Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch #2)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Men at Arms

(Discworld #15)

Terry Pratchett

4.37 · Rating details · 69,333 Ratings · 1,463 Reviews

A Young Dwarf's Dream

Corporal Carrot has been promoted! He's now in charge of the new recruits guarding Ankh-Morpork, Discworld's greatest city, from Barbarian Tribes, Miscellaneous Marauders, unlicensed Thieves, and such. It's a big job, particularly for an adopted dwarf.

But an even bigger job awaits. An ancient document has just revealed that Ankh-Morpork, ruled for deca ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for

Mass Market Paperback, 377 pages

Published May 27th 2003 by HarperPrism (first published November 11th 1993)

More Details... edit details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Men at Arms, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Best Humorous Books

3,643 books — 6,724 voters

Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams

Best Comic Fantasy

110 books — 175 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30)

Rating details

Sort: Default

Filter

Sep 08, 2013 Patrick rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell w ...more

flag 252 likes · Like · see review

Jun 29, 2009 Patrick rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-would-blurb

This is the second book in the City Watch storyline in the Discworld novels. And I have to say, it's probably twice as good as Guards Guards.

All the characters are more fully realized and more compelling. What's more, it's obvious to me reading now that Pratchett has multi-book plans for the central characters: Carrot, Vimes, and Angua.

Detrius also has a pretty strong secondary arc in this one, and we see the begining of some of Pratchett's Troll Vs. Dwarf discussions that come to beautiful fru ...more

flag 129 likes · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2014 Brandon Sanderson added it

(This review is from 2006.)

All right, the short of it is I really liked the book. The long of it is, I’m very annoyed at Terry.

Those of you who have been following things here know that I just sold the Alcatraz books to Scholastic. They’re essentially humorous fantasy—evil librarians running the world and all that. I wrote them because I was a little frustrated at the market. I could find funny books (Snicket) and I could find books with good worldbuilding (Pullman) and I could find books with c ...more

flag 98 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2017 Lyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Was Terry Pratchett the English Kurt Vonnegut?

Here is another example of playful satire that thinly hides a stinging social and cultural admonishment. In his 1993 Discworld novel Men at Arms (the 15th Discworld adventure and the second to feature Sam Vimes and his City Watch crew) Sir Terry tackles such heavy subjects as racism, sexism, political correctness, class distinctions and the inhumanity of marshal technology but in a decidedly not-too-heavy format; impishly mocking what needs mocking a ...more

flag 45 likes · Like · see review

Jul 10, 2012 Phrynne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 4000-books

This was a reread - the last time I read it was so long ago I don't remember:)

Such a good book! This man only wrote good books and he is much missed. Men at Arms has to be a hit with me because it contains so many of my favourite characters. There is Corporal Carrot who was adopted as a child by dwarves but is probably the disinherited King of Ankh-Morpork. He has so much charisma he changes the world just by being in it. Captain Vimes is there too, about to get married and leave the Force and ...more

flag 28 likes · Like · see review

May 06, 2013 Melki rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, humorous-fiction

Vimes smiled. Someone was trying to kill him, and that made him feel more alive than he had done in days.
And they were also slightly less intelligent than he was. This is a quality you should always pray for in your would-be murderer.

Murders are rare in Ankh-Morpork. Suicides and assassinations...well, they're a dime a dozen, but genuine murders are pretty darned rare. But DEATH has been busier than usual lately, and it's up to Carrot and Vimes of the Night Watch to figure out what the heck is g ...more

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2018 ᴥ Irena ᴥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: comic-fantasy, wizards-mages-or-sorcerers

I'll keep this short. If I had to describe what I think about this story in one sentence it would be as if I need more reasons to love the Watch. There are so many highlighted parts that I gave up after a while.
I didn't read the blurb before, and now I see it has a spoiler in it. At least, I enjoyed finding out that particular thing in the book itself.

I loved it.

I rarely listen to audiobooks, but Men at Arms has an excellent narrator (Nigel Planer, but I checked the other one too and he too is p ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Mar 01, 2010 Steven Harbin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: people who like fantasy, humor, satire

Shelves: read-in-2010, checked-out-from-coweta-central-lib, discworld, fantasy, fiction, read-2010-to-2019, satire, terry-pratchett, reviewed, reviewed-on-goodreads

I'm probably biased, but I'm come to love everything I've read so far by Terry Pratchett, so perhaps my 5 stars should be taken with the proverbial "grain of salt". Still, I enjoyed this one immensely. The Discworld books sometimes have series within the overall series that follow a group of characters. This book is the 2nd in what I call the "Guards" series, following the Night Watch of Ankh-Morpork which is led by Sam Vimes.
After the events of Guards! Guards! the Watch is being expanded, both ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2017 Gauri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The characters in this novel were superb, the plot and its ending was wholesome but not idealistic, and the narration was hilarious. I'm not sentimental about the series yet, but I bet I'll get there eventually. Man, Pratchett is something else. I can't think of an author I've read last that was able to comment on society, provide fleshed-out characters and a good plot, and present it all neatly with great humor. Maybe I just haven't been reading enough?

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2015 Richard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comedy, fantasy

8.5/10

I'm going to say that to date this is the best Discworld novel I've read. The characters are well rounded with a blend of people from the last novel developing further and new additions adding to humour and conflict in equal measure. The plot is well written with plenty of twists and turns and not until near the end did things tie up nicely making it a well driven read.

The layers to this novel were quite something, on the surface this is a murder plot but underneath it is littered with po ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2014 Melindam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: discworld, fantasy, uno-2018

“The Librarian considered matters for a while. So…a dwarf and a troll. He preferred both species to humans. For one thing, neither of them were great readers. The Librarian was, of course, very much in favor of reading in general, but readers in particular got on his nerves. There was something, well, sacrilegious about the way they kept taking books off the shelves and wearing out the words by reading them. He liked people who loved and respected books, and the best way to do that, in the Libra ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2018 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore added it

Shelves: terry-pratchett, british, humour, series, discworld, citywatch, animals, dog, dogs

#17 of the Discworld Books and the second of the Citywatch ones. As usual, plenty is happening in Ankh-Morpork in this one. The Night Watch has new recruits, a troll, a dwarf (even though Carrot is one too :)), and a very pretty young woman, Constable Angua (who happens to have another special qualification), all part of an affirmative action plan, initiated by the Patrician. Carrot is now Corporal, in-charge, of them all. On the other side, Captain Vimes is preparing for his wedding to Lady Syb #17 of the Discworld Books and the second of the Citywatch ones. As usual, plenty is happening in Ankh-Morpork in this one. The Night Watch has new recruits, a troll, a dwarf (even though Carrot is one too :)), and a very pretty young woman, Constable Angua (who happens to have another special qualification), all part of an affirmative action plan, initiated by the Patrician. Carrot is now Corporal, in-charge, of them all. On the other side, Captain Vimes is preparing for his wedding to Lady Sybil Ramkin, protector of dragons, who we met in Guards Guards. And on yet another side, impoverished nobleman, and member of the assassin’s guild Edward D’Eath is disgruntled, in fact positively displeased with the Patrician’s rule, and wishes for the days of monarchy to be restored in Ankh-Morpork. Then strange events begin to happen, there is an explosion, bodies are found, on different days and different places, from the Clown’s guild, the beggar’s guild—with the assassin’s guild not claiming official responsibility for it, and there is also a mysterious theft with no clue as to what was stolen. Vimes wants to get to the bottom of it, as does Carrot, but the Patrician seems to want them not to investigate, or does he?

This was a very entertaining, action-packed, and really enjoyable instalment for me. From the Discworld books I’ve read so far (not so many as yet), Guards Guards was among my favourites, and this one I enjoyed even more so. I loved the humour and writing as always [In the allusions department, this time, I don’t think I fared very well, not really picking any up (p.s: Just remembered an Oscar Wilde one).]. The plot had an unexpected twist or two and there was a proper mystery/whodunit element, which of course, I loved. Carrot was pretty surprising in this one, and definitely proved more than once that simple and trusting certainly does not mean stupid—in fact it could give one insights that, well, ‘intelligent’ people may not pick up on. As far as Vimes went, I felt the Patrician’s plan ended up backfiring a little. One aspect that stood out to me in this one was the social side of things—the issues of diversity, representation, people refusing to simply understand other people, very much reflecting the world we inhabit today. And in its fun way, it was able to deliver the message that if we really get to know each other, we might begin to understand and like each other, even, instead of simply being intent on destruction (a small soppy element in the story though I could have done without). I also thought his dogs/wolves ideas pretty interesting, and on the lighter side, liked the doggie character Gaspode. This took me a little while to get into (my fault I think, reading when much too tired) but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Can’t wait to get started on the next one. Four and a half stars. ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2014 Kaethe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: watch, adventure, dogs, fantasy, feminism, fiction, format-ebooks, humor, magic, mystery

2013 July 4

Pratchett can write a novel about integration and politics and gun control that keeps one amused and engrossed and thoroughly engaged the whole time. I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I was finished I purchased the next Discworld book I hadn't yet read, Interesting Times, to start immediately.

And as many Pratchett books as I have read and loved at this point, I still find it hard to say why they're so great. There is always plot, often more than enough for several books. In this ca ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2016 YouKneeK rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, completed-series

Men at Arms is the second book in the City Watch subseries of Discworld. I liked this one better than the first book, Guards! Guards!. The story held my interest much better, and I enjoyed the characters more. Of course, it had a lot of the same characters as the first book, but I thought this one focused on more interesting characters. I like Carrot quite a bit, and we see a lot of him in this book. There are also two new members of the watch, Cuddy the Dwarf and Detritus (don’t salute!) the Tr ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2017 Pavle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastika

Kad Pračet dobije četvorku, to ne znači ništa drugo do da sam ja baksuz. I da me nervira Kerot.

Elem, Pračet je mudar, hrabar i ludo vozi, svesve. I ovaj deo je, pored nepresušnog izvora dovitljivosti (stvarno, kako? kako toliko??), karakteristično pračetovski inteligentna i promišljena meditacija na temu rasizma, nasilja, vlasti i ljudskosti. Jednom rečju (u svetu u kom je fraza reč), roman je nepopravljivo human.

Ali premalo Vajmsa. Previše Kerota. A ja baksuz.

4++

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2014 David Sarkies rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: comedy

The Nightwatch Returns
13 February 2014

Terry Pratchett is now taking aim at the detective fiction in his gonne sights in one of the most amusing Discworld books that I have read to date (though that is a bit of an exaggeration, but this book does sit up there with the best of the series). We now return to the antics of the nightwatch and discover that there have been some promotions (though poor Noddy is not among the ones who have been promoted). The Patrician has also decided to embrace the id The Nightwatch Returns
13 February 2014

Terry Pratchett is now taking aim at the detective fiction in his gonne sights in one of the most amusing Discworld books that I have read to date (though that is a bit of an exaggeration, but this book does sit up there with the best of the series). We now return to the antics of the nightwatch and discover that there have been some promotions (though poor Noddy is not among the ones who have been promoted). The Patrician has also decided to embrace the idea of affirmative action, so he encourages the watch to bring in some new recruits, including Detritus the Troll (who is famous for being the bouncer at the Broken Drum), Cuddy the dwarf, and Angua, though we are not sure if it is because she is a woman (view spoiler).

Alongside the antics of Detritus, Cuddy, and Angua, there is also a pretty impressive mystery (which involves a gun, or more precisely, a gonne) which has gone missing from the Assassins Guild, but let us first deal with Detritus and Cuddy. One thing that we learn about the Discworld in this book is that trolls and dwarves basically hate each other and wonder around in gangs beating each other up. However Detritus and Cuddy are forced to put aside their differences and work together (which they end up doing quite successfully because they are no longer a dwarf and a troll but members of the watch).

As for the mystery, we are first introduced to a rather intriguing assassin known as Edward d'Earth (I actually know of a person with such a last name), who was at one stage a member of a noble family but has fallen on hard times since the king was removed and the Patrician put in his place. However, due to some research, he uncovers the true heir to the throne and seeks to replace the Patrician with a new king, but this peters out pretty quickly because d'Eath ends up going missing pretty close to the beginning of the book. However Vimes comes to learn of some mysterious deaths which he decides to investigate (and we have his superior stepping in, as can be expected in your typical crime novel, and telling him to stop investigating, and then disbanding the watch because Vimes refuses to do so).

It is interesting Pratchett's take on the gonne because he paints it in the same way that he paints other technological innovations (such as film in Moving Pictures): it has a this magical effect upon society that irrevocably changes it. The funny thing with Discworld is that society is actually resistant to change, so we have these inventions having an almost magical effect upon those who are exposed to it to try to force this change along, and this is change that is usually for the worse. There is also something very seductive about the gun, sort of like the power that its possession gives the owner – the ability to be able to kill at great distances.

The interesting thing about Ankh-Morpork is that it exists purely due to the status quo, though one does seem to get more of a sense of a fairy-tale world than a pure fantasy world that one tends to expect from most fantasy novels (but then again Discworld is not like most fantasy worlds): a medieval European setting with wizards and dragons running around to make things interesting. Granted Discworld has its fare share of wizards, dragons, and a cornucopia of other caricatures, but there seems to an essence of modernism within this world, as if the thoughts and attitudes of the characters are more modern in scope than most fantasy novels. Then again this is not surprising since what Pratchett is writing satire as opposed to pure fantasy, and in many cases it is much easier to criticise society, and some of society's sacred cows, by shifting the setting away from the modern world and placing it in a fictional setting, whether it be fantasy, as in the case of Pratchett, or science-fiction, as in the case of writers like Douglas Adams or Grant Naylor.

That does not mean that the writings are going to be immune to criticism or outrage, as this tends to happen when writings start to demonstrate the absurdity of some of our sacred cows (such as religion in Pyramids and Small Gods, and gun ownership in the case of Men at Arms). Mind you, I have not heard anywhere near as much criticism being levelled against Pratchett as has been levelled against some other writers (such as Scorsesee in regards to The Last Temptation of Christ). I suspect that Pratchett has become something of a sacred cow himself (in the same way that Star Trek and Star Wars are also sacred cows) in that if one even thinks of writing a bad review of one of his books you are going to get someone complaining about how you are being unfair, don't understand, or simply (which is a huge assumption) haven't read the book (because, seriously, how could anybody even think of writing a bad review if they had actually read the book). ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2011 Tfitoby rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastical, black-as-night, funny

Barely a year has passed since the last idiot in Ankh-Morpork thought they could unleash an unholy hell to help them overthrow the great tyrant ruler of their city state only to find themselves meeting the grinning face of the feline loving Death of the Disc sooner than anticipated and somebody is at it again, only this time with the help of a 'gonne.' Vimes is off getting married and Carrot is inheriting a watch embracing equal opportunities, including the evolution of Detritus the troll in to ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2007 Sarah Sammis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: pc

Men at Arms is the second book I've read for the Beach Blanket Bonanza. My husband (whom I originally introduced to Pratchett's books) has been selecting the best of the Discworld books for me to read and I have been enjoying these reading "assignments" thoroughly.

Men at Arms is the next in the "Night Watch" group of books. Vimes is on the eve of his retirement from the watch and about to get married. Meanwhile, bodies are showing up in Ankh-Morpork and a new weapon has been stolen. Carrot and a ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2018 Prerazmišljavanje rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Uvek imam problem sa knjigama o Noćnoj straži Ank-Morporka, suviše su mi stvarne, kao da se uopšte ne trudi da bude satiričan, nego sipa li sipa politiku i nekorektnost, dok ne poteče i iz gargojlinih ušiju.

Najneradije ih čitam, ali ne zato što su manje dobre. Prosto, stavljaju 'dobrost' iznad 'zabavnosti', što ne očekujem posle usputnog čitanja priča o vešticama ili čarobnjacima Disksveta.

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Dec 19, 2014 Ms. Smartarse rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, comedy, quotable, politics, racism, part_of_a_series

When I have first encountered the members of the City Watch, I rather disliked them. They were always misunderstanding everything due to missing about half of the big picture, and thus causing additional problems for the hero.

Thud!, the first novel that I've read about them, didn't exactly endear the characters to me either. Oh I liked Angua: smart, pretty, with a 'mysterious' monthly affliction AND all-around dangerous aura; basically the epitome of a kick-ass heroine.

Angua in Going Postal movie adaptation

Thinking back on it, I'm g ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2013 Olga Godim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-scifi

This novel was a joy to read. The second in the Watch sub-series, it is as much a fantasy as a mystery. People often die in Ankh-Morpork, mostly from suicide (walking along some of the city streets after dark is definitely suicidal), but now a series of murders have been committed. Sam Vimes, the Captain of the Night Watch, starts the investigation, and various complications spring in his way with predictable regularity.
The plot of this novel is just a pencil sketch, a colorless collection of e ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2010 Jamie rated it really liked it

Men at Arms is Terry Pratchett's fifteenth ...woah, really? This is the fifteenth Discwordld book? And I'm not even HALFWAY done with the series yet? And he's still writing them? That's AWESOME!

Anyway, in Men at Arms returns to the metropolis of Ank-Morpork, specifically the Night Watch charged with preventing suicides, such as suicide by strolling through the wrong part of town or saying the wrong thing to any of its inhabitants. Captain Samuel Vimes is relegated mostly a B-story for most of th ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2015 Lindsay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, humor

Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2018.

The Night Watch is expanding with new watchmen being enrolled from the growing minority populations in the city of Ankh-Morpork. But at the same time, Samuel Vimes is looking towards retirement to marry Lady Sybil and become a gentleman of leisure, a future that the Vimes is struggling with. Then a series of murders involving a strange device from the Guild of Assassins occurs and the whole Watch is needed to deal with it.

G ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2016 Wiebke (1book1review) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love love love this book. The way we get to learn more about the characters in the watch and also the Patrician is amazing. I feel like a broken record, but read these books!

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 05, 2016 Magrat Ajostiernos rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, fantasía

3,5/5
¿Por qué no puede salir Vimes TODO EL TIEMPO?

*******Muy fan de Detritus**********

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 12, 2011 Carly rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, worldbuilding, urban-fantasy, police-procedural, detective-hb-noir, muf

Men at Arms, the first[1] book in Pratchett's City Watch subseries, makes for a wonderful introduction to the characters and world of Discworld. Admittedly, it's comparitively weak in some respects; like so many other series I've encountered, it suffers from "first book syndrome": weaker characterization, more predictable plot, and less elegant language. However, once you read it, you can get into the good stuff with an almost complete background of the characters. It can also be safely skipped Men at Arms, the first[1] book in Pratchett's City Watch subseries, makes for a wonderful introduction to the characters and world of Discworld. Admittedly, it's comparitively weak in some respects; like so many other series I've encountered, it suffers from "first book syndrome": weaker characterization, more predictable plot, and less elegant language. However, once you read it, you can get into the good stuff with an almost complete background of the characters. It can also be safely skipped in favour of Feet of Clay and Jingo, the next two books in the series.

The story takes place in the colorful, polluted, wild, cynical city-state of Anhk Morpork, cheerful center of crime of the civilized world. As Pratchett notes,
And visitors say: how does such a big city exist? What keeps it going? Since it's got a river you can chew, where does the drinking water come from? What is, in fact, the basis of its civic economy? How come it, against all probability, works?
Actually, visitors don't often say this. They usually say things like, "Which way to the, you know, the...er...you know, the young ladies, right?”
Ankh Morpork is ruled by the ascetic, incredibly crafty, and self-proclaimed tyrant, Lord Vetinari. Vetinari long ago decided that if the city was bound to have crime, it might as well be organized--so now the city is the proud home of the Assassins' and Thieves' Guilds, and people can buy yearly insurance against thievery (quite reasonable rates!). Since thieves do their own policing and punish non-guild members harshly (non-guild thievery is so bad for business), there's not much for Sam Vimes, head of the Night Watch, to do. Except, of course, get ready for his impending retirement and nuptuals to one of the richest women in the city. For a man whose entire life has revolved around his job, it's an increasingly terrifying prospect. And if that weren't enough, apparently his department has been chosen to herald political correctness by hiring a dwarf, a troll, and (oh, the horrors!), a woman.

But when a mysterious crime occurs right near the Assassin's Guild, Vimes' copper instincts are on fire. It's up to him and his loyal(ish) subordinates to ferret out the crime, all while the various guilds and the patrician himself seek to hold them back.

Men at Arms was my first introduction to Discworld, and, to tell the truth, I didn't warm to the characters when I first experienced them in this book. The narrative felt fragmented, as it's told from the perspectives of quite a large subset of the cast. While I loved Vimes, I felt rather mixed about some of the other characters-- in particular, Carrot Ironfoundersson, the Galahadesque white knight of the City Watch. I'm not entirely sure we're supposed to like him; I tend to identify with Vimes, who is himself rather bemused by Carrot. I find Carrot to be fascinating, for he highlights what I find as an innate conflict between taking the "right" and the "sympathetic" action. Carrot believes, at his core, that
"Personal isn't the same as important."
While I think all of us would admit the truth of this, and in the abstract, want the protagonist to take the action that protects the "important", the "greater good," over the "personal," I find the characters who do so to be unsympathetic, almost inhuman. Yet despite this, Carrot still manages to be oddly and universally liked. As one character puts it,
“Some people have inspired whole countries to great deeds because of the power of their vision. And so could he. Not because he dreams about marching hordes, or world domination, or an empire of a thousand years. Just because he thinks that everyone’s really decent underneath and would get along just fine if only they made the effort, and he believes that so strongly it burns like a flame which is bigger than he is. He’s got a dream and we’re all part of it, so that it shapes the world around him. And the weird thing is that no one wants to disappoint him. It’d be like kicking the biggest puppy in the universe. It’s a kind of magic.”
The story is structured almost as a mystery, but not quite, as from the outset, segments are given from the perspective of the antagonist as well as the protagonist. The story utilizes a significant amount of dramatic irony; we know what the antagonist was doing, but have to watch our protagonists stumble around detecting. Notably, this is the last time that Pratchett employs this story structure; from here on out, the mysteries are mysterious to the reader as well as the characters.

For all that, the first time I read it, it kept me on the edge of my seat and up till 2AM to finish it. When I went on to read Feet of Clay, most of the characters really grew on me. This has become one of my absolute favorite series, and the pinnacle of it, Night Watch, is one of the best books I have ever read. Sam Vimes is, hands-down, my favorite noir/hardboiled/UF detective. Outwardly a Javert-like, rigid, rule-obsessed copper, he is also cynical, crafty, and incredibly soft-hearted.

Pratchett is, above all else, a satirist. He uses the nonthreatening and ridiculous world of Anhk Morpork to explore deeper philosophical issues. A few of my favourite quotes:
People ought to think for themselves... The problem is, people only think for themselves if you tell them to.

If you have to look along the shaft of an arrow from the wrong end, if a man has you entirely at his mercy, then hope like hell that man is an evil man. Because the evil like power, power over people, and they want to see you in fear. They want you to know you're going to die. So they'll talk. They'll gloat. They'll watch you squirm. They'll put off the moment of murder like another man will put off a good cigar.
So hope like hell your captor is an evil man. A good man will kill you with hardly a word.
Although less true in this book, most of the others in the series have provided serious food for thought in his nonjudgmental exploration of multiple facets of important political and ethical questions. Overall, the start of a great series. Worth reading if you if you want to get a full background on the characters. If you want to move straight to the best stuff, though, you can skip directly to Feet of Clay.

[1]I am potentially alone in considering this to be the start of the City Watch subseries of Pratchett's Discworld. Officially the start would be Guards! Guards!, because that is the first time the characters are introduced, but to me, there are so many differences in characterization between the Guards!Guards! version and the rest of the series, and so many retcons over the Guards!Guards! material, that I just don't consider it part of the series. ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2015 Наталия Янева rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

В живота на всеки настъпва все някога такъв момент, че нещата се преобръщат. За някои това може да означава да заменят гадното кафе, ниската заплата и набиването с тънкоподметкести ботуши по мокър калдъръм нощем за аристократична лицемерна компания, пури и самовзривяващи се в близък периметър дракончета. За други пък е да погледнат отвъд предразсъдъците си и там да намерят истински приятел. За трети може да бъде просто да се доверят.

Във „Въоръжени мъже“ този път протагонистът безсъмнено е Керът. В живота на всеки настъпва все някога такъв момент, че нещата се преобръщат. За някои това може да означава да заменят гадното кафе, ниската заплата и набиването с тънкоподметкести ботуши по мокър калдъръм нощем за аристократична лицемерна компания, пури и самовзривяващи се в близък периметър дракончета. За други пък е да погледнат отвъд предразсъдъците си и там да намерят истински приятел. За трети може да бъде просто да се доверят.

Във „Въоръжени мъже“ този път протагонистът безсъмнено е Керът. Той направлява действието с онази убеденост на добрия човек, който е водач не защото му харесва, а защото знае, че по-добра алтернатива няма.
„Но хората неизменно бъркат „простодушен“ с „простоват“. Керът изобщо не се отличаваше с тъпота. Беше прям, честен, добросърдечен и почтен във всичко. Впрочем според жителите на Анкх-Морпорк това си беше тъпотия, и то каква (…)“.
Интересно, но хората и в реалния свят си мислят така. Всъщност винаги ми се е щяло да съм нещо като Керът и да мога да се сприятелявам бързо с всякакви… хора, но бих казала, че съм по-скоро като Ваймс. Добре де, без решителността и бъдещата богата рода.

А този път в града се е появило ново Зло, различно от традиционните за пейзажа дракони, което само нашите момчета от Нощната стража могат да озаптят. Нещата леко се бъркат от факта, че капитанът им жени, новите разнорасови попълнения се гледат на кръв (очевидно заради една от онези вражди, в които участниците отдавна са забравили защо точно се мразят, но продължават от едната чест), а темата за следващия по старшинство е леко щекотлива. Разбира се, нощта е най-тъмна точно преди да се развидели и всичко някак следва естествения си ход към разплитане, като междувременно някои намират приятел, други – любов, а трети – цаката за глутница бесни кучета. За последното малко съобразителност и подходящото убеждение вършат чудеса:
„Гаспод побутна с лапа водоливника, който бе приклекнал над водосточната тръба.
- ‘акво и’каш?
- Ако не ми помогнеш да се смъкна на балкона, ще ти опикая ухото“.

Лайтмотив и нещо като квинтесенция за полицейската работа въобще беше въпросът на Керът „Нали знаете, че думата „полицай“ означава „човек на града“? Коренът ѝ е в древната дума „полис“. Ненапразно тази информация три пъти пробождаше фабулата като игла с вдянат бял конец в нея. За да се вижда. А всъщност чак накрая Керът получи отговор: „Не си ли се питал откъде произхожда и думата „политик“? Мисля, че над това последното доста политици могат да се поразмислят.
Все пак обаче не е нужно да заменяш търсенето на справедливост с пухкави домашни пантофи и това някой да ти търка гърба по време на баня. След като звъннат сватбените камбани, нещата определено няма да са същите, но кой е казал, че човек не може да има всичко?
...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

May 26, 2013 Dimitris rated it it was amazing

So, does it take wiping tears off one's face to know if a book you've just finished was worth the read? And I'm not talking tears of laughter, though Men at Arms is so wonderful at attacking one with a sense of humour oscillating from the brilliant puns and ingenious word-play to the outright outrageous fun, often taking a traditional comedy gag and turning it on its back. And then tickling it senseless.

Add to that, a brilliant humanistic (in the broader sense of course, as This reader is very ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jun 08, 2015 Patrick Grau rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

La saga de la Guardia de Sir Pratchett es de por sí, un buen conjunto de NOVELAS NEGRAS por definición, y esta en concreto no es buena. Es MUY BUENA. El asesino ronda por ahí desde el principio (Que por supuesto no os diré quien es.). No tiene el clásico error de Agatha Christie de sacarse pistas de la manga, así como personajes, en la resolución del caso, no. ¿Los personajes? El estreno de Angua, Detritus ( Cuando se le enfría el cerebro... Terry ¡ QUE MASTER DEL UNIVERSO NARRATIVO ERES, JODER ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2017 K.M. Weiland rated it it was amazing

Sublimely hilarious, beautifully plotted. Peopled with a delightful cast, most notably the charmingly heroic and lovable Carrot. My favorite Pratchett book so far.

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Play Book Tag: Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett 4 stars and a heart	1	11	Aug 06, 2018 12:12AM
Wrong page count	1	6	Jun 18, 2018 05:36PM
Around the Year i...: Men at Arms (Discworld #15), by Terry Pratchett	3	14	Feb 20, 2017 09:55PM

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

Fantasy

4,335 users

Fiction

757 users

Humor

698 users

See top shelves…

About Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett

29,741 followers

Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe.

Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, ...more

Other books in the series

Discworld (1 - 10 of 41 books)

Books by Terry Pratchett

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind #1)

Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch #1)

Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1)

More…

Trivia About Men at Arms (Disc...

6 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Men at Arms

“Something Vimes had learned as a young guard drifted up from memory. If you have to look along the shaft of an arrow from the wrong end, if a man has you entirely at his mercy, then hope like hell that man is an evil man. Because the evil like power, power over people, and they want to see you in fear. They want you to know you're going to die. So they'll talk. They'll gloat.

They'll watch you squirm. They'll put off the moment of murder like another man will put off a good cigar.

So hope like hell your captor is an evil man. A good man will kill you with hardly a word.” — 308 likes

“Cats will amusingly tolerate humans only until someone comes up with a tin opener that can be operated with a paw.” — 284 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett

Men at Arms

(Discworld #15)

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

About Terry Pratchett

Other books in the series

Books by Terry Pratchett

Trivia About Men at Arms (Disc...

Quotes from Men at Arms