knows they know what war is really like. If you don’t feel some wheels turning in your head as you re-evaluate your position on whether anybody should fight anybody with anything after reading this book you are either smarter than everyone else left here in the world (and maybe a bodhisattva) or dumber than a pigeon.
The third subject Monstrous Regiment takes on is religion. Yes, organized religion and heavenly religion, too. And, once again, the book will probably surprise you. It astounded and amazed me by its bravery in handling this particular hot potato. I won’t go into the subject at length here because there are some spoilers that are pretty important to the discussion, but suffice it to say that new thoughts may well rocket back and forth in your head at the speed of a light clacks’ signals, which is to say at c for celeritas. Sir Terry is a genius when it comes to turning established “truths” on their heads and then turning them back over again . . . and back upside-down just for good measure.
So definitely, without doubt, read the book. There are some terrific characters introduced here. The protagonist, Polly Oliver Ozzer Perks, is a very likeable girl, and the question of whether she is a lovable girl—a hero to adore and/or emulate—doesn’t really even arise. I’d be entirely happy to have Polly on my team any day, and I’d not hesitate to call on her in time of need. She’s smart and solid. That’s high praise from me.
Overall: The action in the book is fast and furious, the humor is hilarious, the writing is fresh and vibrant, the ideas breathtaking, and there are even a few brief appearances by Samuel Vimes, who is my favorite of all Sir Terry’s characters, male or female. That is my conventional review of Monstrous Regiment, and I give it a conventional five out of five stars.
See the comments below for the rest of my review.
March 26, 2021
Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31), Terry Pratchett
Monstrous Regiment is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 31st novel in his Discworld series.
The bulk of Monstrous Regiment takes place in the small, bellicose country of Borogravia, a highly conservative nation, whose people live according to the increasingly strange decrees of its favored deity, Nuggan.
The main feature of his religion is the Abominations; a long, often-updated list of banned things.
To put this in perspective, these things include garlic, cats, the smell of beets, people with ginger hair, shirts with six buttons, anyone shorter than three feet (including children and babies), sneezing, rocks, ears, jigsaw puzzles, chocolate (which was once Borogravia's staple export, plunging the country into increasing poverty), and the color blue.
The list of "Abominations Unto Nuggan" often causes conflicts with Borogravia's neighbours, and the uncertain whereabouts of Nuggan leads the inhabitants of Borogravia to deify their Duchess, to whom they pray instead.
This slowly causes problems as, on the Discworld, belief grants power. Borogravia is in the midst of a war against an alliance of neighbouring countries, caused by a border dispute with the country of Zlobenia. Rumour is that the war is going poorly for Borogravia, though the country's leadership (and "everyone") denies it.
Polly Perks's brother Paul is missing in action after fighting in the Borogravian army. Paul is naive and believes what he is told regardless of the credibility or political leanings of the source, and even though Polly is more qualified to take over the family business (a famous pub known as "The Duchess"), according to Nugganitic law, women cannot own property, so if Paul does not return the pub will be lost to their drunken cousin when their father dies.
Partly to ensure her own future but mainly to ascertain whether Paul is alive, Polly sets off to join the army in order to find him.
Women joining the army are regarded as an Abomination Unto Nuggan, so Polly decides to dress up as a man (another Abomination) and enlists as Private Oliver Perks (taking her name from the folk song Sweet Polly Oliver) a song that her father sang to her when she was a young girl.
While signing up, Polly encounters the repulsively patriotic Corporal Strappi, and the corpulent Sergeant Jackrum.
Despite her apprehensions regarding Strappi, she kisses the Duchess - that is, she kisses a painting of said noble - and by doing so, joins up.
Due to the shortage of troops, her fellow soldiers include a vampire named Maladict, a Troll named Carborundum, and an Igor named Igor.
They also include "Tonker" Halter, "Shufti" Manickle, "Wazzer" Goom, and "Lofty" Tewt.
That night, Polly encounters an unknown supporter whilst answering a call of nature, who assures her that although they know that Polly is a girl, they won't give her away.
They also give her some hints on how not to be discovered. Over the next few days, Polly makes a startling discovery: Lofty is also a girl.
Since Lofty and Tonker are always together, Polly assumes that Lofty joined the army to follow her man, just like in "Sweet Polly Oliver".
Later, she finds out that Shufti is another girl, and a pregnant one. She also joined the army to find her man; in this case, the father of her child, who she'd only known for a few days, and is known as Johnny. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز دهم ماه جولای 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب سی و یکم: هنگ بزرگ (هیولا)؛ 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 بزرگ» 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 عنوان 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 زمان (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»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
بخش عمده ی «هنگ هیولا»، در یک کشور کوچک و جنگ طلب «بوروگراویا»، کشوری کاملاً محافظه کار، برگزار میشود، که مردمان آن طبق احکام عجیب خدای مورد علاقه ی خود «نوگان»، زندگی میکنند؛ ویژگی اصلی دین آنها «مکروهات» است؛ لیستی طولانی، و اغلب به روز شده، از موارد ممنوع؛ برای درک بهتر این موارد: سیر، گربه، بوی چغندر، افرادی با موی زنجبیل، پیراهنهایی با شش دکمه، هر کسی کوتاهتر از سه پا (از جمله کودکان و نوزادان)، عطسه، سنگ، گوش، اره منبت کاری اره مویی، شکلات (که زمانی صادرات اصلی «بوروگا» بود، و کشور را در فقر فزاینده فرو میبرد) و رنگ آبی؛ و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 05/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Monstrous Regiment is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 31st novel in his Discworld series.
The bulk of Monstrous Regiment takes place in the small, bellicose country of Borogravia, a highly conservative nation, whose people live according to the increasingly strange decrees of its favored deity, Nuggan.
The main feature of his religion is the Abominations; a long, often-updated list of banned things.
To put this in perspective, these things include garlic, cats, the smell of beets, people with ginger hair, shirts with six buttons, anyone shorter than three feet (including children and babies), sneezing, rocks, ears, jigsaw puzzles, chocolate (which was once Borogravia's staple export, plunging the country into increasing poverty), and the color blue.
The list of "Abominations Unto Nuggan" often causes conflicts with Borogravia's neighbours, and the uncertain whereabouts of Nuggan leads the inhabitants of Borogravia to deify their Duchess, to whom they pray instead.
This slowly causes problems as, on the Discworld, belief grants power. Borogravia is in the midst of a war against an alliance of neighbouring countries, caused by a border dispute with the country of Zlobenia. Rumour is that the war is going poorly for Borogravia, though the country's leadership (and "everyone") denies it.
Polly Perks's brother Paul is missing in action after fighting in the Borogravian army. Paul is naive and believes what he is told regardless of the credibility or political leanings of the source, and even though Polly is more qualified to take over the family business (a famous pub known as "The Duchess"), according to Nugganitic law, women cannot own property, so if Paul does not return the pub will be lost to their drunken cousin when their father dies.
Partly to ensure her own future but mainly to ascertain whether Paul is alive, Polly sets off to join the army in order to find him.
Women joining the army are regarded as an Abomination Unto Nuggan, so Polly decides to dress up as a man (another Abomination) and enlists as Private Oliver Perks (taking her name from the folk song Sweet Polly Oliver) a song that her father sang to her when she was a young girl.
While signing up, Polly encounters the repulsively patriotic Corporal Strappi, and the corpulent Sergeant Jackrum.
Despite her apprehensions regarding Strappi, she kisses the Duchess - that is, she kisses a painting of said noble - and by doing so, joins up.
Due to the shortage of troops, her fellow soldiers include a vampire named Maladict, a Troll named Carborundum, and an Igor named Igor.
They also include "Tonker" Halter, "Shufti" Manickle, "Wazzer" Goom, and "Lofty" Tewt.
That night, Polly encounters an unknown supporter whilst answering a call of nature, who assures her that although they know that Polly is a girl, they won't give her away.
They also give her some hints on how not to be discovered. Over the next few days, Polly makes a startling discovery: Lofty is also a girl.
Since Lofty and Tonker are always together, Polly assumes that Lofty joined the army to follow her man, just like in "Sweet Polly Oliver".
Later, she finds out that Shufti is another girl, and a pregnant one. She also joined the army to find her man; in this case, the father of her child, who she'd only known for a few days, and is known as Johnny. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز دهم ماه جولای 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب سی و یکم: هنگ بزرگ (هیولا)؛ 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 بزرگ» 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 عنوان 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 زمان (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»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
بخش عمده ی «هنگ هیولا»، در یک کشور کوچک و جنگ طلب «بوروگراویا»، کشوری کاملاً محافظه کار، برگزار میشود، که مردمان آن طبق احکام عجیب خدای مورد علاقه ی خود «نوگان»، زندگی میکنند؛ ویژگی اصلی دین آنها «مکروهات» است؛ لیستی طولانی، و اغلب به روز شده، از موارد ممنوع؛ برای درک بهتر این موارد: سیر، گربه، بوی چغندر، افرادی با موی زنجبیل، پیراهنهایی با شش دکمه، هر کسی کوتاهتر از سه پا (از جمله کودکان و نوزادان)، عطسه، سنگ، گوش، اره منبت کاری اره مویی، شکلات (که زمانی صادرات اصلی «بوروگا» بود، و کشور را در فقر فزاینده فرو میبرد) و رنگ آبی؛ و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 05/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
January 21, 2019
Yer mom wears army boots!
Men and women, women and men. Men without women, women doing just fine without men.
Terry Pratchett’s 31st Discworld novel, first published in 2003, is somewhat of a departure from the other series. We see Sam Vimes and some members of his watch and there are distant grumblings about Ankh-Morpork, but this is for the most part a stand alone about the small, proud truculent nation of Borogravia.
This struggling nation state is foundering after decades or centuries of warfare, attacking and “defending” against the aggression of its neighbors. But Pratchett draws a picture of a population and culture bent and warped by a ridiculous religion and the near worship of a monarch. Blind faith and mistaken loyalties are two of the elements that Sir Terry has fun with in this very well done novel.
Told in a more lineal manner than many of his eclectic stories, this one has more a more somber tone than most, this being about war, but it also had some of the most laugh out loud scenes of any of his books. Perhaps Pratchett, taking on a serious subject, realized the need for some uproarious comic relief. His sense of timing is impeccable.
I always like it, whether in a film or a book, when a supporting character takes over and steals the show. While the protagonist here is a young girl who cuts her hair and surreptitiously joins the army, Sergeant Jackrum takes over and is by far the most interesting player.
This one took a while to get moving for me but then it really took over and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Pratchett asks some serious questions – in his enjoyably non-serious way – and leaves the reader with some thought provoking ideas about war and peace, about ourselves, and the value of tradition against common sense.
Men and women, women and men. Men without women, women doing just fine without men.
Terry Pratchett’s 31st Discworld novel, first published in 2003, is somewhat of a departure from the other series. We see Sam Vimes and some members of his watch and there are distant grumblings about Ankh-Morpork, but this is for the most part a stand alone about the small, proud truculent nation of Borogravia.
This struggling nation state is foundering after decades or centuries of warfare, attacking and “defending” against the aggression of its neighbors. But Pratchett draws a picture of a population and culture bent and warped by a ridiculous religion and the near worship of a monarch. Blind faith and mistaken loyalties are two of the elements that Sir Terry has fun with in this very well done novel.
Told in a more lineal manner than many of his eclectic stories, this one has more a more somber tone than most, this being about war, but it also had some of the most laugh out loud scenes of any of his books. Perhaps Pratchett, taking on a serious subject, realized the need for some uproarious comic relief. His sense of timing is impeccable.
I always like it, whether in a film or a book, when a supporting character takes over and steals the show. While the protagonist here is a young girl who cuts her hair and surreptitiously joins the army, Sergeant Jackrum takes over and is by far the most interesting player.
This one took a while to get moving for me but then it really took over and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Pratchett asks some serious questions – in his enjoyably non-serious way – and leaves the reader with some thought provoking ideas about war and peace, about ourselves, and the value of tradition against common sense.
February 21, 2023
Polly is a barmaid whose brother has gone missing in action. Her country is at war and is always looking for new recruits. So she wants to join the army, to look for her brother. But the tiny country she lives in is very conservative, they will only accept male applicants. This isn’t a problem for Polly though. She cuts her hair, puts on her brother’s clothes and pretends to be a man. She quickly gets enlisted and sent to a regiment. She does her best to keep her gender a secret, but it turns out there are others who share her secret.
Every single guy in Polly’s regiment is a woman! What a cool way to point out how stupid sexism is. And the brilliant thing is, this revelation actually comes quite early in the story. This revelation could have so easily been the climax of a really strong satire on sexism and traditional gender roles. And it would have been awesome. Especially if you add some Terry Pratchett comedy magic to the mix. But the story doesn’t end there, it’s only just beginning at that point.
Polly lives in a very small country that’s at war. And the only thing the people know about the war, is what they’re told via propaganda. They know that they have the best army in the whole world. And that they’re winning the war. But that’s pretty much it. As soon as Polly’s enlisted in the army, she’s immediately sent to the front. Her regiment doesn’t get any training whatsoever because the army’s so desperately in need of more soldiers. Their equipment is like a handful of bent swords and a few bloody shirts with holes in them. They quickly grow suspicious of the war in general. And when they get their hands on some newspapers from the other side, where there is free press, they realize they’ve been lied to.
For a country that’s incredibly sexist, it’s ironically being led by a woman. The Duchess hasn’t been seen in a very long time. So long, that people are starting to suspect that she might not even be alive anymore. But nobody wants to say this aloud, because the Duchess is pretty much worshipped like a god. And yet they still continue to obey her commands blindly.
This is a standalone novel in the legendary Discworld series, and it is without a doubt absolutely brilliant. It delivers on so many levels and tackles so many important themes in such an entertaining and satisfying way. This novel just without a doubt knocks it out of the park. One of Pratchett’s best. Can’t recommend this enough.
Every single guy in Polly’s regiment is a woman! What a cool way to point out how stupid sexism is. And the brilliant thing is, this revelation actually comes quite early in the story. This revelation could have so easily been the climax of a really strong satire on sexism and traditional gender roles. And it would have been awesome. Especially if you add some Terry Pratchett comedy magic to the mix. But the story doesn’t end there, it’s only just beginning at that point.
Polly lives in a very small country that’s at war. And the only thing the people know about the war, is what they’re told via propaganda. They know that they have the best army in the whole world. And that they’re winning the war. But that’s pretty much it. As soon as Polly’s enlisted in the army, she’s immediately sent to the front. Her regiment doesn’t get any training whatsoever because the army’s so desperately in need of more soldiers. Their equipment is like a handful of bent swords and a few bloody shirts with holes in them. They quickly grow suspicious of the war in general. And when they get their hands on some newspapers from the other side, where there is free press, they realize they’ve been lied to.
For a country that’s incredibly sexist, it’s ironically being led by a woman. The Duchess hasn’t been seen in a very long time. So long, that people are starting to suspect that she might not even be alive anymore. But nobody wants to say this aloud, because the Duchess is pretty much worshipped like a god. And yet they still continue to obey her commands blindly.
This is a standalone novel in the legendary Discworld series, and it is without a doubt absolutely brilliant. It delivers on so many levels and tackles so many important themes in such an entertaining and satisfying way. This novel just without a doubt knocks it out of the park. One of Pratchett’s best. Can’t recommend this enough.
March 31, 2014
There was always a war. Usually they were border disputes, the national equivalent of complaining that the neighbor was letting their hedge grow too long. Sometimes they were bigger. Borogravia was a peace-loving country in the midst of treacherous, devious, warlike enemies. They had to be treacherous, devious, and war-like, otherwise we wouldn't be fighting them, eh? There was always a war.
The Night Watch goes to War! Or, at least, that was my expectation before I started the novel. Only thing is, this Discworld novel is not exactly about the Night Watch, even if Sam Vimes, Angua and a couple of others do participate in the conflict. The theme chosen by Sir Terry is indeed the lampooning of martial mentality, but the main actors are a bunch of fresh recruits in the army of Borogravia. Each of these recruits harbors a secret identity, and I guess it is not much of a spoiler to mention that for some of them that identity has to do with gender roles.
A long history of open conflict with all its neighbors, in particular a recent attack on Ankh-Morpork clack towers has brought Vimes and the imperial forces to fight on the side of Zlobenia and has left Borogravia deprived of fresh blood to send to the slaughter. Recruiting parties are chased out of the impoverished villages empty handed, until Polly decides to switch genres and enroll. All it takes, apparently is a pair of socks, shorn hair and a lifetime of observing the habits of the opposite sex.
You might pick your nose a bit more often. Just a tip. Few things interest a young man more than the contents of his nostrils.
The new platoon that Polly joins is heading for the front, where a defeated Borogravian army is dug in under the battlements of a massive fortress they just lost due to the deviousness of Vimes. Under the fierce tutelage of veteran sergeant Jackrum, a ragtag collection of losers and misfits is welded together into a formidable fighting machine, in the best tradition of war movies that Pratchett sets out to subvert with an energy and a self-assurance that proves the Discworld treasure chest of ideas is far for reaching its bottom. I spotted some clear references to Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, but there are probably more barbed arrows that I missed along the way.
I joined t'see exciting forrin places and meet erotic people! declares Carborundum, a rumbling troll in search of adventure who probably means exotic people. The platoon also includes an Igor, an abstinent vampire, a pyromaniac, a pregnant girl, a religious zealot modelled after Jeanne d'Arc, a couple of runaways from a correction house, etc. Together they will become famous as the Monstrous Regiment and they will change the course of history.
This would have been one of my favorite Discworld novels, given the mastery of plot, comedy and pathos that I have come to expect from every new Pratchett novel, but for a small bother.
An added attraction in the story is the second main avenue of attack for the author: religious intolerance. Borogravian military problems are compounded by their peculiar branch of belief in a living holy scripture, whose Book of Nuggan addendum is much longer than the main text and is updated weekly with new interdictions and sins, like red hair, pickles or singing.
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it . may not be the most original dictum written by Pratchett, but it is one I could subscribe to without reservations.
Time to say goodbye to Pollyand wish her all the best of luck trying to revolutionaze the Borogravian rigid ways, while I add to my TBR the next Discworld issue.
The Night Watch goes to War! Or, at least, that was my expectation before I started the novel. Only thing is, this Discworld novel is not exactly about the Night Watch, even if Sam Vimes, Angua and a couple of others do participate in the conflict. The theme chosen by Sir Terry is indeed the lampooning of martial mentality, but the main actors are a bunch of fresh recruits in the army of Borogravia. Each of these recruits harbors a secret identity, and I guess it is not much of a spoiler to mention that for some of them that identity has to do with gender roles.
A long history of open conflict with all its neighbors, in particular a recent attack on Ankh-Morpork clack towers has brought Vimes and the imperial forces to fight on the side of Zlobenia and has left Borogravia deprived of fresh blood to send to the slaughter. Recruiting parties are chased out of the impoverished villages empty handed, until Polly decides to switch genres and enroll. All it takes, apparently is a pair of socks, shorn hair and a lifetime of observing the habits of the opposite sex.
You might pick your nose a bit more often. Just a tip. Few things interest a young man more than the contents of his nostrils.
The new platoon that Polly joins is heading for the front, where a defeated Borogravian army is dug in under the battlements of a massive fortress they just lost due to the deviousness of Vimes. Under the fierce tutelage of veteran sergeant Jackrum, a ragtag collection of losers and misfits is welded together into a formidable fighting machine, in the best tradition of war movies that Pratchett sets out to subvert with an energy and a self-assurance that proves the Discworld treasure chest of ideas is far for reaching its bottom. I spotted some clear references to Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, but there are probably more barbed arrows that I missed along the way.
I joined t'see exciting forrin places and meet erotic people! declares Carborundum, a rumbling troll in search of adventure who probably means exotic people. The platoon also includes an Igor, an abstinent vampire, a pyromaniac, a pregnant girl, a religious zealot modelled after Jeanne d'Arc, a couple of runaways from a correction house, etc. Together they will become famous as the Monstrous Regiment and they will change the course of history.
This would have been one of my favorite Discworld novels, given the mastery of plot, comedy and pathos that I have come to expect from every new Pratchett novel, but for a small bother.
An added attraction in the story is the second main avenue of attack for the author: religious intolerance. Borogravian military problems are compounded by their peculiar branch of belief in a living holy scripture, whose Book of Nuggan addendum is much longer than the main text and is updated weekly with new interdictions and sins, like red hair, pickles or singing.
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it . may not be the most original dictum written by Pratchett, but it is one I could subscribe to without reservations.
Time to say goodbye to Pollyand wish her all the best of luck trying to revolutionaze the Borogravian rigid ways, while I add to my TBR the next Discworld issue.
December 10, 2019
Re-Read 12/10/19:
A delightful Discworld read that dives head first into a little country's war problem. Well, it's not really a problem, per se... in fact, it's almost done. As in fini. Kaput. With them the ultimate losers.
So you'd think, with all the men being dead and all, they'd be more welcoming of a bit of some added support. And I'm not talking bras... or AM I?
A very funny book. There are a few coffee drinking beasties here, a troll, and even an Igor(ina). It turns into a kinda Hogan's Heroes. Or rather, Heroines. And ooooh the abominations! Cross-Dressing Everywhere!
A delightful Discworld read that dives head first into a little country's war problem. Well, it's not really a problem, per se... in fact, it's almost done. As in fini. Kaput. With them the ultimate losers.
So you'd think, with all the men being dead and all, they'd be more welcoming of a bit of some added support. And I'm not talking bras... or AM I?
A very funny book. There are a few coffee drinking beasties here, a troll, and even an Igor(ina). It turns into a kinda Hogan's Heroes. Or rather, Heroines. And ooooh the abominations! Cross-Dressing Everywhere!
December 10, 2019
Welcome to Borogravia.
It is currently at war with Szlobenia. Well, Borogravia is always at war with someone. It has been at war with every single one of its neighours and with some of them even more than once. Why? Because they consider it their patriotic duty. Just like never giving up even if the only reason for their survival is that their enemy doesn't want to just senselessly slaughter them where they stand.
One Borogravian doesn't really care about the war. All she cares about is finding her brother. To do that, she cuts her hair, stuffs some socks into her trousers and marches off as a soldier in the army. She is surprised to find she is not the only woman/girl who had reason to disguise herself and enlist. Amongst the comrades in her regiment are a vampire, a troll and an Igor. To say nothing of the apparently legendary Sergeant Jackrum.
On the periphery, we get a few glimpses at this mess from the POV of Commander Vimes and deWord as this business is involving Ankh-Morpork, too (so long as they can help an underdog against a royal without having to spend too much money).
Sir Terry obviously had quite a few things to say about war and patriotism, corporate and state interests in wars and general soldiering. It might very well be that he and I had quite different opinions on the matter(s). Then again, it's entirely possible that we might have agreed at least on some of the things. It's hard to say since Sir Terry isn't just repeating old jokes and snide remarks (the ones about soldiers being too stupid to be doing any other job, or the ones of officers vs. grunts etc). That would be too one-sided and narrow-minded. Instead, he was aware of and also showed (commended even) the other, more sensible aspects (the camaraderie for example). And that is what I love so bloody much about the author: no matter his personal stance, he always gives a 360°-view. This is important since nothing, especially not something as complex as state politics and wars, is black-or-white. It's not just one thing or another either. To get to the bottom of it, to be able to form an informed opinion, you need all available information and he didn't just want to make you agree with him - he wanted to make you think for yourself.
As far as I can tell, this installment of the Discworld series was published after the start of the second Iraq war. But while that might have been the reason for him writing this book, Sir Terry is settling the account with humanity's overall history of war. Thus, the story has elements from the Bosnian war, the two World Wars, perhaps even the Falkland wars as well. To give this book an additional edge (because that is how the author rolled), the story is also about gender roles, religious fanatism and the concepts of honour and freedom.
Delivering the necessary comic relief are the quirks of all the different races in the titular Monstrous Regiment - including but not limited to the vampire's coffee obsession - and the general absurdity of many a situation. The most endearing bit (to me) was the heart-warmingsisterbrotherhood of the regiment.
Not the strongest installment of the series but seriously good in its own right.
It is currently at war with Szlobenia. Well, Borogravia is always at war with someone. It has been at war with every single one of its neighours and with some of them even more than once. Why? Because they consider it their patriotic duty. Just like never giving up even if the only reason for their survival is that their enemy doesn't want to just senselessly slaughter them where they stand.
One Borogravian doesn't really care about the war. All she cares about is finding her brother. To do that, she cuts her hair, stuffs some socks into her trousers and marches off as a soldier in the army. She is surprised to find she is not the only woman/girl who had reason to disguise herself and enlist. Amongst the comrades in her regiment are a vampire, a troll and an Igor. To say nothing of the apparently legendary Sergeant Jackrum.
On the periphery, we get a few glimpses at this mess from the POV of Commander Vimes and deWord as this business is involving Ankh-Morpork, too (so long as they can help an underdog against a royal without having to spend too much money).
Sir Terry obviously had quite a few things to say about war and patriotism, corporate and state interests in wars and general soldiering. It might very well be that he and I had quite different opinions on the matter(s). Then again, it's entirely possible that we might have agreed at least on some of the things. It's hard to say since Sir Terry isn't just repeating old jokes and snide remarks (the ones about soldiers being too stupid to be doing any other job, or the ones of officers vs. grunts etc). That would be too one-sided and narrow-minded. Instead, he was aware of and also showed (commended even) the other, more sensible aspects (the camaraderie for example). And that is what I love so bloody much about the author: no matter his personal stance, he always gives a 360°-view. This is important since nothing, especially not something as complex as state politics and wars, is black-or-white. It's not just one thing or another either. To get to the bottom of it, to be able to form an informed opinion, you need all available information and he didn't just want to make you agree with him - he wanted to make you think for yourself.
As far as I can tell, this installment of the Discworld series was published after the start of the second Iraq war. But while that might have been the reason for him writing this book, Sir Terry is settling the account with humanity's overall history of war. Thus, the story has elements from the Bosnian war, the two World Wars, perhaps even the Falkland wars as well. To give this book an additional edge (because that is how the author rolled), the story is also about gender roles, religious fanatism and the concepts of honour and freedom.
Delivering the necessary comic relief are the quirks of all the different races in the titular Monstrous Regiment - including but not limited to the vampire's coffee obsession - and the general absurdity of many a situation. The most endearing bit (to me) was the heart-warming
Not the strongest installment of the series but seriously good in its own right.
November 5, 2014
That'd been almost a year ago, when any recruiting party that came past went away with the best part of a battalion, and there had been people waving them off with flags and music. Sometimes, now, smaller parties of men came back. The lucky ones were missing only one arm or one leg. There were no flags.
It's hard finding soldiers when you're always at war. Especially when you're fighting a war that you may not be winning.
Eventually, you end up taking whatever you can get...trolls, vampires, even...GASP!...women!
The horror, the horror!
The newest recruits to This Man's Army (snicker!) are a mixed bunch and they're quickly discovering that war is not all it's cracked up to be. They find themselves ill-equipped with only hand-me-downs from dead soldiers and no rations.
"We have to steal our food?" said Maladict.
"No, you can starve if that takes your fancy," said the corporal. "I've starved a few times. There's no future in it."
Things can only get worse. Then, they do.
"Men, I have good news," he added, but in the voice of one who hasn't. "You were probably expecting a week or two in the training camp in Crotz, yes? But I'm glad to be able to tell you that the, the war is progressing so, so well that you are to go directly to the front."
Soon, reality sets in and the realization of their dire predicament descends like a fog.
They were losing the war. Everyone knew that, but nobody would say it. It was as if they felt that if the words weren't said out loud then it wasn't really happening. They were losing the war and this squad, untrained and untried, fighting in dead men's boots, could only help them lose it faster.
I have a problem when it comes to some Pratchett novels, particularly those lacking in witches. I'm reading along like gangbusters, then about halfway through, I lose all interest. I begin eyeing up that stack of unread, perhaps, more interesting books by the bed. I call this "The Discworld Doldrums." Luckily, my attention bounced back with this one, though I honestly believe a pared down version might have been funnier. So, this was definitely not a high point in the series for me. HOWEVER - Pratchett does a fantastic job of summing up the folly of war.
"We are a proud country."
"What are you proud of?"
It came swiftly, like a blow, and Polly realized how wars happened. You took that shock that had run through her and let it boil.
...it may be corrupt, benighted, and stupid, but it's ours...
We have our pride. And that's what we're proud of. We're proud of being proud...
It's hard finding soldiers when you're always at war. Especially when you're fighting a war that you may not be winning.
Eventually, you end up taking whatever you can get...trolls, vampires, even...GASP!...women!
The horror, the horror!
The newest recruits to This Man's Army (snicker!) are a mixed bunch and they're quickly discovering that war is not all it's cracked up to be. They find themselves ill-equipped with only hand-me-downs from dead soldiers and no rations.
"We have to steal our food?" said Maladict.
"No, you can starve if that takes your fancy," said the corporal. "I've starved a few times. There's no future in it."
Things can only get worse. Then, they do.
"Men, I have good news," he added, but in the voice of one who hasn't. "You were probably expecting a week or two in the training camp in Crotz, yes? But I'm glad to be able to tell you that the, the war is progressing so, so well that you are to go directly to the front."
Soon, reality sets in and the realization of their dire predicament descends like a fog.
They were losing the war. Everyone knew that, but nobody would say it. It was as if they felt that if the words weren't said out loud then it wasn't really happening. They were losing the war and this squad, untrained and untried, fighting in dead men's boots, could only help them lose it faster.
I have a problem when it comes to some Pratchett novels, particularly those lacking in witches. I'm reading along like gangbusters, then about halfway through, I lose all interest. I begin eyeing up that stack of unread, perhaps, more interesting books by the bed. I call this "The Discworld Doldrums." Luckily, my attention bounced back with this one, though I honestly believe a pared down version might have been funnier. So, this was definitely not a high point in the series for me. HOWEVER - Pratchett does a fantastic job of summing up the folly of war.
"We are a proud country."
"What are you proud of?"
It came swiftly, like a blow, and Polly realized how wars happened. You took that shock that had run through her and let it boil.
...it may be corrupt, benighted, and stupid, but it's ours...
We have our pride. And that's what we're proud of. We're proud of being proud...
October 7, 2022
Always read the one star reviews first. They often tell you more about a book than the five star ones. A well articulated one star review (as opposed to the “this sucks!” variety) is usually information rich. This rule holds true for Monstrous Regiment. I liked the top couple one star reviews for this book. I thought they made good points. I still gave Monstrous Regiment five stars.
This is a one shot Disc World book. Sam Vines appears, but only in a supporting role, not much more than a cameo. So Monstrous Regiment has the handicap of being a Disc World orphan. And it is predictable. From page one. It goes on longish, seemingly having at least a couple more twists than such a predictable book needs. And yes, it’s Grrl Power theme didn’t manage any serious blow against sexism, as the book’s satire spiraled into farce.
Yet Monstrous Regiment still worked for me. Polly, the first person narrator, is perfectly drawn. Her combined confidence and confusion, bravado and self doubt, skepticism and hope made her a brilliantly fleshed out, three dimensional character, and I adored her narrative voice. Sergeant Jackrum was a great side character, worthy of being a Disc World regular. Even Lieutenant Blouse, the mostly clueless “Rupert” (officer) is more than a simple joke, has satisfying depth, and adds to the tale.
Pratchett skewered many of his usual suspects in Monstrous Regiment. Nationalism/Patriotism, religious fundamentalism, sexism and the patriarchy all take their licks from Pratchett’s satirical pen. At first glance, the edge of his satire appears to dull as progressively revealed secret identities transform satire into farce. Yet even here, I think Pratchett stayed two step ahead of the rest of us. Despite our best intentions and efforts, many of these worst abuses continue to survive, leaving us, in the end, either dying of bitterness or laughing at the farce. Pratchett’s darkly honest humor encourages us to do the latter.
This is a one shot Disc World book. Sam Vines appears, but only in a supporting role, not much more than a cameo. So Monstrous Regiment has the handicap of being a Disc World orphan. And it is predictable. From page one. It goes on longish, seemingly having at least a couple more twists than such a predictable book needs. And yes, it’s Grrl Power theme didn’t manage any serious blow against sexism, as the book’s satire spiraled into farce.
Yet Monstrous Regiment still worked for me. Polly, the first person narrator, is perfectly drawn. Her combined confidence and confusion, bravado and self doubt, skepticism and hope made her a brilliantly fleshed out, three dimensional character, and I adored her narrative voice. Sergeant Jackrum was a great side character, worthy of being a Disc World regular. Even Lieutenant Blouse, the mostly clueless “Rupert” (officer) is more than a simple joke, has satisfying depth, and adds to the tale.
Pratchett skewered many of his usual suspects in Monstrous Regiment. Nationalism/Patriotism, religious fundamentalism, sexism and the patriarchy all take their licks from Pratchett’s satirical pen. At first glance, the edge of his satire appears to dull as progressively revealed secret identities transform satire into farce. Yet even here, I think Pratchett stayed two step ahead of the rest of us. Despite our best intentions and efforts, many of these worst abuses continue to survive, leaving us, in the end, either dying of bitterness or laughing at the farce. Pratchett’s darkly honest humor encourages us to do the latter.
March 7, 2022
Phenomenal, surprising, and impressive entry, even amongst a string of 5-star Discworld books.
This is easily the bleakest book in the series, and one of the best. It takes experienced Discophiles out of their comfort zone; new characters, new nations, new perspectives. It remains fully plugged into the book universe, with a plot tangential to Ankh-Morpork and the expansion of the Clacks system, and small roles by Sam Vimes as ambassador and select Watch members, but they are seldom seen.
The stars of this show are young, beaten down by an oppressive country, culture, and the worst religion yet seen on the Disc, fighting a losing war with no resources, no support, and no hope. Isn't that hilarious? . . . Fine, maybe not, but the book still manages to showcase Pratchett's trademark humour. It's just that it's never been quite so deeply humanized before, and that's saying something.
I waver on whether this is an acceptable jumping-in point for the series. It technically suits that need because of its low reliance on established characters and setting, but I think its quality would be muted if going in blind. It works much better as a kidney-punch of a book after a long love affair with the series. At a minimum, one should read The Truth first, and that is a good jump-in point in my estimation. Really, the best way to experience Discworld is as I am doing it now; a full series publication-order reading (re-reading, in my case). Some of the earlier books were not up to the same quality, but damn are they ever still good in the grand scheme, and if nothing else they establish the podium on which this particular entry stands in full glory.
This is easily the bleakest book in the series, and one of the best. It takes experienced Discophiles out of their comfort zone; new characters, new nations, new perspectives. It remains fully plugged into the book universe, with a plot tangential to Ankh-Morpork and the expansion of the Clacks system, and small roles by Sam Vimes as ambassador and select Watch members, but they are seldom seen.
The stars of this show are young, beaten down by an oppressive country, culture, and the worst religion yet seen on the Disc, fighting a losing war with no resources, no support, and no hope. Isn't that hilarious? . . . Fine, maybe not, but the book still manages to showcase Pratchett's trademark humour. It's just that it's never been quite so deeply humanized before, and that's saying something.
I waver on whether this is an acceptable jumping-in point for the series. It technically suits that need because of its low reliance on established characters and setting, but I think its quality would be muted if going in blind. It works much better as a kidney-punch of a book after a long love affair with the series. At a minimum, one should read The Truth first, and that is a good jump-in point in my estimation. Really, the best way to experience Discworld is as I am doing it now; a full series publication-order reading (re-reading, in my case). Some of the earlier books were not up to the same quality, but damn are they ever still good in the grand scheme, and if nothing else they establish the podium on which this particular entry stands in full glory.
September 22, 2017
January 10, 2017
March 22, 2015
January 1, 2004
I'm fond of stories about girls dressing as boys in order to do something they would otherwise be prohibited from. Very funny.
Library copy
March 22, 2015
January 1, 2004
I'm fond of stories about girls dressing as boys in order to do something they would otherwise be prohibited from. Very funny.
Library copy
February 22, 2023
Sanırım bugüne kadar okuduğum en iyi Terry Pratchett kitabı.
Bu sefer Ankh-Morpork'un pek kavgacı komşusu Borogravia'ya gidiyor ve komşularıyla girdikleri savaşın hikayesine, erkek kılığına girerek askere yazılmış, kardeşini arayan bir genç kızın gözünden tanık oluyoruz.
Kimi yönleriyle ilginç, kimi yönleriyle ise istemeyeceğimiz kadar tanıdık, boktan bir ülke Borogravia. Ekonomisi mutlak bir çöküşün arifesinde, artık neredeyse asker olacak sağlıklı bir popülasyonu kalmamış, yöneticisi muhtemelen ölmüş, kafayı üşütmüş tanrı Nuggan'ın zorlu yasakları altında yaşamaya çalışan ve devamlı savaşan bir ülke.
Geleneklerine bağlı ve muhafazakar. Kadınların en fazla sabırsız bir tahammül umabileceği, her şeyin mantıksızlık bir süreklilikte yitip gittiği ama kurallara uymayan kadınları sadece bir inç kalınlığından daha ince sopalarla dövdükleri için gurur duyan ve iç bunaltıcı bir kabullenmişliğe teslim olmuş bir ülke ve topyekün kafayı yemiş bir halkın muhteşem birleşimi. Yani, elbette "uyan anavatanın oğulları" diye başlayan milli marşında bir süre doğa övülen, ardından da nasıl da güzel savaştıklarının anlatıldığı, zor bir ülke.
Ve o Borogravia, bu sefer komşusu Zlobenia ile savaşıyor. "dünyanın her yerinde özgürlük aşığı halkların dostu olan Ankh-Morpork" da ekonomik sebeplerle tamamen ilgisiz bir biçimde özgürlük ve demokrasi getirmek adına bu savaşa müdahil oluyor.
Üstelik Borogravia'nın dandik tanrısı da durumu hiç mi hiç kolaylaştırmıyor. Daha önce Son Kahraman kitabında da gördüğümüz, Nuggan, tepesi dökük saçları, tuhaf bıyığı, kısa boyu ve piknik tüpünü andıran imajı ile açıkçası Dunmanifestin 'in popüler çocuğu değil. Ve Klatch'ın Timsah Tanrısı Offler'ın hakkında "bir tanrının asla böyle bir bıyığı olmamalı" dediğini Nuggan, inananlarının ne yapması gerektiğiyle değil de ne yapmaması gerektiğiyle daha çok ilgilenen bir tanrı. Kutsal kitabını sıklıkla güncelleyen Nugan (kitabın sonunda ayrılmış olan boş sayfalarda yeni günahlar beliriyor) yapbozlar, sarımsak, çikolata, kediler, istiridyeler ve cücelerden sonra bebekler ve mavi rengi de günah ilan ettiğinden beri de kendi halkı tarafından da zorlukla tahammül edilen bir tanrı.
Tatsız bir diyar burası uzun lafın kısası. Ve dünyamıza benzeyen ama benzemeyen bu fantastik diyarda savaş, cinsiyet rolleri, din, mizojini ve değişim hakkında bir kitap Canavar Alayı.
Polly sorgulayan gözlerin kendisine saplandığını hissetti. Utanıyordu elbette. Ama aşikar sebepten dolayı değil. diğer sebepten utanıyordu, hayatın bazen döve döve öğrettiği küçük dersten dolayı: Dünyayı izleyen tek kişi sen değilsin. Başkaları da var; sen onları izlerken onlar da seni izliyor ve sen onlar hakkında düşünürken onlar da senin hakkında düşünüyor. Dünyada önemli olan tek kişi sen değilsin.
Bu dünyanın ortasında ise Polly Perks var. Veya diğer ismiyle Oliver veya mangasındaki adıyla Ozzer veya üstlerinin deyimiyle Perks... Hem bir kargaşa hem de okyanusun ortasındaki demir bir çapa Polly. Adı gibi birçok kimliği de var ve yol boyu ince ince, küçük küçük nasıl değiştiğini, nasıl büyüdüğünü, nasıl bütün olduğunu veya nasıl parçaladığını izliyor an be an.
Aslında ne savaşla, ne vatanseverlikle ilgilenen, sadece savaş sırasında kaybolmuş kardeşini bulmak isteyen bir genç kız. Ve bir gün artık saçlarını kesip, pantolonunun içine bir çorap tıkıştırıp askere yazılmaktan ve bu sanki asla bitmeyecekmiş gibi gözüken savaşın içinde kardeşini aramaktan başka çıkar yolu kalmadığını hissediyor. Çantasını topluyor ve çalıştığı hanın arka penceresinden gecenin karanlığına akıp, Borogravia ordusuna katılmak için civardaki bir diğer köyün hanının yolunu tutuveriyor.
Hızlıca pantolonun içine sokulan çorapların şekillendirdiği bir dünyada buluyor kendini Polly. Önyargılarla, ayrımcılıkla, savaşla, cinsiyetçilikle dolu bir dünyada var olabilmek için, ne olduğunu bulabilmek için, kendini ve çevresini ve belki dünyayı değiştirmek için ama aslında sadece biraz aptal erkek kardeşini bulabilmek için, sadece kendisini saklamanın değil, beyniyle değil çoraplarla da düşünebilmesi gerektiğini fark ediyor büyük bir hızla.
Polly'nin yoldaşları olan diğer acemiler ise tuhaf bir takım oluşturuyor. Tam bir kardeşler takımı olan grup Vampir Maladict, Troll Zımparataş, canavar alayının muharebe doktoru Igor, eşit derecede sessiz ve temkinli çocuklar olan Tonker, Shufti, Wazzer ve Lofty ve hepsinin başında ordunun adeta demirbaşı haline gelmiş Çavuş Jackrum'dan oluşuyor.
Gerçekten tam bir çavuş Jackrum. Orduda sayısı bir türlü tam olarak tespit edilemeyen on yıllar harcamış ama bir şekilde terfi etmemiş, asker tanımının kirli bir tanımı adeta. Emrindeki askerlerin zarar görmemesi için her şeyi yapacak, sonuna gerçekten yolun sonuna kadar "çocuklarını" koruyacak ama aynı zamanda nasıl savaşılacağını bilen, elini kirletmekten zerre kaçınmayan, her durumda gereğini yapan bir karakter. Polly'nin başlangıç olduğu bir hikayede Jackrum adeta bir sonuç. Muazzam bir karakter.
Jackrum'u General Patton'dan ödünç aldığı şu sözü en iyi tanımlıyor belki de: "Ben kitaplardan ve vatan için ölmekten falan hiç hoşlanmamışımdır ama işimin, karşımdaki şeytanın vatanı için ölmesini sağlamak olduğunu biliyorum."
Bu mükemmel kadroyu da akademinin parlak çocuğu, savaş alanı tarafından lekelenmemiş, kimi yönlerden tam bir embesil, kimi yönlerden ise yenilikçi, adeta orta karar bir üniversitenin mühendislik bölümünden yeni mezun Teğmen Bluz tamamlıyor. Ardından Canavar Alayı'nın gerçekliği hem ne kadar az hem de ne kadar çok etkilediğini izliyoruz Terry'nin rehberliğinde.
""Doğam gereği yalancı bir adam değilimdir Perks," dedi Bluz soğuk bir sesle.
"Bunu duyduğuma sevindim efendim. Savaşı kazanıyor muyuz efendim?"
"Hemen şu anda kes şunu Perks!" diye kükredi Jackrum.
"Yalnızca bir soruydu çavuş." dedi Polly paylarcasına."
Kimi eski toprakların da arada kendini gösterdiği hikayede, yine çok güçlü karakterleri var Terry'nin artık alıştığımız üzere. Kan emmeye tövbe etmiş Maladict'in kahve krizleri, halüsinasyonları üzerinden işlenen Savaş travmaları, dinci bir eğitim sisteminin elinde harap edilmiş, kişilikleri param parça edilmiş kadınların hikayeleri, yavaş yavaş, göz göre göre delirerek Jeanne d'arc'a dönüşen bir kadın, düşman işgaline karşın hayatına devam etmek zorunda olanların anlatıları, aşkı için veya beklenmedik hata diye tanımladıkları hareketlerin bedelini ödemek için savrulmuş olanlarla dolu, söyleyecek çok sözü olan bir kitap bu.
Cinsiyet rollerinin diğer taraftan nasıl göründüğü ise kitabın elini güçlü tuttuğu bir başka kısım. Bir taraftan sadece erkeklerin varlığını, kendilerini ortaya koymalarına izin verilen bir dünyada, duyulabilmek için kadınların nasıl bedel ödemesi gerektiğini tartışıyor aslında Terry, bir taraftan da değişimin travmalarını gösteriyor bize. Bu arada Terry'nin ölümünden sonra tüm o "Terry'nin cüceleri aslında trans insanlar mı?" içerikli homo/transfobinin havalarda uçuştuğu tüm o tartışmalarda bu kitaptan asla söz edilmemiş olması da o kadar enteresanmış ki. İnsanların istemediği konuları görmezden gelebilme kapasitesi bir kez daha şaşırttı beni tam burada belirtmek isterim ki.
Canavar Alayı aynı zamanda savaş hakkında bir kitap. Bu sefer kenarından köşesinden de değil, savaşa doğrudan ortasından giren bir kitap üstelik. Kimi zaman rahatsız edicilik sınırına yaklaşan, insanın ellerini soğutan anlar da içeriyor ancak bunu savaş anlatımlarındaki alıştığımız yaklaşımlar olan korku veya iğrençlik üzerinden empati dayatarak yapmıyor. Küçük çaplı canavarlıkların nasıl da kaçınılmaz ve doğal olduğunu gösteriyor Terry bize. Ve bu -en azından benim için-, parçalanan cesetlerden bahseden bir savaş anlatısından çok daha fazla "huzursuzca kıpırdanmaya" neden oluyor.
Asker olmanın nasıl bir his karmaşası olduğunu anlatıyor Terry. İnsanın paylaşmadığı, inanmadığın, hatta kimi zaman umurunda bile olmayan idealler adına nasıl ve neden hayatını feda etmeyi göze alabileceğini tartışıyor.
Disk'in en güzel kitaplarından biri olsa da Canavar Alayı, rahatlıkla söyleyebilirim ki en komiği değil. Onlarca muazzam an ve kıkır kıkır gülmeme neden olan tepecik içermesine rağmen karanlık, üzücü ve bazen öfkelendirici bir kitap bu. Bu arada rahatlıkla tek başına, serilerden bağımsız olarak okunabilecek bir kitap elimizdeki.
Şimdi (her zamankinden biraz uzun olmakla birlikte bu kez) referanslar ve aldığım notlardan bahsetmek istiyorum biraz:
* Hikayenin geçtiği Borogravia ülkesini 40 yıllık D&D'ci olarak Ravenloft'un Barovia'sına gönderme sanmıştım ilk başta. Ancak sonradan öğrendim ki Lewis Carroll'ın gerek İngilizce'ye gerekse Fantazi hikayeciliğine eklediği kelimelerle(bkz: Vorpal, Burble, Slithy vs) pek ünlü şiiri Jabberwocky'daki "Borogoves"dan geliyormuş bu ülkenin adı. Carroll abimizin kokaini çekip çekip yazdığı manyakça şiirinde şöyle geçiyor:
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Bu arada şiiri de 2016 yılında Fatoş Atay Türkçeye çevirmiş, bakarken sinirim bozuldu, elim ayağım titredi. Ya Fatoş ya...
Pişindiydi kayrak tirsukeleler
Dönenip delgilendiler otgelde;
Mızlıydılar tarazlı gubibikler,
Donguzlarsa nezgilendi.
* Kitapta Düşes'in fotoğrafının öpülmesiyle birlikte bahsedilen uygulanan askere alma ritüellerinden bir diğeri Şilinin Getirilmesi, İngiliz Ordusunun uyguladığı bir gelenek aslında. Kralın (veya Kraliçenin, o an kim tahttaysa artık) Şilini diye bilinen gelenek, Birleşik Krallık askeri güçlerinin 18. 19 ve 20. yüzyıllarda uyguladığı bir kabul ritüeliydi. Kökenleri 1600lere (İngiliz İç Savaşı) uzanan geleneğe göre askere alınan kişiye hak edilmiş ödeme olarak bir şilin para verilir ve ancak bu işlemden sonra kişi asker olarak kabul görürdü. (bkz: King's Shilling )
* Tatlı vampirimiz Maladict'in barda "Elbette ben asla... at sidiği içmem" (I, of course, don't drink... horse piss) demesi yine Dracula'nın o pek ünlü "I never drink... Wine." repliğine gönderme. Daha önce aynı şakayı Carpe Jugulum 'da da yapan Terry belli ki seviyor Dracula. Ve Dracula sevgimi artık utanmadan itiraf edebilen (teşekkürler Ezgi) benim yüzümde de her defasında aynı tebessümü oluşturuyor bu. Şuraya da Dracula'nın sinema uyarlamalarından bir never drink wine potpurisi bırakıyorum madem fırsattan istifade.
* Trollerin askere alınmasına karşı Strappi'nin itirazlarına Jackrum'un "Sorma-söyleme politikamız var, biliyorsun" demesi de Clinton ile birlikte anılan don't ask don't tell (sorma söyleme) politikasına bir gönderme. Don't ask, don't tell, 90'ların başında uzun süredir yürürlükte olan homoseksüellerin Amerikan Ordusunda hizmet vermesini engelleyen kanunların tekrar incelenmesi sonrası ortaya çıkan fiili ve enteresan şekilde kanuni bir durumdu. Demokrat ve muhafazakarlar, politika değişimi üzerinde uzlaşamayınca, ordu yönetiminin askerlere cinsel yönelimlerini sormasına izin verilmeyen, ancak halen askerlerin eşcinsel veya bi-seksüel olduğunu beyan etmesi durumunda ordudan uzaklaştırıldığı bir durum oluştu. Popüler kültürde de sıkça dalga konusu olan yasa, nihayet büyük tartışmalarla da olsa 2011'de kaldırıldı.
* Zımparataş'ın içtiği "Elektrikli Yergümleyen" aslında basit bir pil.
* "Strappi'nin karatahtaya tepesine "NEDEN SAVAŞIYORUZ BİZ?" yazmış, sonra da kenara , alt alta "1, 2, 3" rakamlarını eklemişti" Bu göndermemiz ise Country Joe'nun ünlü şarkısı Feel Like I'M Fixing to Die Rag'a. 69 Woodstock'taki pek meşhur kaydını da bırakıyorum buraya hatta.
* Yüzbaşı Bluz'ün mektubundaki "terfi sayesinde de günlüğüm 1 şilin arttı" bilgisinden hareket eden az işli bir arkadaşımız alt.fan.pratchett 'da Sterlin/Borogoravian Paritesi hesaplamış. Aşırı eğlenceli bir şey böyle insanlar olduğunu bilmek, 1 Sterlin 11.16 Borogravia Şilini ediyormuş bu arada.
* Polly'nin "Topraklarımızı ele geçirmek amacıyla ülkemizi işgal etmişti efendim, ben de geçici bir şok ve huşu hücumunun zararının dokunmayacağını düşündüm." diyerek Jackrum'a rapor verirken kullandığı "Shock and Awe", Amerika'nın 2003 Irak İşgali ile birlikte kullanıma soktuğu bir askeri doktrinmiş bu arada. Ben çok daha eski olduğunu sanıyordum oysa.
* Igorina'nın "Yalnızım tepeyi aştığımdan beri, Çayırda ve vadide yürürken..." diye mırıldandığı şarkı, The Girl I Left Behind Me adlı İngiliz Ordusu tarafından sık kullanılan bir folk şarkısı. Kırmızı urbalı yaylalar bir nevir.
* Hikayenin sonlarına doğru karşılaştığımız Lord Rust'ın ne menem bir insan olduğunu ve alayındakilerin neler yaşadığını Jingo 'da çok iyi görmüştük bu arada.
* DeSoze'e(bkz: Gerçek ) "Karikatüristimiz Fizz özel baskı için bunu çizdi" derken Terry'nin referans verdiği karikatürcü aslında Phiz lakaplı Hablot Knight Browne. Phiz 1800lerin sonunda özellikle Dickens karikatürleriyle tanınmış bir çizer (bkz: Hablot Knight Browne )
* DeSoze'un Borogravia birlikleri tarafından durdurulduğunda söylediği "Civis Morporkias sum, efendim. Ben bir Ankh-Morpork vatandaşıyım." Roma'dan alınma bir tabir. Tıpkı 2000 yıl önce dünyanın birçok köşesinde Civis Romanus sum diyen roma vatandaşlarının güvenlik içinde seyahat edebilmesi gibi, Ankh-Morpork da tartışmasız dominantlığıyla kendi vatandaşlarına bu güveni verebiliyor.
Aslında bu söz Roma'da basit bir güvenlik önleminden fazlasını ifade etmişti tarih boyunca. Evet elbette özünde bir şiddet sözü yatıyordu. Roma'nın vatandaşlarına dokunmak demek Roma'nın korkunç gazabını üzerine çekmek demekti aynı zamanda. Ki dönemin adalet anlayışına göre suçun pek de bireysel olmadığını, suçlunun selam vermiş olduğu her canlının enlemesine kesilip de kazıklarda sergilenmesi gibi kimi tatlılıkların vaka-ı adiyeden sayıldığını da unutmamak gerekiyor.
Ancak kökenleri ne olursa olsun Civis, sadece erkeklerin sahip olabildiği (kadınlar vatandaş olarak görülmediği için) kimi Romalılık haklarının(civis Romanus-Roma Vatandaşı) yanı sıra, sum kişilik ekiyle de o kişiyi de yücelten ve statü sağlayan bir söz olarak kullanılmıştı.
Hatta Aziz Paulus yahudiler tarafından şikayet edilip zincire vurduğunda bunu söylemiş ve özgür olmuş, daha sonra hristiyanlığa aktarılan Roma geleneklerinden de biri olmuş, adeta bir medenileşme, Evropalılık bilinci, merkeziyetçilik gibi anlamların odağı haline gelmişti.
Elbette özellikle sanayi devrimi sonrası yaşanan süreç sonrası artık Civis sumculuktan pek söz edemesek de, bugün "I am an American"a dönüşüp dönüşmemiş olduğu da başka bir yazı içinde tartışılmak üzere kalsın burada.
* Bluz'ün Resim gönderebilen klakların çalışma mantığını çözdükten sonra bir sıkıştırma algoritması kullanmayı düşünüp düşünmediğini sorması gerçekten muazzam. Önerdiği kodlama tekniği de hali hazırda resim sıkıştırmasında sıkça kullanılan RLE (bkz: Run-length encoding )
* Bu arada Maladict'in kahve krizlerini dindirmek için kullandığı metotlardan biri de yine tarihsel bir olaya dayanıyor. Amerikan İç Savaşı sırasında Birleşik Devletler ablukası sayesinde Konfederasyon askerleri için kahve neredeyse temin edilmesi imkansız bir hale geldiğinde denedikleri şeylerden biri de meşe palamuduymuş.
* N*ran tarafından, kendisi mental yetenekler açısından dezavantajlı bir insan olduğu için Kaldırım Çiçekleri olarak çevrilen genelevin orijinal adı "The Solid Doves" ve 19. yy'da fahişeler için sıklıkla kullanılan soiled doves (kirli güvercin) teriminden geliyor. N*ran, Fahişeyi görür görmez yapıştırmış kaldırımı ama Soiled dove aynı zamanda tarihi bir savunmanın da adı. 1899'da Oklahoma'da bir fahişe olan Minnie Stacey adına avukat Temple Lea Houston tarafından yapılmış olan savunmanın tam metinini sadece kitap formatında bulabildim ama savunma şöyle başlıyor.
* Vimes'ın kendini tanıtırken "Özel elçi, Büyükelçi gibi bir şey ama altın paketli küçük çikolatalar olmadan." derken bahsettiği çikolatalar pek ünlü Ferrero Rocher çikolataları. Göndermenin kaynağı olan reklam da şuradan görülebilir ki gece vakti fena halde canımın altın paketli top top çikolata çekmesine neden oldu...
Sonu itibariyle de gri bir kitap bu aslında. Çok da spoiler vermeye niyetim yok ama tüm bunların sonunda değişimin mümkün olduğunu ama gerçekten bunun için çok fazla şey gerektiğini söylüyor bir bakıma. Terry'nin de dediği gibi bu bir peri diyarı kalesi değil ve burada geçen hikayeler de sonsuza kadar mutlu yaşadılar diye bitmiyor. Hem hayal kırıklığına uğruyor hem de umutlanıyorsunuz enteresan şekilde aynı anda. Yani bu yönüyle de tanıdık geliyor.
Son söz olarak; Kademe kademe açılan, her parçasında da yeni yerlere uzanan, harika bir kitaptı Canavar Alayı. Beni en çok etkileyen, en sevdiğim Disk kitaplarından biri oldu ve üzerinde yazabilecek kadar sindirmem biraz vakit aldı. Ama Tereddütsüz tavsiye ediyorum ve değişim için pantolon içine çorap tıkılması gerekmeyen bir dünyada (veya adına) Terry dedemin hayal gücüne bir kez daha şapka çıkarıyorum.
"Bir savaşı durdurmak, başlatmaktan çok daha zordur. Başlatmak için "Hücum!" diye bağırmamız yeterliyken durdurmak istediğinizde herkesin meşgul oluverdiğini görürsünüz."
Bu sefer Ankh-Morpork'un pek kavgacı komşusu Borogravia'ya gidiyor ve komşularıyla girdikleri savaşın hikayesine, erkek kılığına girerek askere yazılmış, kardeşini arayan bir genç kızın gözünden tanık oluyoruz.
Kimi yönleriyle ilginç, kimi yönleriyle ise istemeyeceğimiz kadar tanıdık, boktan bir ülke Borogravia. Ekonomisi mutlak bir çöküşün arifesinde, artık neredeyse asker olacak sağlıklı bir popülasyonu kalmamış, yöneticisi muhtemelen ölmüş, kafayı üşütmüş tanrı Nuggan'ın zorlu yasakları altında yaşamaya çalışan ve devamlı savaşan bir ülke.
Geleneklerine bağlı ve muhafazakar. Kadınların en fazla sabırsız bir tahammül umabileceği, her şeyin mantıksızlık bir süreklilikte yitip gittiği ama kurallara uymayan kadınları sadece bir inç kalınlığından daha ince sopalarla dövdükleri için gurur duyan ve iç bunaltıcı bir kabullenmişliğe teslim olmuş bir ülke ve topyekün kafayı yemiş bir halkın muhteşem birleşimi. Yani, elbette "uyan anavatanın oğulları" diye başlayan milli marşında bir süre doğa övülen, ardından da nasıl da güzel savaştıklarının anlatıldığı, zor bir ülke.
Ve o Borogravia, bu sefer komşusu Zlobenia ile savaşıyor. "dünyanın her yerinde özgürlük aşığı halkların dostu olan Ankh-Morpork" da ekonomik sebeplerle tamamen ilgisiz bir biçimde özgürlük ve demokrasi getirmek adına bu savaşa müdahil oluyor.
Üstelik Borogravia'nın dandik tanrısı da durumu hiç mi hiç kolaylaştırmıyor. Daha önce Son Kahraman kitabında da gördüğümüz, Nuggan, tepesi dökük saçları, tuhaf bıyığı, kısa boyu ve piknik tüpünü andıran imajı ile açıkçası Dunmanifestin 'in popüler çocuğu değil. Ve Klatch'ın Timsah Tanrısı Offler'ın hakkında "bir tanrının asla böyle bir bıyığı olmamalı" dediğini Nuggan, inananlarının ne yapması gerektiğiyle değil de ne yapmaması gerektiğiyle daha çok ilgilenen bir tanrı. Kutsal kitabını sıklıkla güncelleyen Nugan (kitabın sonunda ayrılmış olan boş sayfalarda yeni günahlar beliriyor) yapbozlar, sarımsak, çikolata, kediler, istiridyeler ve cücelerden sonra bebekler ve mavi rengi de günah ilan ettiğinden beri de kendi halkı tarafından da zorlukla tahammül edilen bir tanrı.
Tatsız bir diyar burası uzun lafın kısası. Ve dünyamıza benzeyen ama benzemeyen bu fantastik diyarda savaş, cinsiyet rolleri, din, mizojini ve değişim hakkında bir kitap Canavar Alayı.
Polly sorgulayan gözlerin kendisine saplandığını hissetti. Utanıyordu elbette. Ama aşikar sebepten dolayı değil. diğer sebepten utanıyordu, hayatın bazen döve döve öğrettiği küçük dersten dolayı: Dünyayı izleyen tek kişi sen değilsin. Başkaları da var; sen onları izlerken onlar da seni izliyor ve sen onlar hakkında düşünürken onlar da senin hakkında düşünüyor. Dünyada önemli olan tek kişi sen değilsin.
Bu dünyanın ortasında ise Polly Perks var. Veya diğer ismiyle Oliver veya mangasındaki adıyla Ozzer veya üstlerinin deyimiyle Perks... Hem bir kargaşa hem de okyanusun ortasındaki demir bir çapa Polly. Adı gibi birçok kimliği de var ve yol boyu ince ince, küçük küçük nasıl değiştiğini, nasıl büyüdüğünü, nasıl bütün olduğunu veya nasıl parçaladığını izliyor an be an.
Aslında ne savaşla, ne vatanseverlikle ilgilenen, sadece savaş sırasında kaybolmuş kardeşini bulmak isteyen bir genç kız. Ve bir gün artık saçlarını kesip, pantolonunun içine bir çorap tıkıştırıp askere yazılmaktan ve bu sanki asla bitmeyecekmiş gibi gözüken savaşın içinde kardeşini aramaktan başka çıkar yolu kalmadığını hissediyor. Çantasını topluyor ve çalıştığı hanın arka penceresinden gecenin karanlığına akıp, Borogravia ordusuna katılmak için civardaki bir diğer köyün hanının yolunu tutuveriyor.
Hızlıca pantolonun içine sokulan çorapların şekillendirdiği bir dünyada buluyor kendini Polly. Önyargılarla, ayrımcılıkla, savaşla, cinsiyetçilikle dolu bir dünyada var olabilmek için, ne olduğunu bulabilmek için, kendini ve çevresini ve belki dünyayı değiştirmek için ama aslında sadece biraz aptal erkek kardeşini bulabilmek için, sadece kendisini saklamanın değil, beyniyle değil çoraplarla da düşünebilmesi gerektiğini fark ediyor büyük bir hızla.
Polly'nin yoldaşları olan diğer acemiler ise tuhaf bir takım oluşturuyor. Tam bir kardeşler takımı olan grup Vampir Maladict, Troll Zımparataş, canavar alayının muharebe doktoru Igor, eşit derecede sessiz ve temkinli çocuklar olan Tonker, Shufti, Wazzer ve Lofty ve hepsinin başında ordunun adeta demirbaşı haline gelmiş Çavuş Jackrum'dan oluşuyor.
Gerçekten tam bir çavuş Jackrum. Orduda sayısı bir türlü tam olarak tespit edilemeyen on yıllar harcamış ama bir şekilde terfi etmemiş, asker tanımının kirli bir tanımı adeta. Emrindeki askerlerin zarar görmemesi için her şeyi yapacak, sonuna gerçekten yolun sonuna kadar "çocuklarını" koruyacak ama aynı zamanda nasıl savaşılacağını bilen, elini kirletmekten zerre kaçınmayan, her durumda gereğini yapan bir karakter. Polly'nin başlangıç olduğu bir hikayede Jackrum adeta bir sonuç. Muazzam bir karakter.
Jackrum'u General Patton'dan ödünç aldığı şu sözü en iyi tanımlıyor belki de: "Ben kitaplardan ve vatan için ölmekten falan hiç hoşlanmamışımdır ama işimin, karşımdaki şeytanın vatanı için ölmesini sağlamak olduğunu biliyorum."
Bu mükemmel kadroyu da akademinin parlak çocuğu, savaş alanı tarafından lekelenmemiş, kimi yönlerden tam bir embesil, kimi yönlerden ise yenilikçi, adeta orta karar bir üniversitenin mühendislik bölümünden yeni mezun Teğmen Bluz tamamlıyor. Ardından Canavar Alayı'nın gerçekliği hem ne kadar az hem de ne kadar çok etkilediğini izliyoruz Terry'nin rehberliğinde.
""Doğam gereği yalancı bir adam değilimdir Perks," dedi Bluz soğuk bir sesle.
"Bunu duyduğuma sevindim efendim. Savaşı kazanıyor muyuz efendim?"
"Hemen şu anda kes şunu Perks!" diye kükredi Jackrum.
"Yalnızca bir soruydu çavuş." dedi Polly paylarcasına."
Kimi eski toprakların da arada kendini gösterdiği hikayede, yine çok güçlü karakterleri var Terry'nin artık alıştığımız üzere. Kan emmeye tövbe etmiş Maladict'in kahve krizleri, halüsinasyonları üzerinden işlenen Savaş travmaları, dinci bir eğitim sisteminin elinde harap edilmiş, kişilikleri param parça edilmiş kadınların hikayeleri, yavaş yavaş, göz göre göre delirerek Jeanne d'arc'a dönüşen bir kadın, düşman işgaline karşın hayatına devam etmek zorunda olanların anlatıları, aşkı için veya beklenmedik hata diye tanımladıkları hareketlerin bedelini ödemek için savrulmuş olanlarla dolu, söyleyecek çok sözü olan bir kitap bu.
Cinsiyet rollerinin diğer taraftan nasıl göründüğü ise kitabın elini güçlü tuttuğu bir başka kısım. Bir taraftan sadece erkeklerin varlığını, kendilerini ortaya koymalarına izin verilen bir dünyada, duyulabilmek için kadınların nasıl bedel ödemesi gerektiğini tartışıyor aslında Terry, bir taraftan da değişimin travmalarını gösteriyor bize. Bu arada Terry'nin ölümünden sonra tüm o "Terry'nin cüceleri aslında trans insanlar mı?" içerikli homo/transfobinin havalarda uçuştuğu tüm o tartışmalarda bu kitaptan asla söz edilmemiş olması da o kadar enteresanmış ki. İnsanların istemediği konuları görmezden gelebilme kapasitesi bir kez daha şaşırttı beni tam burada belirtmek isterim ki.
Canavar Alayı aynı zamanda savaş hakkında bir kitap. Bu sefer kenarından köşesinden de değil, savaşa doğrudan ortasından giren bir kitap üstelik. Kimi zaman rahatsız edicilik sınırına yaklaşan, insanın ellerini soğutan anlar da içeriyor ancak bunu savaş anlatımlarındaki alıştığımız yaklaşımlar olan korku veya iğrençlik üzerinden empati dayatarak yapmıyor. Küçük çaplı canavarlıkların nasıl da kaçınılmaz ve doğal olduğunu gösteriyor Terry bize. Ve bu -en azından benim için-, parçalanan cesetlerden bahseden bir savaş anlatısından çok daha fazla "huzursuzca kıpırdanmaya" neden oluyor.
Asker olmanın nasıl bir his karmaşası olduğunu anlatıyor Terry. İnsanın paylaşmadığı, inanmadığın, hatta kimi zaman umurunda bile olmayan idealler adına nasıl ve neden hayatını feda etmeyi göze alabileceğini tartışıyor.
Disk'in en güzel kitaplarından biri olsa da Canavar Alayı, rahatlıkla söyleyebilirim ki en komiği değil. Onlarca muazzam an ve kıkır kıkır gülmeme neden olan tepecik içermesine rağmen karanlık, üzücü ve bazen öfkelendirici bir kitap bu. Bu arada rahatlıkla tek başına, serilerden bağımsız olarak okunabilecek bir kitap elimizdeki.
Şimdi (her zamankinden biraz uzun olmakla birlikte bu kez) referanslar ve aldığım notlardan bahsetmek istiyorum biraz:
* Hikayenin geçtiği Borogravia ülkesini 40 yıllık D&D'ci olarak Ravenloft'un Barovia'sına gönderme sanmıştım ilk başta. Ancak sonradan öğrendim ki Lewis Carroll'ın gerek İngilizce'ye gerekse Fantazi hikayeciliğine eklediği kelimelerle(bkz: Vorpal, Burble, Slithy vs) pek ünlü şiiri Jabberwocky'daki "Borogoves"dan geliyormuş bu ülkenin adı. Carroll abimizin kokaini çekip çekip yazdığı manyakça şiirinde şöyle geçiyor:
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Bu arada şiiri de 2016 yılında Fatoş Atay Türkçeye çevirmiş, bakarken sinirim bozuldu, elim ayağım titredi. Ya Fatoş ya...
Pişindiydi kayrak tirsukeleler
Dönenip delgilendiler otgelde;
Mızlıydılar tarazlı gubibikler,
Donguzlarsa nezgilendi.
* Kitapta Düşes'in fotoğrafının öpülmesiyle birlikte bahsedilen uygulanan askere alma ritüellerinden bir diğeri Şilinin Getirilmesi, İngiliz Ordusunun uyguladığı bir gelenek aslında. Kralın (veya Kraliçenin, o an kim tahttaysa artık) Şilini diye bilinen gelenek, Birleşik Krallık askeri güçlerinin 18. 19 ve 20. yüzyıllarda uyguladığı bir kabul ritüeliydi. Kökenleri 1600lere (İngiliz İç Savaşı) uzanan geleneğe göre askere alınan kişiye hak edilmiş ödeme olarak bir şilin para verilir ve ancak bu işlemden sonra kişi asker olarak kabul görürdü. (bkz: King's Shilling )
* Tatlı vampirimiz Maladict'in barda "Elbette ben asla... at sidiği içmem" (I, of course, don't drink... horse piss) demesi yine Dracula'nın o pek ünlü "I never drink... Wine." repliğine gönderme. Daha önce aynı şakayı Carpe Jugulum 'da da yapan Terry belli ki seviyor Dracula. Ve Dracula sevgimi artık utanmadan itiraf edebilen (teşekkürler Ezgi) benim yüzümde de her defasında aynı tebessümü oluşturuyor bu. Şuraya da Dracula'nın sinema uyarlamalarından bir never drink wine potpurisi bırakıyorum madem fırsattan istifade.
* Trollerin askere alınmasına karşı Strappi'nin itirazlarına Jackrum'un "Sorma-söyleme politikamız var, biliyorsun" demesi de Clinton ile birlikte anılan don't ask don't tell (sorma söyleme) politikasına bir gönderme. Don't ask, don't tell, 90'ların başında uzun süredir yürürlükte olan homoseksüellerin Amerikan Ordusunda hizmet vermesini engelleyen kanunların tekrar incelenmesi sonrası ortaya çıkan fiili ve enteresan şekilde kanuni bir durumdu. Demokrat ve muhafazakarlar, politika değişimi üzerinde uzlaşamayınca, ordu yönetiminin askerlere cinsel yönelimlerini sormasına izin verilmeyen, ancak halen askerlerin eşcinsel veya bi-seksüel olduğunu beyan etmesi durumunda ordudan uzaklaştırıldığı bir durum oluştu. Popüler kültürde de sıkça dalga konusu olan yasa, nihayet büyük tartışmalarla da olsa 2011'de kaldırıldı.
* Zımparataş'ın içtiği "Elektrikli Yergümleyen" aslında basit bir pil.
* "Strappi'nin karatahtaya tepesine "NEDEN SAVAŞIYORUZ BİZ?" yazmış, sonra da kenara , alt alta "1, 2, 3" rakamlarını eklemişti" Bu göndermemiz ise Country Joe'nun ünlü şarkısı Feel Like I'M Fixing to Die Rag'a. 69 Woodstock'taki pek meşhur kaydını da bırakıyorum buraya hatta.
* Yüzbaşı Bluz'ün mektubundaki "terfi sayesinde de günlüğüm 1 şilin arttı" bilgisinden hareket eden az işli bir arkadaşımız alt.fan.pratchett 'da Sterlin/Borogoravian Paritesi hesaplamış. Aşırı eğlenceli bir şey böyle insanlar olduğunu bilmek, 1 Sterlin 11.16 Borogravia Şilini ediyormuş bu arada.
* Polly'nin "Topraklarımızı ele geçirmek amacıyla ülkemizi işgal etmişti efendim, ben de geçici bir şok ve huşu hücumunun zararının dokunmayacağını düşündüm." diyerek Jackrum'a rapor verirken kullandığı "Shock and Awe", Amerika'nın 2003 Irak İşgali ile birlikte kullanıma soktuğu bir askeri doktrinmiş bu arada. Ben çok daha eski olduğunu sanıyordum oysa.
* Igorina'nın "Yalnızım tepeyi aştığımdan beri, Çayırda ve vadide yürürken..." diye mırıldandığı şarkı, The Girl I Left Behind Me adlı İngiliz Ordusu tarafından sık kullanılan bir folk şarkısı. Kırmızı urbalı yaylalar bir nevir.
* Hikayenin sonlarına doğru karşılaştığımız Lord Rust'ın ne menem bir insan olduğunu ve alayındakilerin neler yaşadığını Jingo 'da çok iyi görmüştük bu arada.
* DeSoze'e(bkz: Gerçek ) "Karikatüristimiz Fizz özel baskı için bunu çizdi" derken Terry'nin referans verdiği karikatürcü aslında Phiz lakaplı Hablot Knight Browne. Phiz 1800lerin sonunda özellikle Dickens karikatürleriyle tanınmış bir çizer (bkz: Hablot Knight Browne )
* DeSoze'un Borogravia birlikleri tarafından durdurulduğunda söylediği "Civis Morporkias sum, efendim. Ben bir Ankh-Morpork vatandaşıyım." Roma'dan alınma bir tabir. Tıpkı 2000 yıl önce dünyanın birçok köşesinde Civis Romanus sum diyen roma vatandaşlarının güvenlik içinde seyahat edebilmesi gibi, Ankh-Morpork da tartışmasız dominantlığıyla kendi vatandaşlarına bu güveni verebiliyor.
Aslında bu söz Roma'da basit bir güvenlik önleminden fazlasını ifade etmişti tarih boyunca. Evet elbette özünde bir şiddet sözü yatıyordu. Roma'nın vatandaşlarına dokunmak demek Roma'nın korkunç gazabını üzerine çekmek demekti aynı zamanda. Ki dönemin adalet anlayışına göre suçun pek de bireysel olmadığını, suçlunun selam vermiş olduğu her canlının enlemesine kesilip de kazıklarda sergilenmesi gibi kimi tatlılıkların vaka-ı adiyeden sayıldığını da unutmamak gerekiyor.
Ancak kökenleri ne olursa olsun Civis, sadece erkeklerin sahip olabildiği (kadınlar vatandaş olarak görülmediği için) kimi Romalılık haklarının(civis Romanus-Roma Vatandaşı) yanı sıra, sum kişilik ekiyle de o kişiyi de yücelten ve statü sağlayan bir söz olarak kullanılmıştı.
Hatta Aziz Paulus yahudiler tarafından şikayet edilip zincire vurduğunda bunu söylemiş ve özgür olmuş, daha sonra hristiyanlığa aktarılan Roma geleneklerinden de biri olmuş, adeta bir medenileşme, Evropalılık bilinci, merkeziyetçilik gibi anlamların odağı haline gelmişti.
Elbette özellikle sanayi devrimi sonrası yaşanan süreç sonrası artık Civis sumculuktan pek söz edemesek de, bugün "I am an American"a dönüşüp dönüşmemiş olduğu da başka bir yazı içinde tartışılmak üzere kalsın burada.
* Bluz'ün Resim gönderebilen klakların çalışma mantığını çözdükten sonra bir sıkıştırma algoritması kullanmayı düşünüp düşünmediğini sorması gerçekten muazzam. Önerdiği kodlama tekniği de hali hazırda resim sıkıştırmasında sıkça kullanılan RLE (bkz: Run-length encoding )
* Bu arada Maladict'in kahve krizlerini dindirmek için kullandığı metotlardan biri de yine tarihsel bir olaya dayanıyor. Amerikan İç Savaşı sırasında Birleşik Devletler ablukası sayesinde Konfederasyon askerleri için kahve neredeyse temin edilmesi imkansız bir hale geldiğinde denedikleri şeylerden biri de meşe palamuduymuş.
* N*ran tarafından, kendisi mental yetenekler açısından dezavantajlı bir insan olduğu için Kaldırım Çiçekleri olarak çevrilen genelevin orijinal adı "The Solid Doves" ve 19. yy'da fahişeler için sıklıkla kullanılan soiled doves (kirli güvercin) teriminden geliyor. N*ran, Fahişeyi görür görmez yapıştırmış kaldırımı ama Soiled dove aynı zamanda tarihi bir savunmanın da adı. 1899'da Oklahoma'da bir fahişe olan Minnie Stacey adına avukat Temple Lea Houston tarafından yapılmış olan savunmanın tam metinini sadece kitap formatında bulabildim ama savunma şöyle başlıyor.
* Vimes'ın kendini tanıtırken "Özel elçi, Büyükelçi gibi bir şey ama altın paketli küçük çikolatalar olmadan." derken bahsettiği çikolatalar pek ünlü Ferrero Rocher çikolataları. Göndermenin kaynağı olan reklam da şuradan görülebilir ki gece vakti fena halde canımın altın paketli top top çikolata çekmesine neden oldu...
Sonu itibariyle de gri bir kitap bu aslında. Çok da spoiler vermeye niyetim yok ama tüm bunların sonunda değişimin mümkün olduğunu ama gerçekten bunun için çok fazla şey gerektiğini söylüyor bir bakıma. Terry'nin de dediği gibi bu bir peri diyarı kalesi değil ve burada geçen hikayeler de sonsuza kadar mutlu yaşadılar diye bitmiyor. Hem hayal kırıklığına uğruyor hem de umutlanıyorsunuz enteresan şekilde aynı anda. Yani bu yönüyle de tanıdık geliyor.
Son söz olarak; Kademe kademe açılan, her parçasında da yeni yerlere uzanan, harika bir kitaptı Canavar Alayı. Beni en çok etkileyen, en sevdiğim Disk kitaplarından biri oldu ve üzerinde yazabilecek kadar sindirmem biraz vakit aldı. Ama Tereddütsüz tavsiye ediyorum ve değişim için pantolon içine çorap tıkılması gerekmeyen bir dünyada (veya adına) Terry dedemin hayal gücüne bir kez daha şapka çıkarıyorum.
"Bir savaşı durdurmak, başlatmaktan çok daha zordur. Başlatmak için "Hücum!" diye bağırmamız yeterliyken durdurmak istediğinizde herkesin meşgul oluverdiğini görürsünüz."
April 13, 2022
I didn't fully click with this particular Pratchett when it first came out, and I still can't count it among my favorites now. This is in spite of Polly being a wonderful and relatable character. But this novel suffers from of the structural problems that plague a few of Pratchett's books -- there's a fun opening, and often an exciting climax, but the middle just sort of meanders aimlessly, dependent on the quality of the witticism and shenanigans, and this book does not contain my favorite examples of either.
Also it's amazing to me, in 2022, how queer this book doesn't feel -- how many opportunities for queerness seem to slide right off the page and vanish. I, being elderly, am well aware that the world was very different in 2003, and I don't think Pratchett would write it this same way now. To paraphrase his pal Neil Gaiman, I am still glad he wrote it then. But age has sadly not improved it for me.
Also it's amazing to me, in 2022, how queer this book doesn't feel -- how many opportunities for queerness seem to slide right off the page and vanish. I, being elderly, am well aware that the world was very different in 2003, and I don't think Pratchett would write it this same way now. To paraphrase his pal Neil Gaiman, I am still glad he wrote it then. But age has sadly not improved it for me.
Read
December 18, 2016Akrepski odred mi se čini kao jedan od boljih Pračeta (dobro, za mene uvek odskaču oni Pračeti u kojima ima veštica ili Straže). A čini mi se da je i prevod među našim boljim prevodima Pračeta. Kupio me je već nabrajanjem pesama tipa "Ja sam ja, Džeremaja" i "Rado ide Džoni u vojnike" jer... kako to mislite, krosover Hermanovog stripa i Tozovca može da ne bude smešan?
December 30, 2021
This book was newly published when I first started reading Discworld eighteen years ago. I wanted to read it right then but, because I am me, I decided to wait until I could read it in order. Literally half my life later, I made it! And honestly, I'm kind of glad I waited. Eighteen year old me was smart, but I appreciate it more now than I think I would have then. This one has instantly made my top five Discworld books, right up there with a bunch of City Watch books, and Hogfather.
What we've got here is an anti-war book that simultaneously criticizes the pointlessness of nationalism and patriotism, and adherence to gender norms. The central gag . Pratchett keeps it going for the whole novel, and it gets funnier as it goes.
I am not smart enough to write about this series in depth, and I'm most definitely not funny enough. Terry Pratchett was a genius, so I hope you'll forgive me for just filling up the rest of this review space with quotes.
What we've got here is an anti-war book that simultaneously criticizes the pointlessness of nationalism and patriotism, and adherence to gender norms. The central gag . Pratchett keeps it going for the whole novel, and it gets funnier as it goes.
I am not smart enough to write about this series in depth, and I'm most definitely not funny enough. Terry Pratchett was a genius, so I hope you'll forgive me for just filling up the rest of this review space with quotes.
“The purpose of this lectchoor is to let you know where we are. We are in the deep cack. It couldn't be worse if it was raining arseholes. Any questions?”
“You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem.”
“I want to eat chocolates in a great big room where the world is a different place.”
"Trousers. That's the secret. Trousers and a pair of socks. I never dreamed it was like this. Put on trousers and the world changes. We walk different. We act different. I see these girls and I think: Idiots, get yourself some trousers!"
"'What does Borogravia want? Not the country. I mean the people.'
Polly opened her mouth and then shut it again, and thought about the answer.
'To be left alone,' she said. 'By everybody. For a while, anyway. We can change things.'
'You'll accept the food?'
'We are a proud country.'
'What are you proud of?'
It came swiftly, like a blow, and Polly realized how wars happened. You took that shock that had run through her, and let it boil.
. . . it may be corrupt, benighted, and stupid, but it's ours . . .
Vimes was watching her face. 'From this desk here,' he said, 'the only thing your country has to be proud of right now is you women.'"
March 23, 2023
English version below
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Terry Pratchetts Hauptthemen in diesem Buch sind für mich die Sinnlosigkeit von Kriegen und Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, und wie so häufig kriegt auch die Religion ihr Fett ab.
Dabei schafft der Autor es ganz gezielt und sehr häufig die Schmerzpunkte zu treffen, den Leser aber tortzdem massiv zum Lachen zu bringen.
Die junge Polly verkleidet sich als Junge und geht zur Armee, um ihren verschollenen Bruder zu suchen. Die Abenteuer von Polly auf ihrem Weg beschreibt Pratchett in seiner so humorvollen und mit Absurditäten angereicherten Art, wobei er für den Leser auch ganz viele Themen zum Nachdenken anbietet.
Ich empfinde dieses Buch als einen der besonders herausragenden Romane Pratchetts (natürlich auch weil er sehr stark auf mir persönlich wichtige Themen eingeht) und vergebe 5 Sterne.
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For me, Terry Pratchett's main themes in this book are the futility of war and gender justice, and as so often, religion gets its just deserts.
The author manages to hit the pain points very specifically and very often, but still makes the reader laugh out loud.
Young Polly disguises herself as a boy and joins the army to look for her missing brother. Pratchett describes Polly's adventures along the way in a way that is so humorous and full of absurdities, while also offering a great deal of food for thought for the reader.
I consider this book to be one of Pratchett's particularly outstanding novels (of course also because it deals with topics that are very important to me personally) and award it 5 stars.
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Terry Pratchetts Hauptthemen in diesem Buch sind für mich die Sinnlosigkeit von Kriegen und Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, und wie so häufig kriegt auch die Religion ihr Fett ab.
Dabei schafft der Autor es ganz gezielt und sehr häufig die Schmerzpunkte zu treffen, den Leser aber tortzdem massiv zum Lachen zu bringen.
Die junge Polly verkleidet sich als Junge und geht zur Armee, um ihren verschollenen Bruder zu suchen. Die Abenteuer von Polly auf ihrem Weg beschreibt Pratchett in seiner so humorvollen und mit Absurditäten angereicherten Art, wobei er für den Leser auch ganz viele Themen zum Nachdenken anbietet.
Ich empfinde dieses Buch als einen der besonders herausragenden Romane Pratchetts (natürlich auch weil er sehr stark auf mir persönlich wichtige Themen eingeht) und vergebe 5 Sterne.
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For me, Terry Pratchett's main themes in this book are the futility of war and gender justice, and as so often, religion gets its just deserts.
The author manages to hit the pain points very specifically and very often, but still makes the reader laugh out loud.
Young Polly disguises herself as a boy and joins the army to look for her missing brother. Pratchett describes Polly's adventures along the way in a way that is so humorous and full of absurdities, while also offering a great deal of food for thought for the reader.
I consider this book to be one of Pratchett's particularly outstanding novels (of course also because it deals with topics that are very important to me personally) and award it 5 stars.
July 4, 2023
Зрялото творчество на Пратчет определено е много добро и Чудовищна команда не прави изключение. Ако се абстрахираме от феминистко-транссексуалния елемент в книгата, който е докаран до прак��ическо невъзможно, но не натрапчиво ниво (все пак е естествена част от сюжета), описанието на международната политика в Европа от Ренесанса до началото на 20 в. е с направо режеща сатира и даже българите могат да припознаят в нея безумния национализъм на периода около Балканските и Първата световна войни, довел до три национални катастрофи.
Особено болезнено звучи подигравката с националния химн на измислената държава Богоравия, който започва с думата "Нащрек!" и че можем да си представим що за държава с що за национални приоритети има подобен химн - при условие че нашият от тогава е "Шуми Марица окървавена, плаче вдовица смъртно ранена. Марш, марш с генерала наш, в бой да летим, враг да победим!"...
Особено болезнено звучи подигравката с националния химн на измислената държава Богоравия, който започва с думата "Нащрек!" и че можем да си представим що за държава с що за национални приоритети има подобен химн - при условие че нашият от тогава е "Шуми Марица окървавена, плаче вдовица смъртно ранена. Марш, марш с генерала наш, в бой да летим, враг да победим!"...
September 22, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I audibly snorted more times while reading this book than I did during all my other reads this year combined.
Pratchett tackles a lot of things in this book – nationalism, war, religion (including civili religion) and how it can be instrumentalized, the Army, and gender (especially gender equality) and with most of these, especially when tackling war, the Army, and nationalism, his humor and satire are outstanding in the best Pratchett manner.
At the same time, some aspects of the book didn't quite land for me. I'll put the rest of this review under spoiler tags since I'm going to go into detail and will be quoting parts that happen towards the end of the book.
TL;DR I enjoyed this novel, but there are some things in terms of how gender identity is represented that I wish Pratchett had done differently. (I’m not saying he’s a bad person because he didn’t, I can see why and how the novel turned out how it did. This is probably mostly a “me thing” thing and not a “him thing”. (Reading novels that are very close to one’s main research area can be tricky in this way.))
I audibly snorted more times while reading this book than I did during all my other reads this year combined.
Pratchett tackles a lot of things in this book – nationalism, war, religion (including civili religion) and how it can be instrumentalized, the Army, and gender (especially gender equality) and with most of these, especially when tackling war, the Army, and nationalism, his humor and satire are outstanding in the best Pratchett manner.
At the same time, some aspects of the book didn't quite land for me. I'll put the rest of this review under spoiler tags since I'm going to go into detail and will be quoting parts that happen towards the end of the book.
TL;DR I enjoyed this novel, but there are some things in terms of how gender identity is represented that I wish Pratchett had done differently. (I’m not saying he’s a bad person because he didn’t, I can see why and how the novel turned out how it did. This is probably mostly a “me thing” thing and not a “him thing”. (Reading novels that are very close to one’s main research area can be tricky in this way.))
March 16, 2016
It is an amazing coincidence that my 31st Discworld novel is #31 since I have focused on the City Watch series, the Tiffany Aching series, and the recent, more humorous books.
In this one, Sir Terry's prime focus on the follies of war. The aging but much experienced Sergeant Jackrum is recruiting soldiers because most have been captured or killed, even though his side is supposedly winning. Only misfits are left -- those wanting to escape their dreary or worse lives. So, he ends up with a vampire, a troll, an Igor, and a young woman, named Polly, who pretends to be a boy (Private Oliver Perks) so she can find her brother, who is MIA. Leading the group is Lieutenant Blouse, a thinking officer, who is derisively referred to as a Rupert. Against all odds, this group manages to change the course of the war with their bravery, determination and common sense.
Favorite quote: The enemy wasn't men, or women, or the old, or even the dead. It was just bleedin' stupid people, who came in all varieties. And no one had the right to be stupid.
In this one, Sir Terry's prime focus on the follies of war. The aging but much experienced Sergeant Jackrum is recruiting soldiers because most have been captured or killed, even though his side is supposedly winning. Only misfits are left -- those wanting to escape their dreary or worse lives. So, he ends up with a vampire, a troll, an Igor, and a young woman, named Polly, who pretends to be a boy (Private Oliver Perks) so she can find her brother, who is MIA. Leading the group is Lieutenant Blouse, a thinking officer, who is derisively referred to as a Rupert. Against all odds, this group manages to change the course of the war with their bravery, determination and common sense.
Favorite quote: The enemy wasn't men, or women, or the old, or even the dead. It was just bleedin' stupid people, who came in all varieties. And no one had the right to be stupid.
May 22, 2018
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett deals with several of the seven deadly sins, namely pride, greed and wrath. Also "lesser" sins like stupidity, ignorance, misogyny and bigotry. It's a wonderful book!
“The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.”
It's also very funny.
"Forget you were ever Polly. Think young male, that was the thing. Fart loudly and with self-satisfaction at a job well done, move like a puppet that’d had a couple of random strings cut, never hug anyone and, if you meet a friend, punch them."
“The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.”
It's also very funny.
"Forget you were ever Polly. Think young male, that was the thing. Fart loudly and with self-satisfaction at a job well done, move like a puppet that’d had a couple of random strings cut, never hug anyone and, if you meet a friend, punch them."
August 29, 2016
Ahh.. thank goodness for GR reviews.
Why, you ask?
Because I'm about to besmirch an author I adore. And I'm glad to be following in other footsteps that had a similar hill to conquer.
I don't love this book. I just don't. Mr. Pratchett has a gentle and funny way of adding real world elements to his books, poking fun at some pretty difficult moral issues. And yet this book seemed too heavy-handed, too obvious, and too repetitive.
Once upon a time I considered myself a feminist. That was before husband and children came along and biology reminded me that I had a certain role to play (instinct is like that). I take pride in being female, I respect and adore men for what they are. Both genders are equal- equal here meaning 'having gifts deserving of identical weight', NOT equal-meaning-the-same. I love that about us. And it means I can appreciate how men and women can be the yin and yang of society. Both different, both important. And I'll add a dirty little secret: I really don't mind reading books with a male lead. It honestly doesn't make me feel victimized. Maybe that affected my reading.
I felt that this book was written for a highly feminist set, which would have been fine.. but it just takes the entire thing much much too far. I can buy certain aspects of it- so a war-torn country has no sons, and an entire regiment is made up of women. 'K. I'll take it. But the book doesn't stop there. And two reveals in this book bothered me completely: they would have added the humor factor to the book if they had been left as they were instead. That reminded me of another Pratchett book- one I loved intensely- where a character commits suicide. I so wanted her to pop back up and say 'Well, that didn't work', and laugh along. But she didn't... because the author had a statement to make, instead. Just like in this book.
Terry Pratchett writes incredible female characters, anyway, and he did equally well with this one (missing only one monthly issue that he may not have wanted to discuss- but at one point in the book I thought it was going to be that moment.. nope, just socks ;) ). There were funny aspects here, too. But when all was said and done, it felt like a moral lesson rather than a jolly romp through the picker bushes of humanity.
Can't bring myself to give him less than 4 stars for, once again, incredible characters, writing, and story flow. But I didn't love it.
Why, you ask?
Because I'm about to besmirch an author I adore. And I'm glad to be following in other footsteps that had a similar hill to conquer.
I don't love this book. I just don't. Mr. Pratchett has a gentle and funny way of adding real world elements to his books, poking fun at some pretty difficult moral issues. And yet this book seemed too heavy-handed, too obvious, and too repetitive.
Once upon a time I considered myself a feminist. That was before husband and children came along and biology reminded me that I had a certain role to play (instinct is like that). I take pride in being female, I respect and adore men for what they are. Both genders are equal- equal here meaning 'having gifts deserving of identical weight', NOT equal-meaning-the-same. I love that about us. And it means I can appreciate how men and women can be the yin and yang of society. Both different, both important. And I'll add a dirty little secret: I really don't mind reading books with a male lead. It honestly doesn't make me feel victimized. Maybe that affected my reading.
I felt that this book was written for a highly feminist set, which would have been fine.. but it just takes the entire thing much much too far. I can buy certain aspects of it- so a war-torn country has no sons, and an entire regiment is made up of women. 'K. I'll take it. But the book doesn't stop there. And two reveals in this book bothered me completely: they would have added the humor factor to the book if they had been left as they were instead. That reminded me of another Pratchett book- one I loved intensely- where a character commits suicide. I so wanted her to pop back up and say 'Well, that didn't work', and laugh along. But she didn't... because the author had a statement to make, instead. Just like in this book.
Terry Pratchett writes incredible female characters, anyway, and he did equally well with this one (missing only one monthly issue that he may not have wanted to discuss- but at one point in the book I thought it was going to be that moment.. nope, just socks ;) ). There were funny aspects here, too. But when all was said and done, it felt like a moral lesson rather than a jolly romp through the picker bushes of humanity.
Can't bring myself to give him less than 4 stars for, once again, incredible characters, writing, and story flow. But I didn't love it.
August 13, 2020
This is my third time reading this book, and I've decided that the few sentences I wrote last time were not nearly enough to describe my thoughts and feelings towards this book. This is one of the most genuinely funny and thought provoking books I've ever picked up. I've been thinking about it a lot lately in regard to it's thoughts on nationalism, and I often think the world would be a better place if more people read Discworld.
Nationalistic pride is just one topic discussed here, however. It's just the one most on my mind at present, but this book is full of insightful knowledge. There are few writers in history who could make shoving a sock down the front of one's pants philosophic, but Terry Pratchett was a very special writer.
I tend to get a bit intimidated writing reviews about my favorite books, and I've gotten better about it over the years. There are so many thoughts and feelings swirling around my head towards this book. The first time I read it, it was eye opening. It changed the way I thought and feel about several different things and put some feelings I already had into perspective.
This time, it serves more as a reminder. A hilarious reminder, well worth experiencing again and again. If asked what my favorite Terry Pratchett book is, I would say this one or Small Gods. They hit some of the same notes but don't hit the same ones quite as hard. Terry Pratchett is my favorite satirist and probably my favorite author. I tend to tell people to start with this book, as it's a nice stand alone novel.
Really though, I think you can start the Discworld anywhere and be fine. I started with Thud, and I enjoyed it immensely(although, I did enjoy it more after learning more about Sam Vimes and his squad). This is one of my favorite books, in one of my favorite series, by one of my favorite authors. I think everyone should read it, and I have given at least three copies out that I can remember. I'm sure I'll read it many more times in my lifetime.
Nationalistic pride is just one topic discussed here, however. It's just the one most on my mind at present, but this book is full of insightful knowledge. There are few writers in history who could make shoving a sock down the front of one's pants philosophic, but Terry Pratchett was a very special writer.
I tend to get a bit intimidated writing reviews about my favorite books, and I've gotten better about it over the years. There are so many thoughts and feelings swirling around my head towards this book. The first time I read it, it was eye opening. It changed the way I thought and feel about several different things and put some feelings I already had into perspective.
This time, it serves more as a reminder. A hilarious reminder, well worth experiencing again and again. If asked what my favorite Terry Pratchett book is, I would say this one or Small Gods. They hit some of the same notes but don't hit the same ones quite as hard. Terry Pratchett is my favorite satirist and probably my favorite author. I tend to tell people to start with this book, as it's a nice stand alone novel.
Really though, I think you can start the Discworld anywhere and be fine. I started with Thud, and I enjoyed it immensely(although, I did enjoy it more after learning more about Sam Vimes and his squad). This is one of my favorite books, in one of my favorite series, by one of my favorite authors. I think everyone should read it, and I have given at least three copies out that I can remember. I'm sure I'll read it many more times in my lifetime.
May 18, 2011
Normally I would include a Pratchett book on my "clear-unparalled-genius" shelf but this one is not getting a spot on there. I've read everything that Pratchett has written (Discworld, Gaimen collaborations, plus the Diggers/Truckers/Wings books and other discworld spin-offs) and while this book is clever in the trademark Pratchett way, the story is less funny because it is closer to the real world than many of the others in the series. The charm of the Discworld is that normally its like looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope- the reality is further away than usual. This one does the reverse and highlights real world issues; the legality of war, equal rights, and the politics of laying down your life for religion. Difficult to make most of this stuff funny at the best of times but Pratchett does manage it in places. Still enough funnies to raise a wry smile but if you're looking for belly laughs then you need to look elsewhere on the Discworld.
January 15, 2020
Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2019.
The small nation of Borogravia is at war, and has been at war, with just about everybody. The mad decrees of the Borogravian god Nuggan don't help. Polly needs her brother Paul back to help run the family's inn, so she disguises herself as a boy and joins up with the army. Her squad of recruits includes an Igor, a vampire, a troll, a few other traumatized young people and a tough-as-nails old sergeant named Jackrum, but they may be just the group the country needs to survive.
This is only my second time through for this one and I remember being unimpressed the first time around. Silly younger me. This is a masterpiece. Slightly different from most of the other Discworld books, but marvelously demonstrating just how far Pratchett's feminism and overall humanistic writing matured over the long time between the first Discworld books and this one. I could ramble incoherently for a long time on this, but instead I'll refer people to the last essay in Pratchett's Women by Tansy Rayner Roberts which deals exclusively with this novel. I will add a mention of Nadezhda Durova who feels like the inspiration of a major character in this book, particularly in her life after war.
Original review, 4 stars, this time around bumped to 5.
The small nation of Borogravia is at war, and has been at war, with just about everybody. The mad decrees of the Borogravian god Nuggan don't help. Polly needs her brother Paul back to help run the family's inn, so she disguises herself as a boy and joins up with the army. Her squad of recruits includes an Igor, a vampire, a troll, a few other traumatized young people and a tough-as-nails old sergeant named Jackrum, but they may be just the group the country needs to survive.
This is only my second time through for this one and I remember being unimpressed the first time around. Silly younger me. This is a masterpiece. Slightly different from most of the other Discworld books, but marvelously demonstrating just how far Pratchett's feminism and overall humanistic writing matured over the long time between the first Discworld books and this one. I could ramble incoherently for a long time on this, but instead I'll refer people to the last essay in Pratchett's Women by Tansy Rayner Roberts which deals exclusively with this novel. I will add a mention of Nadezhda Durova who feels like the inspiration of a major character in this book, particularly in her life after war.
Original review, 4 stars, this time around bumped to 5.
April 9, 2021
Monstrous Regiment feels a bit different from the usual Discworld novels. Albeit being funny at times it’s tone is much more serious and it is not possible to do a ‚surface reading‘ here. I’ve been reading Discworld novels for years out loud to my two boys (now 11 and 13 yrs) and even though they didn‘t always get the underlying message they always went with the Pratchett humor. This time was the first time the younger one gave up and said that he didn’t understand a thing that was going on. So, Monstrous Regiment certainly is one of the most adult of Pratchett’s books. Which is well, because it is an anti-war book dealing with the attrocities and senselessness of war and there comes a moment where there is simply no more possibility for being humorous about it. It also deals with gender bias, abuse and the topic of self determination. Pratchett does this in a very sensitive and sensible way which at moments surprised me (even though I know him to have been a keen observer of human conditions).
What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the fact that he took the gag this whole book is about way too far and overused an otherwise funny element until it became cringeworthy.
What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the fact that he took the gag this whole book is about way too far and overused an otherwise funny element until it became cringeworthy.
June 27, 2023
This is a funny Discworld story about a bunch of girls pretending to be guys in order to join the army, sure.
It is also one of my favorite Discworld books because, in his masterful way, Pratchett tackled sexism, nationalism and the stupidity of the military. Extremely serious themes in an extremely funny and clever book.
It is also one of my favorite Discworld books because, in his masterful way, Pratchett tackled sexism, nationalism and the stupidity of the military. Extremely serious themes in an extremely funny and clever book.
July 11, 2017
first third was a slog, second flew by, last was grand.
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