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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of my least favourite Discworld books. This isn't to say that it's bad but I think that Pratchett has covered all of the main ideas of this book better in his other works. Jingo was a better look at jingoistic wars, Small Gods a better look at religion, and any of the books with female dwarfs better when it came to gender roles.
It also feels very much like what you would expect from a cisgender individual writing about gender roles in 2003. Not in a nasty or mean-spirited way, mind you. It just feels a bit flat, a bit monochrome. As if there is so much more colour and nuance and interest that could be here but isn't.
I recall being frustrated verging on angry when I read this when it first came out. I don't feel that way about it now, and I am glad to have reread it. But even so, I don't think it really offers that much, and I won't be in a rush to reread it again any time soon.
It also feels very much like what you would expect from a cisgender individual writing about gender roles in 2003. Not in a nasty or mean-spirited way, mind you. It just feels a bit flat, a bit monochrome. As if there is so much more colour and nuance and interest that could be here but isn't.
I recall being frustrated verging on angry when I read this when it first came out. I don't feel that way about it now, and I am glad to have reread it. But even so, I don't think it really offers that much, and I won't be in a rush to reread it again any time soon.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought it was very funny. And I'm coming to love the disksworld lore.
Sir Terry's books are a bit hit-and-miss with me. This one was definitely a hit! It had great characters and touched on some very important social commentary. The really sad thing about said commentary is that though Sir Terry wrote the book years ago, it still applies today. Women are still being looked down on and believed incapable. I think one piece of dialogue near the end really hit me for how accurate it is to people's attitudes: one character says that they did well "for women".
Of course this book doesn't just hit on gender roles and life in the military, but it also deals with things like religion, national pride, and war in general. I like Sir Terry best when he does this kind of social commentary with humor while also not leaning too much one direction or the other. The religious person, for example, isn't portrayed as being crazy or hateful or anything that is usually shown when writers create a character like this. Other characters are skeptical and non-believers but it's never done in a nasty way. The same is true for the other subjects that are touched on. Sir Terry shows the problems of these issues as well as the good things. We do see the hardships of war but also the camaraderie of the soldiers; we see the struggles of women but also the strengths.
The ending was great but I do feel like leading up to the end dragged. The rest of the story was done at a good pace but after the climax, there was this bit that just felt like it was slow but not in a good way. But that's really the only criticism I can think of. It's a great book and some fun cameos by characters I enjoy like Vimes-- and Death, of course! Another good adventure in the Discworld.
Of course this book doesn't just hit on gender roles and life in the military, but it also deals with things like religion, national pride, and war in general. I like Sir Terry best when he does this kind of social commentary with humor while also not leaning too much one direction or the other. The religious person, for example, isn't portrayed as being crazy or hateful or anything that is usually shown when writers create a character like this. Other characters are skeptical and non-believers but it's never done in a nasty way. The same is true for the other subjects that are touched on. Sir Terry shows the problems of these issues as well as the good things. We do see the hardships of war but also the camaraderie of the soldiers; we see the struggles of women but also the strengths.
The ending was great but I do feel like leading up to the end dragged. The rest of the story was done at a good pace but after the climax, there was this bit that just felt like it was slow but not in a good way. But that's really the only criticism I can think of. It's a great book and some fun cameos by characters I enjoy like Vimes-- and Death, of course! Another good adventure in the Discworld.
I had to take it back to the library 😂 and it just wasn’t keeping my attention
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just as engrossing as any other Pratchett book, following his usual discworld formula. Definitely a product of its times, and suffused with an anxiety towards trans people that I found disappointing for one of my favorite authors. It's a fine story if you don't really look at or think about it.
Crossdressing is the central premise, but has to be made 'okay' by being performed in service of a larger goal, and being jettisoned as a victory condition for the protagonists, who get to 'finally' live as their 'true (gendered) selves'
The only male character to crossdress is portrayed as ridiculous and comical, and makes sure to explain he isn't like 'that other guy' he knew who was tooooo into theatrical cross-casting.
Crossdressing is the central premise, but has to be made 'okay' by being performed in service of a larger goal, and being jettisoned as a victory condition for the protagonists, who get to 'finally' live as their 'true (gendered) selves'
The only male character to crossdress is portrayed as ridiculous and comical, and makes sure to explain he isn't like 'that other guy' he knew who was tooooo into theatrical cross-casting.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I read and enjoyed this fifteen years ago when I first got into Discworld, and on this current re-read, I find it to be a very charming book that I do like, but it's not Pratchett's best work. It's still got the mix of comedy, empathy, and social commentary you'd expect from Discworld. This is one of the most serious Discworld books I've encountered and there's an odd aura of gloom about the book as the consequences of war on Borogravia become apparent. There are some fun cameos from popular characters like Sam Vimes (which probably seem very random to someone dipping in without having read the Watch books). This book is pretty good about giving something resembling a happy ending without having Borogravia magically become a completely politically stable country overnight.
And yet, it didn't grab me the way a lot of his best works do. The main cast of soldiers is quite large, and the human privates are not very distinct from eachother. The feminist message, as much as I want feminism from Pterry, was about as subtle as a brick to the face and wasn't particularly deep. I don't hate it, but knowing what else he has written, it's hard not to compare and be a little disappointed.
And yet, it didn't grab me the way a lot of his best works do. The main cast of soldiers is quite large, and the human privates are not very distinct from eachother. The feminist message, as much as I want feminism from Pterry, was about as subtle as a brick to the face and wasn't particularly deep. I don't hate it, but knowing what else he has written, it's hard not to compare and be a little disappointed.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Violence, War