Spoiler warning.
9/10.
“Down there […] are people who will follow any dragon, worship any god, ignore any inequity. All out of a kind of humdrum, everyday badness. Not the really high, creative loathsomeness of the great sinners, but a sort of mass-produced darkness of the soul. Sin, you might say, without a trace of originality. They accept evil not because they say yes, but because they don’t say no.”
Guards! Guards! is the fulfillment of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: social commentary and sharp observations on human nature served in a delicious package of satire, comedy, fantasy, and absurdly animated characters. Overall, it’s my favorite of the series thus far. Pratchett’s humor is relentless throughout, and unlike many of the earlier Discworld entries, the book doesn’t get bogged down in plot.
Instead of universe-ending stakes and globe-trotting adventure, Guards! Guards! zooms in almost entirely on the grimy, dysfunctional city of Ankh-Morpork. The time Pratchett spends building out this world of government-sanctioned criminal guilds that manage such essential industries as assassination and thievery, hustlers like Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, and befouled neighborhoods makes this corner of the Discworld feel like a rich sandbox for the characters to run amok in.
On the topic of characters, a few familiar faces appear throughout Guards! Guards!: Death, the Librarian, and the Patrician. However, the new cast of misfits is the true highlight. Each member of the Night Watch shines. Captain Sam Vimes, Sergeant Colon, and Nobby Nobbs form a classic team of down-on-their-luck morons aimlessly carrying out their empty duties in an organization that has completely lost its purpose. That is, until Carrot arrives.
Carrot was by far my favorite of the Watch members. Unlike his colleagues, he was raised outside the filth of Ankh-Morpork and is so naïve and sheltered that he lacks the ability not to take things at face value, especially the rules. Carrot is so devoid of self-awareness and skepticism that he continues believing he is a dwarf despite being a massive human with the muscle and brawling skills to take on an entire pub full of belligerent dwarfs and a troll. Is he a “chosen one”? Maybe. Maybe not. If he is, it was a nice touch on Pratchett’s part to have the kingdom he restores be not Ankh-Morpork itself, but the brotherhood of the Watch.
Another wonderful addition to the cast is Goodboy Bindle Featherstone of Quirm, also known as Errol. He instantly edged out the Luggage as my favorite Discworld creature sidekick. Everything about this adorable, lumpy swamp dragon reminded me of my dog: the gas, the belching, the lumpiness. Like Vimes, I would adopt Errol in a heartbeat.
As indicated by the quote at the beginning of this review, Guards! Guards! is elevated by Pratchett’s observations on politics and morality. There is so much that people will excuse, sacrifice, or believe in a heartbeat if it makes them feel better, especially if it is trendy or easier than confronting an ugly, fire-breathing reality. As always, Pratchett displays a keen understanding of humanity. His decision to conceptualize dragons as reflections of those who imagine them into being is a particularly nice touch.
As a mystery or epic fantasy, Guards! Guards! is by no means groundbreaking, but it more than gets the job done. It leaves Pratchett free to focus on what he does best: worldbuilding, character work, and putting a smile on my face.
Ook!
The Once and Future Lit 