Night Watch: A Discworld Novel (Paperback)
by Terry Pratchett
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I admit, I like Terry Pratchett a lot anyway, but "Night Watch" is hands down my favorite Discworld novels (Jingo comes in a distant second). One of the darkest and most complex of the City Watch stories, while pursuing a truly depraved criminal named Carcer, Commander Sir Samuel Vimes is thrown back through time on the eve of the birth of his son to help... well, himself. Ankh-Morpork is on the brink of revolution, and somebody's got to make sure young Sammy doesn't die before his tim...more
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
people who enjoy wit and/or cop shows
This book is a part of the massive Discworld series, and one of Mr.Pratchett's best works, in my opinion (aside from Good Omens, but that was a collaberation). It's something like the fifth or sixth book in the series of books invovling Ankh-Morpork's Night Watch, but I read "Thud!", the one right after it, first of all before I realized there were more "before" it, and it's realatively easy to follow. None of the jokes really need to be explained, so it could exist as a stan...more
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Read in January, 2004
My favourite Pratchett novel, but I'm not really sure why.
I think that Sam Vimes' being in it definitely helps: I think my favourite "series" in the Discworld novels are the City Watch series (along with the witches of Lancre and Death). His character arc really comes to a head in this one, even though he still has another level to go to in </i>Thud!</i>
I also think that time travel being in it definitely helps. Though not the quantum, metaphysical, zany fun of Thief of Time...more
I think that Sam Vimes' being in it definitely helps: I think my favourite "series" in the Discworld novels are the City Watch series (along with the witches of Lancre and Death). His character arc really comes to a head in this one, even though he still has another level to go to in </i>Thud!</i>
I also think that time travel being in it definitely helps. Though not the quantum, metaphysical, zany fun of Thief of Time...more
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While Terry Pratchett is known for the humor in his Discworld series, I enjoy them primarily because-- while on the surface, his books do indeed classify as humor, he also writes these almost painful realities, very human thoughts and incredibly immersive emotions in situations that you generally don't find in most humorous fantasy/sci-fi which tends more towards parody and caricatures. Though, I wouldn’t exactly say that the Discworld series isn't a parody-- because his books are parodies, or...more
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Read in December, 2007
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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recommends it for:
Anyone over 12
Pratchet is brilliant. The story is part of the 'Guards' sequence in the Disc World series. For non-Disc Worlders you have to understand that prolific Pratchet created a comic fantasy world called the Disc World and then proceeded to write stories set in different parts of it, with different characters etc that sometimes meet each other.
The Guards sequence centres on Sam Vimes who is a cop in the city of Ank-Morepork. It is kind of medieval, kind of modern. In this story Sam has risen to be ...more
The Guards sequence centres on Sam Vimes who is a cop in the city of Ank-Morepork. It is kind of medieval, kind of modern. In this story Sam has risen to be ...more
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Read in January, 2005
I already put my placeholder for all books Pratchett on my shelf (Small Gods), but I decided I have to single out this one, since it's easily the best (or one of the best at the very least) installment of the Discworld series.
Sam Vimes, Commander of the Watch, travels into the past to give adivice to his younger self, and to make sure his future happens at all. This sounds like a familiar plot, but it is treated in a unique way: For one, Vimes isn't fazed by meeting his inept younger self, ...more
Sam Vimes, Commander of the Watch, travels into the past to give adivice to his younger self, and to make sure his future happens at all. This sounds like a familiar plot, but it is treated in a unique way: For one, Vimes isn't fazed by meeting his inept younger self, ...more
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While halfway through this book, I wondered why it took me a year to start it (having bought it on impulse at Logan Airport on my way to Denmark last year). It's classic Terry Pratchett satire, and is a hilarious and insightful send-up of leadership and politics. While thoroughly enjoying this book, it made me realize that I need t...more
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Read in May, 2008
I really enjoy Terry Pratchett's series about DiscWorld. This is one of the better books in the series. However, you need to have read some of the series in order to get all the little things about the different characters. The only bad thing about this book is that I don't really like the whole time travel concept of it. I liked seeing the characters when Sam Vimes is just starting out and is young and impressionable, but I didn't like having to go back in time and pretend to be someone else to...more
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Not as good as the other Discworld novels that I've read, but still enjoyable. This probably has something to do with my dislike for time travel plots than the actual contents of the book. Although, I will admit that Terry Pratchett does handle it with a wry sense of humor that is refreshing.
I've been reading the books out of order so I don't know if the cast of characters is generally the same or different every time, but this brought back Sam Vimes who was one of the many good characte...more
I've been reading the books out of order so I don't know if the cast of characters is generally the same or different every time, but this brought back Sam Vimes who was one of the many good characte...more
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If I had only one novel to take with me to a desert island, this would be it. It's a mistake to view Terry Pratchett as "only" a comic fantasy writer--he's so, SO much more, and Night Watch is probably one of the finest examples of his breathtaking ability to have you laughing out loud with one paragraph and nearly in tears with the next. Samuel Vimes is the best kind of everyman character, the sort of human that *defines* humanity. The fact that he happens to live on a disc-shaped wor...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
Humorists
Night Watch is the tale of Commander Sam Vimes' past...again. In a freak accident above the Unseen University, Vimes and a criminal are thrust back in time. Which isn't good, because the criminal quickly kills the man who taught Vimes everything he knows. So Vimes must teach himself everything he knows, as well as live through Ankh-Morpork's revolutionary times without destroying the fabric of history.
As always with Pratchett, this is hardly a serious novel. But it does show a lot...more
As always with Pratchett, this is hardly a serious novel. But it does show a lot...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
People who have already read several Sam Vimes books
Fantastic. One of his bests. (It's the time-travel Sam Vimes one.) One of the few Discworld books that really makes me feel emotional more than it makes me want to laugh my face off. You'll have to have read quite a few Sam Vimes novels before you read this one, though. I'd suggest Guards, Guards!, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, and Jingo-- I th...more
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Time travel and police work come together in this installment of Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Definitely a book for the seasoned Discworld explorer, but one of the best that he's written.
Sam Vimes gets thrown into his own past with a psychotic cop-killer. Not only does he have to hunt the murderer down, but he has to keep the murderer away from the young Sam Vimes, just joining the police force. The revolution going on in the city doesn't help matters, either, come to think about it...
A ...more
Sam Vimes gets thrown into his own past with a psychotic cop-killer. Not only does he have to hunt the murderer down, but he has to keep the murderer away from the young Sam Vimes, just joining the police force. The revolution going on in the city doesn't help matters, either, come to think about it...
A ...more
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone
Another of Pratchett's best, this follows the later and early career (at the same time!?) of the Captain of the Ankh-Morpork watch, Sam Vimes. This book may make you question your undestanding of temporal paradox.
The best part of this book, in my opinion, is Pratchett's development of his characters. From Carcer Dun's ability to convince you of his earnest intentions, to the members of the watch who are introduced in the beginning of the book and developed throughout the rest of the book, ...more
The best part of this book, in my opinion, is Pratchett's development of his characters. From Carcer Dun's ability to convince you of his earnest intentions, to the members of the watch who are introduced in the beginning of the book and developed throughout the rest of the book, ...more
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Read in January, 2008
Second or third read for "Night Watch." One of the very best of Pratchett's Diskworld novels. Sam Vimes, awaiting the birth of his child with Dame Sybil, is transported via a magical time wormhole, thirty years past where he takes on the role provided, in his own past, by John Keel, who taught him what it was like to be a "copper" on the night watch in Ankh-Morpork. As with all of the "watch" novels involving Sam Vimes, there's a lot of philosophy, of a strong life-...more
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As with all of Discworld, this book is hilarity in paginated form. But, Mother of God, I love this one.
First, I love the Watch, and Vimes most of all. But this book is one of the only books I have ever read back-to-back. It's fantastic. If you've read it, nod with me. If not, steal it from a friend who has it, and read it immediately. This book will not wait. You can make new friends.
It's a Watch book, in which Vimes goes back in time accidentally, along with the craziest killer Ankh-Mor...more
First, I love the Watch, and Vimes most of all. But this book is one of the only books I have ever read back-to-back. It's fantastic. If you've read it, nod with me. If not, steal it from a friend who has it, and read it immediately. This book will not wait. You can make new friends.
It's a Watch book, in which Vimes goes back in time accidentally, along with the craziest killer Ankh-Mor...more
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It took us half the time for my husband and I to read this aloud as it has any other book we've done. Probably because we read aloud at every available opportunity.
The book is full of adventure, action, and the totally awesome character of Sam Vimes. And do I feel the same way as Sam Vimes/Terry Pratchett about such issues as gun control and the death penalty? Not so much, but it doesn't for a second stop me from enjoying the fact that he blends humor and current politics and fantastic actio...more
The book is full of adventure, action, and the totally awesome character of Sam Vimes. And do I feel the same way as Sam Vimes/Terry Pratchett about such issues as gun control and the death penalty? Not so much, but it doesn't for a second stop me from enjoying the fact that he blends humor and current politics and fantastic actio...more
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The Ankh-Morpork City Watch series is easily my favorite of the Discworld novels, because of my particular interest in Public Administration. The AMCW series asks all the right questions about law, jurisdiction, enforcement, and vox populi, without resorting to cheap preachy answers.
But this book stands out as the best of the series so far, taking all those questions and mixing them in with the science fiction device of time travel, and delving into not just Public Administration question...more
But this book stands out as the best of the series so far, taking all those questions and mixing them in with the science fiction device of time travel, and delving into not just Public Administration question...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who wants to be moved in both comical and serious ways...
My favorite Pratchett book...hell my favorite book of all times.
Terry took the Vimes character to a new level with this book. What was a wise cracking copper became the most flushed out and emotionally driven character I have ever come across.
This book is the perfect blend. One page has you laughing and the other has you fighting back tears. If you are a fantasy reader then you owe it to yourself to read this book and then buy an extra copy for a friend.
Terry took the Vimes character to a new level with this book. What was a wise cracking copper became the most flushed out and emotionally driven character I have ever come across.
This book is the perfect blend. One page has you laughing and the other has you fighting back tears. If you are a fantasy reader then you owe it to yourself to read this book and then buy an extra copy for a friend.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.31 (2198 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.32 (1726 ratings) number of reviews: 98popular shelves
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