Reviews

I just think that I don't like Terry Pratchett. This is the third discworld book that I have read and I have thought the same thing about them all: they spend way too much time trying to be witty and funny that you end up waiting around for something to happen. With this one it took so long for us to actually get anything to happen besides some "funny" moments. The second half of this book was fun, but I really did not need the first half to even really understand what was going on. This just was not for me, and I think I am giving up on discworld.

lesserjoke's review against another edition

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4.0

A tremendously funny and poignant story of a young woman who disguises herself as a lad to enlist in her nation's army. Author Terry Pratchett strikes a fine balance between showing the camaraderie and bravery of soldiers on the one hand -- the reasons someone might find that life appealing -- and the bleak inanity of military regulations and war itself on the other. He also shows his fantasy Discworld setting becoming a bit more open-minded towards people in Polly's situation, many of whom have only been lacking the courage to speak out about the gender roles and restrictive religious teachings they privately disfavor.

It's pretty much a standalone volume within its series, with a few fun cameos from existing characters but little that would prevent a new reader from fully following along. And although it contains some minor fatphobia and a greater deal of sexism than I think the writer intends, plus the sort of cross-dressing plot whose essentialist view of anatomy leaves minimal room for a trans experience, the book overall presents a welcome message of questioning tradition, finding your own path, and accepting those who are different from you. If that sounds like a mixed bag, well, it is -- but that's Pratchett in a nutshell, really, as able to punch down at marginalized groups as up at systems of oppression. Yet for this particular outing at least, the comic thrust lands mostly in the right direction.

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lauradignumsmith's review against another edition

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adventurous

4.5

An epic! A satire of empty patriotism in a pretty sharp way - I imagine even funnier if you know anything at all about the army, which I do not….

squeak's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.25

sylw's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

5.0

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