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

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

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 1989

Date read: 5th June 2007

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Crime

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Guards! Guards!" by Terry Pratchett is the eighth novel in his Discworld series and the first to heavily feature the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, effectively launching the beloved sub-series centred around Commander Samuel Vimes. It's a satirical fantasy novel that blends elements of police procedural, urban fantasy, and a clever commentary on societal power structures.

The story opens in Ankh-Morpork, the Discworld's largest, most chaotic, and most corrupt city. The City Watch, a collection of downtrodden, perpetually ignored, and largely ineffective individuals, is barely tolerated. It consists of Captain Samuel Vimes, a cynical, world-weary alcoholic who still believes in a glimmer of justice; Sergeant Fred Colon, who prefers peace and quiet; Corporal Nobby Nobbs, a scruffy, morally flexible kleptomaniac; and the newest recruit, Carrot Ironfounderson.

Carrot is an anomaly: a six-foot-six human raised by dwarves, possessed of an unwavering belief in law and order (derived from a literal copy of the city's ancient laws), childlike innocence, and a disturbing knack for making people obey him. His arrival shakes up the complacent Watch.

Meanwhile, a shadowy and influential secret society called the "Unique and Ancient Brotherhood of the Ecdysiasts" (more commonly known as the Guild of Seamstresses) and other powerful guilds are attempting to destabilise the city's political landscape. Their ultimate goal is to depose the Patrician, Lord Vetinari, and replace him with a more controllable, figurehead monarch. To achieve this, they plan to summon a dragon, believing that only a noble hero (who they can then control) can defeat it.

Through a series of botched rituals and magical mishaps, they manage to summon not a controllable beast, but a full-sized, fire-breathing dragon that begins to terrorise Ankh-Morpork. The city descends into chaos as the dragon wreaks havoc, melting buildings and demanding sacrifices.

The corrupt Fire Brigade and other guilds are useless. It falls to the ridiculed City Watch to investigate the dragon's appearance, understand its nature, and ultimately, stop its rampage. Vimes, despite his cynicism, is a genuinely good copper, and he and his motley crew set out to solve the mystery.

As they investigate, they encounter various colourful Discworld characters, including the Librarian (an orangutan), the Guilds themselves, and the seedy underbelly of the city. Carrot's unwavering belief in rules and fairness often clashes with Vimes's jaded pragmatism, but together they begin to uncover the conspiracy behind the dragon.

The climax involves a dramatic confrontation with the dragon, as Vimes, Carrot, and the rest of the Watch (aided by the city's unexpected heroes and the dragon's surprising, romantic motivations) attempt to save Ankh-Morpork from both the beast and the conspirators who unleashed it. "Guards! Guards!" is a hilarious and insightful commentary on heroism, justice, the nature of power, and what happens when utterly ordinary (and incompetent) people are forced to be extraordinary.

Comments:
When Vimes and Carrot are in the mix, you know that it is going to be at least good, this is an excellent instalment.

Books that we've read by Terry Pratchett (39):
The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) (1983), The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) (1986), Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) (1987), Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) (1987), Sourcery (Discworld, #5; Rincewind, #3) (1988), Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) (1988), Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) (1989), Pyramids (Discworld, #7) (1989), Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind, #4) (1990), Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10; Industrial Revolution, #1) (1990), Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches, #3) (1991), Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2) (1991), Small Gods (Discworld, #13) (1992), Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches, #4) (1992), Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2) (1993), Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) (1994), Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5) (1994), Maskerade (Discworld, #18; Witches, #5) (1995), Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3) (1996), Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4) (1996), Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4) (1997), Carpe Jugulum (Discworld, #23; Witches, #6) (1998), The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind, #6) (1998), The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) (1999), The Truth (Discworld, #25) (2000), The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) (2001), Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) (2001), Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) (2002), The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) (2003), Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31; Industrial Revolution, #3) (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) (2004), Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1) (2004), Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7) (2005), Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3) (2006), Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2) (2007), Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8) (2009), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4) (2010), Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8) (2011), Raising Steam (Discworld, #40; Moist von Lipwig, #3) (2013)