Background
First published in 1989, “Guards! Guards!” by Terry Pratchett is a fantasy novel set in the Discworld. The story follows the inept and often inebriated Night Watch of the city of Ankh-Morpork. When a secret society summons a fire-breathing dragon to overthrow the city and install a puppet ruler, it’s up to the unlikely hero, Sam Vimes, and his motley crew of guardsmen, including a naive recruit and a rather unusual librarian, to save the day. The novel is a witty and imaginative blend of fantasy and social commentary, exploring themes of power, corruption, and the absurdity of bureaucracy in Pratchett’s trademark style.
My Thoughts
I enjoyed this book a bit more than the last. I loved the constant foreshadowing of Carrot being the true king and it never came to pass. (His sword, birthmark, birth-story, and so on.) This book went by like several of my dreams in that it was completely ridiculous but still was surprisingly unremarkable. The characters were making their decisions and living their lives just like they would if nothing was amiss. I really enjoy Pratchett’s style.
Recommendation
Good book