Book Review - Night Watch By Terry Pratchett

After the popularity of my post on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, I thought I’d face a fear of mine and write a post reviewing one of the mighty man’s novels. With thirty-six books in the Discworld series, I was slightly spoiled for choice, so I decided on arguably the best of them all – Night Watch.

In Night Watch, Watch Commander Sir Samuel Vimes is busy chasing criminal Carcer Dun, when he suddenly himself flung backwards in time by a magical storm. Realising he’s in a tricky situation, Vimes attempts to reach help with the wizards of Unseen University, but is unfortunately arrested on his way or breaking curfew. The worst part? He’s been arrested…by himself! Ironically winding up in a cell next to Carcer, Vimes is later taken for interrogation, when time gets frozen by Lu-Tze. The sweeper informs Vimes that Sergeant-At-Arms John Keel was meant to arrive at the Watch that day, but was murdered by Carcer! Vimes must now fool his younger self and assume the identity of John Keel, in order to teach himself the ways of the Watch.

Pratchett’s characters are always superb, but Night Watch stands apart from the others as a masterpiece of interplay and storytelling. Equally intelligent but separated by years of training and knowledge of the streets, the interaction between old Vimes and young Vimes is nothing short of masterful. For fans that already know the characters, seeing them in their young forms adds another level of humour to what is already a melting pot of conviviality.

Book Review - Discworld By Terry Pratchett

Since this is a website about books, I have thus far assumed all readers understand the concept of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. However, for those who (for some unfathomable reason) are unfamiliar with one of the greatest literary creations of all time, here’s an introduction.

The Discworld is a slightly convex disc-shaped world that sits on top of four huge elephants, which stand on the back of a Giant Star Turtle called The Great A’Tuin. In this world, which is quite similar to ours at very first appearance, things are entirely as they should be – which is a source of constant strife for everybody. The way things work out in the Discworld is best described as a kind of narrative destiny; things exist in accordance with pre-ordained stories, hence much of life is spent following or seeking to avoid your ‘written’ fate. The power of these stories should never be underestimated either; so strong is the power of believe in the Discworld that, if a legend is retold enough times, it actually becomes true!

What this means for the reader is that every novel based in the Discworld is subject to infinite possibilities, with each tale unwinding through a series of hilarious events as the characters attempt to evade or further their narrative destinies.