Night Watch

Rating:
Summary: Almost read it in one sitting . . .
Review: And then nearly didn't get up for work the next day!!

I eagerly look forward to every Terry Pratchett book I can get my hands on. The man has made such a wonderful contribution to the literary world that, as an American, I am thunderstruck by how few people seem to know his work over here. With the relatively recent stateside success of the Harry Potter books and Lord of the Rings relaunch (well I'm sure the films helped, too *grin*), I think Terry Pratchett is primed to continue to become more well-known here.

Onto the book . . . Loved it. Sam Vimes is a wonderful character. He has made great strides since his first appearance in "Guards! Guards!". Good story for fans, maybe not as friendly to new readers as "The Truth". I must confess that I wish Carrot would get to shine some more. I sometimes wonder if Terry hasn't been sure how to advance the character (I'd hoped for more from "The Fifth Elephant" in regards to Carrot's character development). But these are all fanboy geek wants. I'm not going to replay the story of "Night Watch". That's been done enough here. However, if you're a fan of the series, especially the "Guards" books, definately pick it up. If you haven't read a "Discworld" Novel before, then I suggest you try these first, "Guards! Guards!", "Men at Arms", "Feet of Clay", "Jingo", then "The Fifth Elephant", before picking up "Night Watch". My thinking is, if you try the first one and aren't hooked, then you're better of with another series and possibly another writer. My belief is that you will be hooked, then just follow the list I gave in order to read the "Guards" books in order.

Rating:
Summary: WWVD?
Review: As some astute readers have figured out by now, the title of this review is What Would Vimes Do? That is, What Would he Do if he was thrust immediately thirty years into the past, on the cusp of a great tragedy that he already survived once? This book deals with exactly that scenario. As previous reviewers have said, this book is far more serious than Pratchett's usual fare. However, that does not mean it is not funny. It is lacking much of the lowbrow, slapstick humor that acts as a "lowest common denominator" of humor in other Pratchett books, but his characteristic intelligent, satirical wit is alive and well, and uproariously funny. The book deals mainly with powerful themes: responsibility being the preeminent one. Responsibility to a community, to a society, to one's self. Prathcett goes deep here; the book left me thinking. The chracters are not developed as much as in other books, but since there are very few new ones (and the biggest new character is extremely, spookily well developed) this is no great loss to old readers of Pratchett works. To new fans, I would recommend Mort, Guards! Guards!, or Pyramids as a first read; progress to this one later.

Rating:
Summary: Pratchett in Top Form Once Again
Review: Though a bit lighter on his trademark humor, Night Watch is a surprisingly engrossing read that reveals a great deal of the back-story for several characters from previous novels.
Duke Samuel Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, finds himself flung into the past where he must mold his past self into a good cop and prevent the city from destroying itself in a bloody revolution. While this book is a poor jumping-on point for new readers, it quickly becomes clear that Pratchett wrote this with the series fanatic in mind. Past characters from the "City Watch" sub series make appearances here and there much to the surprise of Vimes and the delight of readers. His future senior corporal is a street beggar. The future ruler of the city is a student at the secret Guild of Assassins. And several young coppers, who Vimes knows are doomed to die, are under his command.
If you are new to Discworld, it would be in your best interests to jump back to "Guards! Guards!" and start reading from there. If you have already been following the series, you are in for a treat.

Rating:
Summary: Best SF/F Book of 2002
Review: While chasing a psychopathic mass killer, Night Watch commander Sam Vimes, and the killer, are plunged into the past of Sam's youth. Once there, they can't help change history. The killer murders the man who taught young Vimes what he knows about policing. Unless he can apprehend the killer and return to the present, Vimes risks the destruction of the city he loves. But even if he succeeds, he knows that his actions in the past will change everything--including his marriage and his prospective child.

Author Terry Pratchett has carved out a reputation as a writer who both makes you laugh--and think. The Discworld fantasy series is uniformly excellent, but NIGHT WATCH rates near the top of even this fine series. Vimes is a fully realized character. It is interesting to watch him relate to his younger self, and to the men who will someday be his leader and most faithful followers. Philosophical questions about fate vs. choice, and the nature of evil are disguised in witty dialogue and introspection.

Pratchett's Discworld world is silly and funny--with its unseen University, the seemingly omniscient Vetinari, the mostly incompetent police force that nevertheless manages to keep order in a disorderly city, and its treckle mines--but it grows on you and Pratchett moves beyond absurd to deliver some real insights.

All right, this review was a bit of a rave--I'll admit it. I picked up NIGHT WATCH expecting a laugh and put it down with a deeper appreciation of Pratchett as an author and of the world I live in--no reader can ask for more.

Rating:
Summary: The Zen of Time Travel and Revolutionary Parody...
Review: While Terry Pratchett is always funny - and one of the wittiest writers in fantasy (if not all of publishing) - many of his last ten books seem a little short of the sparkle that his earlier work had. This is certainly not a problem for "Night Watch", though. In fact, it's his very return to many of his old formulas that, surprisingly, makes it such a success.

As with all the Discworld books, "Night Watch" takes three or four popular themes in literature - or fiction or science fiction or whatever - and plays with them and their conventions. For this book, he's taken the idea of everybody's reminiscences of the 'good old days', time travel stories (especially those like "Back to the Future") and revolutions (specifically the French Revolution and at least a couple of Roman revolutions I can think of). All of this is, of course, woven into the story of Sam Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, being thrown back in time thirty years to a pivotal revolution in the city when he was just starting as a recruit.

All the stereotypes are there: from the dingy, cowardly watchmen that he must whip into shape to the know-it-all monitoring wise people (monks, in this case) and the young versions of many of the other Ankh-Morpork denizens we've met in the past five Watch books. What really makes this great, though, is that he has fun with all of these stereotypes and still manages to tell a story that's both engaging and like going back to visit old friends (albeit cowardly, somewhat-corrupt ones).

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to the Terry Pratchett fan as well as to the fantasy fan or even just the humor fan. While going back to "Guards! Guards!" (the first Discworld book about the Watch) may be helpful for those of you that aren't familiar with the series, it's still strong enough that it can hold it's own. If "Night Watch" is your first Terry Pratchett book, you may miss a lot of the references, but you'll still be in for an excellent read.