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Monstrous Regiment (Pratchett, Terry)
 
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Monstrous Regiment (Pratchett, Terry) (Hardcover)

by Terry Pratchett (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • 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: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,117,027 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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Customer Reviews

129 Reviews
5 star:
 (53)
4 star:
 (39)
3 star:
 (20)
2 star:
 (12)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (129 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Laborious and not funny, 6 Mar 2004
This review is from: Monstrous Regiment (Hardcover)
I struggled to read this book. It started well and then the story seemed to get lost halfway through and then picked up again in the last 50 pages or so. However I was disappointed as a longtime Discworld fan, I did not find the book funny. I have felt that the Discworld series have been declining in recent years, although I thought Night Watch was a return to form but I felt that this novel did not live up to expectations.
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51 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Monstrous Regiment, 27 Sep 2003
By HedgeWytch (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Monstrous Regiment (Hardcover)
As with 'Night Watch', this Discworld novel could probably be read apart from the others as no prior knowledge of characters or events is needed. New characters are introduced, some of which are hilarious... The plot itself is, in my opinion, excellent - and the execution as perfect as ever. It's (again, like 'Night Watch') slightly 'darker' than his previous Discworld novels, but is liberally laced with comedy nonetheless. Laugh? Don't read it with broken ribs... Buy it, read it, love it.
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71 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Pratchett's back on top form. War has never been so wild!, 27 Sep 2003
By Kerry C. Nicholls "kcn8" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Monstrous Regiment (Hardcover)
Monstrous Regiment, Pratchett's latest opus is everything we've come to expect from the master of humorous fantasy!

Tapping away like a demon, he's produced another slice of Discworld, and it's got cherries in it. And almonds on the top. In fact, it's dundee cake, AND it's served on a doily.

This book centres on a new character, Polly Perks, who marches off to war with a spring in her step, a new line in curses and a pair of socks in an interesting place.

The story follows her fate as she marches on, away from her home, through a lot of mud and rain and, hopefully, on into the history books.

There are lots of new characters (did anyone order an Igor????) and some great cameo's from staunch old favourites (don't look at me, I didn't invite them! <g>!). There's also a generous helping of that old convoluted logic that confounds and amazes old Pratchettians!

Basically It's pure Pratchett at its best. I highly recommend it to any Pratchett fans, and even to those strange beings who have yet to fall under this writers spell - it's a great novel and very accessible to all readers, young, old or undead.

Happy reading!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Proof that manhood consists of learning to burp and scratch yourself...and remembering to wear an extra pair of socks!
This is what I would call a "stand alone" Pratchett book. All the main characters are new, there are cameos by others such as Vimes and the Ankh-Morpork Times but generally... Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. Boadle

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I adored this book! I loved every moment of it! It was just hilarious, with several plot twists that you know you should have seen coming, but didn't. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Larewen Evenstar

5.0 out of 5 stars Pratchett's most adult book so far
Polly wants to go to war. The only trouble is, she's a girl and girls aren't allowed to fight in the interminable war that has devastated Borogrvania. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Blackhorse47

5.0 out of 5 stars I have a cunning plan
I have to say that I didn't find this underwhelming in the least - perhaps the themes and tone are just a little difficult for some readers to grasp; perhaps they ought to stick... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Barney McGrew

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Outstanding
In Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett paints a comic picture of the military in a world in that parallels our own. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Tiffany Ann

4.0 out of 5 stars good family entertainment
All the family liked this book - we have a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl and it's quite hard to find things to listen to on long car journeys, but this pleased everyone... Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. Organ

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad i am not the only one !
Loved it !! Typical Pratchett mixture of the ridiculous, sharp social commentary and pathos. Glad to read I was not the only one who fancied the vamp and wished she had stayed a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Cleo Birchmore

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing...
Some Pratchett books I read, re-read and enjoy more each time; "Going Postal" is one of those.

Some I read, and wonder why they fall so short of the high standard... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rachel Willmer

5.0 out of 5 stars Spare Socks, Anyone!!

There must be very little left that has not be said about the genius that is Terry Pratchett. No wonder he is England's best selling living author. Read more
Published 21 months ago by J. Chippindale

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a Discworld Classic
There are those who will buy this book simply to have it in their Pratchett collection (I did). Fair enough. Read more
Published 21 months ago by C. Cubbin

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