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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Terry Pratchett delivers another classic DiscWorld adventure. It's fun, funny, and full of his classic wit and satirical portrayals of fantasy tropes.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In „Wachen! Wachen!“, dem achten Roman der Scheibenwelt-Reihe von Terry Pratchett, geht es um die Nachtwache von Ankh-Morpork – ein Haufen heruntergekommener, leicht desillusionierter Wächter, die ihre besten Tage längst hinter sich haben. Doch als eine geheimnisvolle Bruderschaft ein gefährliches Ritual durchführt, erwacht ein Drache – ein wirklich großer Drache – zum Leben. Ausgerechnet die Nachtwache, angeführt vom trinkfesten Hauptmann Sam Mumm, muss sich nun mit Magie, Machtspielen und uralten Legenden herumschlagen.
Der Roman ist ein Paradebeispiel für Pratchetts einzigartige Fähigkeit, Humor, Gesellschaftskritik und Fantasy auf brillante Weise zu verweben. Die Geschichte nimmt klassische Fantasy-Klischees auf – von Drachen über Auserwählte bis hin zu düsteren Geheimbünden – und zerlegt sie mit messerscharfem Witz. Dabei bleibt Pratchetts Stil stets liebevoll respektlos.
Besonders besticht der Roman durch seine Sprache: „Glücklicher Regen fiel auf Hochlandschafe, flüsterte sanft über Wälder oder platschte ein wenig inzestuös ins Meer.“ – Solche Sätze zeigen, wie Pratchett mit poetischem Irrsinn und absurdem Charme ganze Stimmungen einfängt.
Die Charaktere sind durchweg gelungen: Allen voran Sam Mumm, der grummelige Hauptmann mit Hang zum Alkohol und zum gesunden Menschenverstand, sowie der naive Neuzugang Karotte, der mit seiner geradlinigen Ehrlichkeit alles durcheinanderwirbelt. Auch der Drache selbst, ebenso gefährlich wie überraschend vielschichtig, ist ein Highlight.
Ein Stern Abzug gibt es lediglich, weil der Einstieg etwas gemächlich ist und sich manche Szenen in Wortwitz und Satire fast verlieren – was aber für Fans von Pratchett eher ein Vergnügen als ein Problem sein dürfte.
Fazit: „Wachen! Wachen!“ ist kluge, tiefsinnige Fantasy-Satire voller Witz, Charme und skurriler Weisheit – ein Muss für alle, die Fantasy lieben, aber auch gerne über sie lachen.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
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
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've read a few Pratchetts already, but reading this was the first time I understood what the fuss is about. Good humor and silly dialogue nicely balanced by moments of surprisingly deep, satisfying, worldbuilding and timely commentary on fascism/tyrants/the nature of evil. Fun and doesn't wear out its welcome. My main criticism is I thought the climactic chapters were an absolute mess, to the point of significant plot beats being incoherent and needing eye-squinting and guesswork to piece together, in a "How did this sentence make it through multuple drafts??" kind of way. My other criticism is there is some annoying misogyny, and quintessentially British classism, and of course it's copaganda but i knew that going in. Things come together nicely in the end. I love the Librarian.
It's been a while since I've ventured into Discworld but it's always a delight to go back. The characters are so fleshed out and distinct, the humor is so good while also providing on-point social commentary, and the sheer imagination that goes into the world-building is staggering.
I think what I enjoyed about this one in particular was how accidental a lot of the heroics ended up being (which I think is the whole point) and how the Watch only wanted some small compensations for their work. I know I read another book on the Watch but it's been so long I don't remember any of it, which I think is for the best so I can go into this one fresh.
What else is there to say? It's smart, it's funny, it holds up a wonderful mirror of the world while living in this medieval fantasy realm, it has well-defined characters and engaging action. It's Discworld!
I think what I enjoyed about this one in particular was how accidental a lot of the heroics ended up being (which I think is the whole point) and how the Watch only wanted some small compensations for their work. I know I read another book on the Watch but it's been so long I don't remember any of it, which I think is for the best so I can go into this one fresh.
What else is there to say? It's smart, it's funny, it holds up a wonderful mirror of the world while living in this medieval fantasy realm, it has well-defined characters and engaging action. It's Discworld!