Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

[Karin]

3 stars

Someone has stolen The Summoning of Dragons from the Invisible Library while the wizard librarian, who was turned into an orangutan at some point in the past, was sleeping. The thief has gathered a group of less than bright men to help garner enough magic to summon a dragon, and it isn't that long until a large dragon begins terrorizing Ankh-Morpork, Discworld's greatest city. Where the dragon comes from, nobody knows, nor where it disappears to, but it isn't long until it is wreaking havoc and causing a major upheaval in local politics.

In the meantime, Carrot, named for his body shape and not the colour of his hair, is told by his parents that he is not actually a dwarf, which is why he is six and half feet tall. They have volunteered him to join the City Watch, who really have little to do in a city where crime is practised openly by various guilds other than to call out that all is well. But Constable Carrot is a different sort altogether and has memorized the entire book of city law and plans to enforce it after he joins Vimes, Nobby and Colon.

Into the mix we meet the top breeder of little swamp dragons, the formidable and perhaps somewhat venerable Sybil Ramkin, and her gift to Captain Vimes, Errol, a little swamp dragon who eats almost everything and spends a great deal of time rearranging his internal plumbing.

With humour and plenty of action we are swept along as the dragon appears and reappears, power mongers work on gaining advantage and a band of somewhat motley and unlikely mettle work to save the city.

Nevertheless, three stars for me. I really enjoyed Wyrd Sisters, but much of the humour isn't stuff I laugh at. If, however, you are a fan of Terry Pratchett and you haven't read this yet, what are you waiting for?