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Guards! Guards!

Book 8 in the series:Discworld

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In "Guards! Guards!", Terry Pratchett introduces the Watch of Ankh Morpork, a group of humorous and quirky characters who stumble around trying to do as poor a job as possible, only to discover a dragon menacing the city. The book follows the Watch as they set out to save the city, dealing with social commentary, absurdity, romance, and twisted tropes in classic Discworld style. Pratchett's writing is described as hilarious, well-plotted, and just plain fun, with all the elements that readers expect from his works.

The novel is praised for introducing the City Watch characters, including the beloved Captain Vimes, and providing a humorous take on dysfunctional policing in a chaotic city. The plot involves intrigue, conspiracy, danger, and dragons, with a touch of satire and clever observations that make it a standout entry in the Discworld series.

Characters:

The characters are vividly crafted, with Vimes' cynicism, Carrot's idealism, and Lady Sybil's strength creating a dynamic ensemble that drives the plot.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is witty and engaging, combining humor with insightful social criticism, enriching the reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features Captain Vimes as he confronts a dragon incident in Ankh Morpork, tied to a secret society's plot, creating a humorous yet insightful narrative about law and politics.

Setting:

The setting of Ankh Morpork is integral to the narrative, reflecting the disarray and societal challenges that the characters navigate.

Pacing:

The pacing is well-crafted, balancing humor with plot progression, keeping readers engaged from beginning to end.
And although the space they occupy isn’t like normal space, nevertheless they are packed in tightly. Not a cubic inch there but is filled by a claw, a talon, a scale, the tip of a tail, so the effect ...

Notes:

'Guards! Guards!' is the first book in the City Watch subseries of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
The story revolves around the ineffective Ankh-Morpork Night Watch and their attempts to deal with a dragon threat.
Captain Sam Vimes is a central character, known for his hard-drinking and cynical attitude.
Carrot Ironfoundersson, a six-foot-six human raised by dwarves, joins the Night Watch, bringing his literal interpretation of law with him.
The plot features a secret society that tries to summon a dragon to instigate a coup against the ruling Patrician.
The book is filled with humor, satire, and social commentary, often using absurd situations to critique real-world issues.
Terry Pratchett dedicated the book to the overlooked Palace Guards commonly found in fantasy stories.
The character of the Librarian, an orangutan with a limited vocabulary, first appears in this book.
The book explores themes of power, law, and humanity's capacity for both good and evil.
'Guards! Guards!' offers a humorous take on familiar fantasy tropes, turning clichés on their heads.
The city of Ankh-Morpork serves as a vibrant backdrop, almost like a character in its own right.
Despite being the eighth book published, many fans recommend starting with 'Guards! Guards!' as an entry point into the Discworld universe.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, particularly between Captain Vimes and Lady Sybil Ramkin.

From The Publisher:

Welcome to Guards! Guards!, the eighth book in Terry Pratchett's legendary Discworld series.

Long believed extinct, a superb specimen of draco nobilis ("noble dragon" for those who don't understand italics) has appeared in Discworld's greatest city. Not only does this unwelcome visitor have a nasty habit of charbroiling everything in its path, in rather short order it is crowned King (it is a noble dragon, after all...). How did it get there? How is the Unique and Supreme Lodge of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night involved? Can the Ankh-Morpork City Watch restore order - and the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork to power?

Magic, mayhem, and a marauding dragon...who could ask for anything more?

Ratings (155)

Incredible (54)
Loved It (67)
Liked It (23)
It Was OK (9)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (244):

Read It (159)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (53)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (28)

3 comment(s)

Liked It
1 week

A different story, hilarious, very creative with charismatic characters. Each paragraph has a phrase with an idea or concept. I loved.

It has some similarities with Terry's first book that I read: like the strange romance, a crazy villain and the recurrence of death. But I suppose all these are signs of the writer's identity.

Of course I plan to know what the discworld holds for me

 
Loved It
4 months

Has everything I always enjoy about Terry Pratchett: quirky characters, witty prose, fun to read and frequently made me laugh out loud :)

 
Loved It
9 months

Listen to the original audiobook version!

 

About the Author:

Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. He died in March 2015. terrypratchettbooks.com

 
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