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aklaux 's review for:
Men at Arms
by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
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
Step aside, Eric. I have a new reigning favorite in the Discworld series.
Men at Arms is the *checks notes* 15th Discworld novel and 2nd City Watch novel. After the events of Guards! Guards!, the Night Watch is getting some new recruits and Captain Sam Vines is preparing to retire in exchange for wedded bliss. But a series of murders happening around Ankh Morpork with a weapon unlike anything the Watch has seen before sends the rag tag group of misfits on a strictly forbidden investigation.
While I enjoyed Guards! Guards!, this book took the Night Watch to a whole new level. The returning characters are more developed, not to mention some unique new characters that are added to the mix. The plot stayed focused and resisted the urge to go off the rails as many of Discworld novels are known to do. Even the comedy and satire were at peak performance. Witticisms were well timed and consistent. The social commentary was surprisingly still relevant despite the fact this novel was published the year I was born...
This book also made me confident in my decision to read the whole series in publication order. Several "new" characters in this book were actually characters I had seen before, in Moving Pictures of all places. I would have enjoyed the book regardless (although with some slight confusion about the existence of a certain ratty talking dog), but having these interconnecting stories really helps bring the series to life and sparks a sort of dopamine shot every time I find these Easter Eggs.
Overall, Sir Terry Pratchett nailed it. If the rest of the City Watch novels are as good as this one, I now understand why they are so often the fan favorites.
Men at Arms is the *checks notes* 15th Discworld novel and 2nd City Watch novel. After the events of Guards! Guards!, the Night Watch is getting some new recruits and Captain Sam Vines is preparing to retire in exchange for wedded bliss. But a series of murders happening around Ankh Morpork with a weapon unlike anything the Watch has seen before sends the rag tag group of misfits on a strictly forbidden investigation.
While I enjoyed Guards! Guards!, this book took the Night Watch to a whole new level. The returning characters are more developed, not to mention some unique new characters that are added to the mix. The plot stayed focused and resisted the urge to go off the rails as many of Discworld novels are known to do. Even the comedy and satire were at peak performance. Witticisms were well timed and consistent. The social commentary was surprisingly still relevant despite the fact this novel was published the year I was born...
This book also made me confident in my decision to read the whole series in publication order. Several "new" characters in this book were actually characters I had seen before, in Moving Pictures of all places. I would have enjoyed the book regardless (although with some slight confusion about the existence of a certain ratty talking dog), but having these interconnecting stories really helps bring the series to life and sparks a sort of dopamine shot every time I find these Easter Eggs.
Overall, Sir Terry Pratchett nailed it. If the rest of the City Watch novels are as good as this one, I now understand why they are so often the fan favorites.