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A review by tyrant_flycatcher
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very happy to have picked up Pratchett's work. His take on satirical fantasy is like warm, fuzzy comfort food for my brain in these stressful times.
Much like Guards! Guards!, it's a a snappy and enjoyable read. It won't shatter your worldview, and the book knows this. It also knows how to be genuinely funny, and it comes packed with a surprising amount of social commentary surrounding its now even more varied cast.
My only real complaint is that Pratchett's syncopated narrative style gets a tad confusing during the climax. I got lost a couple of times trying to keep up with who is where and for how long. This was rare, mind you, but it did subtract a bit of enjoyment. Another one is that I wish Angua had more impact in the plot : we spend a good chunk of the book following her and Gaspode, but they hardly contribute much to solving the mystery. Her character and actions orbit too much around Carrot, which is kind of a shame.
I would not hesitate to recommend this one to anyone into fantasy who wishes to have a good laugh.
Much like Guards! Guards!, it's a a snappy and enjoyable read. It won't shatter your worldview, and the book knows this. It also knows how to be genuinely funny, and it comes packed with a surprising amount of social commentary surrounding its now even more varied cast.
My only real complaint is that Pratchett's syncopated narrative style gets a tad confusing during the climax. I got lost a couple of times trying to keep up with who is where and for how long. This was rare, mind you, but it did subtract a bit of enjoyment. Another one is that I wish Angua had more impact in the plot : we spend a good chunk of the book following her and Gaspode, but they hardly contribute much to solving the mystery. Her character and actions orbit too much around Carrot, which is kind of a shame.
I would not hesitate to recommend this one to anyone into fantasy who wishes to have a good laugh.