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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Pratchetts best, 24 Feb 2005
Pratchett's Discworld books can be further subdivided into several series starring various lead characters (Rincewind, Granny Weatherwax, Death, etc) - Guards! Guards! is the first of the 'Watch' books, which taken en masse are probably the best Discworld books of all. The story concerns a plan to depose the current ruler of Ankh-Morpork by using magic to summon a dragon to terrorize the city, and stage manage a false hero to defeat the menace and be crowned king - needless to say these plans go wrong, and the summoned dragon cannot be controlled, and takes Ankh-Morpork for itself...The novel introduces the recurring unlikely heroes of the Night Watch, a ragged bunch of city guards who, thanks to the official policing of thievery by the Thieves Guild, aren't actually supposed to do anything normally. Captain Sam Vimes is ostensibly the lead hero character, though it's interesting looking back at his first novel that the character is more of a jaded alcoholic than the 'super-policeman trapped in a diplomats body' that the character would develop into. Other new faces that would go on to feature in numerous novels include the cynical Sergeant Colon, the loathsome Corporal Nobbs, and new recruit Constable Carrot - a human raised by dwarves with a heroic background only hinted at here. Other notable first appearances include the Patrician Lord Vetanari - while the character had been named in previous books this was the first time the character actually took on a central role, and became the familiar all knowing, all-scheming ruler of Ankh-Morpork, and street vendor Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, though the character was initially more of an all-round spiv than just a seller of dubious pork products. Guards! Guards! has a plot that rattles along at a good speed, plenty of memorable characters, and is one of Pratchett's funniest novels (the 'It's a million to one chance - but it might just work' sequence being possibly the best extended gag). For those who've read the previous 7 Discworld novels this is the best one yet, and thanks to its nature as the first 'Watch' book this is also a great jumping on point for new readers. Highly recommended.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you haven't read this book, what's wrong with you?, 1 Oct 2004
Sorry about the somewhat crazed title but this book is pure genius. You are bound to love(not literally in the case of Corporal Nobby Nobbs)the new characters, he builds their personalities and deepens their characters as the story progresses. From the ingenius idea of creating this book, Pratchett has built a whole new world for the night watchmen, it is still the same old city but here you get to see what the underbelly(it's actually more of a beer belly as the underbelly isn't very well hidden) of Ankh-Morpork real is like. The dismally depleeted watch is a cast of incredible characters: the drunkard, head of the watch Sam Vimes(one of the best characters ever created), the brand new recruit from outside the city Corporal Carrot(6 feet high man who counts as a dwarf and is living in a house of "seamstresses" and an all round good guy), Sergeant Colon(born to be a big, fat sergeant) and Corporal Nobby Nobbs(the less said the better). They are caught in a timeless tale of a dragon terrorizing the city and a book called "The Summoning of Dragons" (it tells you how to summon dragons)which has been stolen from Unseen University (the wizard school). If it has one problem it is: justkidding, it doesn't have one. The other characters are insanely fantastic. The malevolent Lord Vetinari, the malevolent Dragon, the "elegant" Sybil Ramkin and her swamp dragons (they live in fear of their digestive systems). A masterpiece at its worst and a perfect place to start for new comers, once you've read it the rest of the Citywatch books is the way to go!
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pratchett Magnificence, 29 Aug 2003
Guards! Guards! is the first book about the city watch, the most entertaining and hilarious series of all. If you are new to Discworld and do not wish to read through all 27 or so books in order then Guards! Guards! is the best place to start. The city watch has the finest collection of characters in all of the Discworld books easily beating the witches series and the Rincewind series. Captain Vimes is my favourite of all and the much loved Carrot is excellent foil. Nobby and Sgt Colon are also among the best but most importantly maybe is that it is all set in Ankh-Morpork. The most glorious city to have ever have been called Ankh-Morpork.
From the dedication onwards this book is funny and compelling and at the end of it you will undoubtedly be asking for more. That you will go on to read 'Men at Arms', 'Feet of Clay', 'Jingo', 'The Fifth Elephant' and then Pratchett's real masterpiece 'Night Watch' is a foregone conclusion.
Excellent, yet they keep on getting better.
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by Terry Pratchett
by Terry Pratchett
by Terry Pratchett
by Terry Pratchett
by Terry Pratchett
