- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; 1 edition (Oct 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 006001315X
- ISBN-13: 978-0060013158
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 16 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,035,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Monstrous Regiment
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Monstrous Regiment in question is made up of a vampire, a troll, Igor, a collection of misfits and a young woman who shoves a pair of socks down her pants to join the army. Here you have the characteristically charming novel by Terry Pratchett.
Polly becomes Private Oliver Perks, who is on a quest to find her older brother, who's recently MIA in one of the innumerable wars the tiny nation of Borogravia has a habit of starting with its neighbors. This peevish tendency has all but expended Borogravia's ranks of cannon fodder. Whether Sergeant Jackrum knows her secret or not, he can't afford to be choosy as Perks and her/his comrades are among the last able-bodied recruits left in Borogravia. This collection of misfits includes the aforementioned vampire (reformed and off the blood, thank you), troll, and macabre Igor, who is only too happy to sew you a new leg if you aren't too particular about previous ownership. Off to war, Polly/Oliver learns that having a pair of, um, socks is a good way to open up doors in this man's army.
For those who haven't made this underrated author's acquaintance, Monstrous Regiment is as good a place to start as any. Readers will encounter Pratchett's subtle and disarming wit, his trademark footnoted asides along with a not-too-shabby tale of honor, courage and duty in the face of absurd circumstances. --Jeremy Pugh, Amazon.com
Review
'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.' So says a character in Pratchett's latest Discworld novel, which follows one Polly Perks on her adventures subsequent to joining up, disguised as a boy, to fight for her country. Pratchett being Pratchett, of course, this is no ordinary war, but it does allow him to reflect upon the actual conduct and nature of war through his distorting lens of fantasy, satire and irreverent humour, in a way which is almost topical. The humour may be as broad as a barn door, but at its best it is also hilariously sharp - Tolkien as rewritten by the Pythons.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
Polly cut off her hair in front of the mirror, feeling slightly guilty about not feeling very guilty about doing so. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Polly cut off her hair in front of the mirror, feeling slightly guilty about not feeling very guilty about doing so. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The premise of this book is a simple one using the familiar story of a girl dressing as a boy. In Monstrous Regiment the heroine sets out to join the army to discover what has happened to her brother. The story looks at her induction into her regiment and their activities in the war.
If that doesn't sounds much like a Terry Pratchett novel, that's what I was beginning to think by a third of the way through the book. Up to that point, although the story was told with a great deal of wit and humour, it just didn't have the Pratchett magic. However, the latter two thirds of the book are just what I have come to expect from the master of comic fantasy.
While there are very few of the old, favourite characters here, new ones are introduced which I hope will appear again. Pratchett neatly sidesteps the trap of creating a "war is hell" homily, instead giving us an extremely funny look at women in a mans world. On the way, he pastiches the angst of the Vietnam films and I'm sure it is no coincidence that the book spotlights a country which just can't seem to stop from picking fights with all its neighbours (the timing of the book after the activities of the last year is superb).
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In fact it's pretty good. This book has a very different setting from other Discworld novels although there are quite a few old favourites smattered throughout - such as Vimes and Angua.
Whilst it is a good read - well written with a solid plot and characters - it is not quite so witty as many of the earlier books. I think that this is really intended to be a kind of fill-in book, rather than the introduction of a new character set, and, as such, it is perfectly enjoyable. As with most of Pratchetts books, there is an underlying theme or two (in this case the stupidity of war) and he deals with it well.
Previous reviewers have mentioned that this is a darker book than the norm for Discworld and I would agree with that. It makes for variety but hopefully the next will be a return to some of the older characters that have not been visited for awhile. Buy it and enjoy it but don't expect another Witches Abroad.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A Terry Pratchett, and more, a Discworld, that isn't automatically funny. There were none of those bizarre ideas or wry comments that characterized the earlier books, nor those hilarious little lines, as in Night Watch. A changing author... It is worth reading, it really is, even though not everyone may get the humour or the point of the story at once. If you're one of those people, I advise you to read it again. Not a five star, because it felt like he was still getting to grips with this new style, but worth four, because it was interesting and amusing. I just wish we knew what had happened to start this change...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
monstrous regiment
The more I read this book the more I became engrossed in the stying to work out what would the next chapter reveal. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Amo
Don't
The only Pratchett I have been disappinted with. Got the clever title, and the message, but overall found it dull. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MR MARK A MEDINA
Another keenly observed comedy
I re-read this novel recently and it was just as enjoyable as the first time round. Fans of Pratchett's Discworld series will be pleased to see a few familiar faces with minor... Read more
Published 6 months ago by BookWorm
Amazing
Terry Pratchett once again has written yet another amazing book! Monstrous Regiment is about two countries who are at war together and have been for some time; Sergeants go across... Read more
Published 6 months ago by CharliStar
Beyond comedy
There is far too much going on in this book for a single short review to cover it all. Pratchett's output has matured dramatically since the Discworld books started. Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. A. James
Disappointed
I was so glad I borrowed Monstrous Regiment from the library rather than wasting money on it - the first Terry Pratchett novel I've ever been unable to finish. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Critter
Not his best
Polly Perks cuts off her hair and disguises herself as a man to join the Borogravian army in order to find her brother Paul (Borogravia is yet again locked in a war of attrition... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Petra Bryce
Always a pleasure
One can easely become addicted reading Pratchetts Discworld-novels. And as an addicted reader you tend to let minor critical details slip. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Miksen
Great book, but the kindle edition lets it down
This isn't really a review of the novel, which is yet another wonderful Discworld novel from the prolific genius that is Terry Pratchett. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Bob Loblaw
Monstrously funny
Pratchett's latest effort takes us into a parody of the regimented life in the army as we follow Sir Samuel Vimes, hot off the press from Nightwatch, as he resumes his... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mark
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