Scan barcode
A review by zeref_47
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
4.0
It was delightful! Just a 'literary cheesecake' in my usual spicy or bland or sweet palate. Loved the prose more than anything. The writing actually makes most of the humor along with the absurd scenarios that are happening throughout the novel.
I knew there was a thing called Discworld but didn't have any idea about what that is. Got interested with Daniel Greene's high praise about this series. But for some reason I was always intimidated by them. Finally watching Library of Allenxandria's rave review of Discworld I decided to start and oh I'm so happy that I did.
“Happens all the time. You read about it. Skions, they're called. They go lurking around in the distant wildernesses for ages, handing down the secret sword and birthmark and so forth from generation to generation. Then just when the old kingdom needs them, they turn up and turf out any usurpers that happen to be around. And then there's general rejoicing.”
The story is of the city of Ankh Morpork where there has not been a king or a dragon for a long long time. The Patrician rules the city quite deftly and the City Watch is basically non-existent and equally unnecessary. But a new recruit in the Night Watch, Carrot and a new Dragon that seems to appear out of the thin air rattles the city and that's where our story begins.
I have always heard about Pratchett's gold humor and his writing that itself is a treat and upon tasting it I can say that this is right up my alley. The writing reminds me of শিব্রাম চকরবরতি who is another word wizard who plays with words in both crude and subtle ways that makes me laugh out loud. The only sad bit is that as I am not so well versed in the English literature or well acquainted with some of the pop culture reference that he used so I didn't get the 100% out of his writing.
“that one of the major problems of being a king is the risk of your daughter getting a prick.”
There was a thoughtful pause.
“And falling asleep for a hundred years,” the monarchist went on stolidly.
“Ah,” said the others, unaccountably relieved.
“And then there's wear and tear on peas,” he added.
“Well, there would be,” said the woman, uncertainly.
“Having to sleep on them all the time,” said the monarchist.
“Not to mention hundreds of mattresses.”
“Right.”
“Is that so? I think I could get 'em for him wholesale,” said Throat.
The book is filled with adorable and distinguishable characters. Captain Vimes, the Patrician, the Librarian, lady Ramkin, and all the men from the Night Watch! Not one character was boring. It was a joy to behold.
Vimes felt a sudden surge of civic pride. There had to be something right about a citizenry which, when faced with catastrophe, thought about selling sausages to the participants.
Carrot is hilarious and amazing and absolutely adorable!
Mrs Palm never charged me rent which was very nice of her considering she is a widow with so many fine daughters to bring up plus dowries ekcetra.
Oh lord!
Then there's Cut-me-own-Throat who is always selling something really nuts in every social gathering and in every catastrophe.
“Anti-dragon cream. Personal guarantee: if you're incinerated you get your money back, no quibble.”
“What you're saying,” said Vimes slowly, “if I understand the wording correctly, is that if I am baked alive by the dragon you'll return the money?”
“Upon personal application,” said Cut-me-own-Throat.
The Patrician is as awesome a villain can be, and maybe more. And a quirky one too!
“Never build a dungeon you wouldn't be happy to spend the night in yourself,”
Even though the story itself is not groundbreaking or anything the writing is sooo good that I am really sold on the series. At least in the City Watch one.
Well just wanna add some more gems of a writing that shows that Pratchett's writing is not only funny but it has a crazy amount of insight and philosophy in it too.
'I believe you find life such a problem because you think there are the good people and the bad people,“ said the man. ”You're wrong, of course. There are, always and only, the bad people, but some of them are on opposite sides. "
The thieves were far better at controlling crime than the Watch had ever been. After all, the Watch had to work twice as hard to cut crime just a little, whereas all the Guild had to do was to work less.
A couple of women were moving purposefully among the boxes. Ladies, rather. They were far too untidy to be mere women. No ordinary women would have dreamed of looking so scruffy; you needed the complete self-confidence that comes with knowing who your great-great-great-great-grandfather was before you could wear clothes like that.
Well, if you think this is the type of humor for you then just pick up Guards! Guards! or also maybe Small Gods. Heard it's also a good starting point.
I knew there was a thing called Discworld but didn't have any idea about what that is. Got interested with Daniel Greene's high praise about this series. But for some reason I was always intimidated by them. Finally watching Library of Allenxandria's rave review of Discworld I decided to start and oh I'm so happy that I did.
“Happens all the time. You read about it. Skions, they're called. They go lurking around in the distant wildernesses for ages, handing down the secret sword and birthmark and so forth from generation to generation. Then just when the old kingdom needs them, they turn up and turf out any usurpers that happen to be around. And then there's general rejoicing.”
The story is of the city of Ankh Morpork where there has not been a king or a dragon for a long long time. The Patrician rules the city quite deftly and the City Watch is basically non-existent and equally unnecessary. But a new recruit in the Night Watch, Carrot and a new Dragon that seems to appear out of the thin air rattles the city and that's where our story begins.
I have always heard about Pratchett's gold humor and his writing that itself is a treat and upon tasting it I can say that this is right up my alley. The writing reminds me of শিব্রাম চকরবরতি who is another word wizard who plays with words in both crude and subtle ways that makes me laugh out loud. The only sad bit is that as I am not so well versed in the English literature or well acquainted with some of the pop culture reference that he used so I didn't get the 100% out of his writing.
“that one of the major problems of being a king is the risk of your daughter getting a prick.”
There was a thoughtful pause.
“And falling asleep for a hundred years,” the monarchist went on stolidly.
“Ah,” said the others, unaccountably relieved.
“And then there's wear and tear on peas,” he added.
“Well, there would be,” said the woman, uncertainly.
“Having to sleep on them all the time,” said the monarchist.
“Not to mention hundreds of mattresses.”
“Right.”
“Is that so? I think I could get 'em for him wholesale,” said Throat.
The book is filled with adorable and distinguishable characters. Captain Vimes, the Patrician, the Librarian, lady Ramkin, and all the men from the Night Watch! Not one character was boring. It was a joy to behold.
Vimes felt a sudden surge of civic pride. There had to be something right about a citizenry which, when faced with catastrophe, thought about selling sausages to the participants.
Carrot is hilarious and amazing and absolutely adorable!
Mrs Palm never charged me rent which was very nice of her considering she is a widow with so many fine daughters to bring up plus dowries ekcetra.
Oh lord!
Then there's Cut-me-own-Throat who is always selling something really nuts in every social gathering and in every catastrophe.
“Anti-dragon cream. Personal guarantee: if you're incinerated you get your money back, no quibble.”
“What you're saying,” said Vimes slowly, “if I understand the wording correctly, is that if I am baked alive by the dragon you'll return the money?”
“Upon personal application,” said Cut-me-own-Throat.
The Patrician is as awesome a villain can be, and maybe more. And a quirky one too!
“Never build a dungeon you wouldn't be happy to spend the night in yourself,”
Even though the story itself is not groundbreaking or anything the writing is sooo good that I am really sold on the series. At least in the City Watch one.
Well just wanna add some more gems of a writing that shows that Pratchett's writing is not only funny but it has a crazy amount of insight and philosophy in it too.
'I believe you find life such a problem because you think there are the good people and the bad people,“ said the man. ”You're wrong, of course. There are, always and only, the bad people, but some of them are on opposite sides. "
The thieves were far better at controlling crime than the Watch had ever been. After all, the Watch had to work twice as hard to cut crime just a little, whereas all the Guild had to do was to work less.
A couple of women were moving purposefully among the boxes. Ladies, rather. They were far too untidy to be mere women. No ordinary women would have dreamed of looking so scruffy; you needed the complete self-confidence that comes with knowing who your great-great-great-great-grandfather was before you could wear clothes like that.
Well, if you think this is the type of humor for you then just pick up Guards! Guards! or also maybe Small Gods. Heard it's also a good starting point.