Night Watch - Terry Pratchett

Well as is often the case, I seem to be in the minority in that I hated this book and was the first Discworld novel I have ever given up on....I stuck with it till right near the end, determined it would get better but unfortunately I was wrong. Which is a shame as I normally like the Discworld novels, I really like the characters of The Watch especially Sam Vimes and have often defended Pratchett to those who say he is a 0ne-trick-pony!! So whats it all about Sparky? Well Sam Vimes is in pursuit of a serial offender across the roof-tops of The Unseen University, home to the Wizards and all sorts of dastardly magicks, when a powerful storm erupts ...  Read the complete review

In years to come, I wonder if the same debate will rage about Terry Pratchett as Shakespeare – i.e., was he in fact several people? He writes with such authority on a huge number of subjects and in such a variety of styles that it’s quite incredible. Even just within the Discworld novels, though they are set on the same planet and can all be defined as “fantasy humour”, there is such variation in style and subject matter that it’s amazing. Take “Nightwatch”, for instance. Starring Stan Vimes, Commander of the City Watch and also Duke, it is one of only two Discworld novels (the other is “The Fifth Elephant”, which also stars Vimes) that has such a good plot ...  Read the complete review

The works of Pratchett are always difficult to describe especially when talking of his Discworld novels. The world is divided into people who think he is a literary genius and those who just don't get it. He seems to be an author you either love or hate. Fortunately, I fall into the former category. For those who don't know (where have you been!)the Discworld is a flat world carried on the back of four elephants which in turn are carried on the back of Great A'Tuin the sky turtle which swims through space (still with me), only in this strange land could wizards, dwarves and trolls live in a sprawling metropolis known as Ankh Morpork. Ankh ...  Read the complete review

Author - Terry Pratchett Published by - Doubleday Fantasy / Comedy 364 pages (h/b edition) ISBN 0385 602642 Night Watch is the 27th book in the Discworld series, and the second in a row to deal with the nicities of Time. As with many of the Discworld books, the story is based around characters and storylines introduced in previous books. For those not in the Discworld know, a review of the charcters and places of importance in the book is toward the bottom of this opinion. The books sees the return of Sam Vimes in the lead role. In fact the book features two Sam Vimeses as the 'present day' incarnation is thrust back in ...  Read the complete review

The evolution of the Ankh Morpork City Watch has been synonymous with the progression of the Discworld series in general (27 or 28 books now, depending on how you count!). Regular readers of the series have seen the shambolic - and merely symbolic - policing system of the Disc’s greatest city expand to fulfil its intended purpose and more. Who would ever have thought that the entity in Guards! Guards! could ever become the effective, efficient Watch of recent instalments, not to mention a startlingly good role-model for inter-species harmony? The original coppers, like Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs (who perhaps is a model for inter-species harmony all in his ...  Read the complete review