Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4)

Title: Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 1997

Date read: 11th November 2008

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Jingo" by Terry Pratchett is the 21st novel in his Discworld series, and the fourth featuring the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. Published in 1997, it's a biting satire on the absurdities of war, nationalism, diplomacy, and the dangers of racial prejudice, all through the lens of a conflict over a tiny, submerged island.

The story begins with the sudden, miraculous appearance of a previously unknown island in the middle of the Circle Sea, rising from the waves off the coast of Ankh-Morpork. This tiny, seemingly insignificant piece of land is immediately claimed by two major powers: the city-state of Ankh-Morpork and the wealthy, militaristic, and highly traditional Klatchian Empire.

The discovery of the island, which is dubbed Leshp, instantly ignites a fervor of aggressive nationalism and xenophobia on both sides. In Ankh-Morpork, fueled by patriotic newspapers and the machinations of opportunistic individuals like Dr. Cruces (head of the Assassins' Guild), public opinion quickly turns hostile towards all things Klatchian. Shops are vandalized, innocent Klatchians are harassed, and the call for war becomes deafening.

Commander Samuel Vimes of the City Watch finds himself in a desperate situation. As the only voice of reason in a city gripped by jingoistic madness, he tries to maintain order and prevent outright violence against the city's Klatchian population. He struggles against the tide of public opinion, the incompetence of his superiors (including the Patrician, Lord Vetinari, who seems oddly passive), and the deep-seated prejudices within his own Watch.

When an assassination attempt on a prominent Klatchian diplomat occurs, the fragile peace shatters. Klatch declares war on Ankh-Morpork, and the city, under the leadership of Lord Vetinari, begins to mobilize its unconventional forces, including the City Watch. Vimes is forced to lead his diverse contingent of officers – including Carrot, Angua, Cheery, and Nobby – into a full-blown international conflict.

The bulk of the novel follows the Ankh-Morporkian forces (and a covert operation led by Vimes) as they sail towards Leshp and the inevitable confrontation with the Klatchian fleet and army. Pratchett uses this journey to expose the ridiculousness of military command, the folly of fighting for abstract concepts like national pride, and the universal experience of soldiers on both sides. Vimes's moral compass is constantly challenged as he tries to navigate the demands of war while clinging to his principles of justice and common sense.

A significant subplot involves Lord Vetinari, who, despite appearing to acquiesce to the war, is secretly orchestrating a much grander and more cynical plan for peace, manipulating events from behind the scenes with characteristic subtlety and ruthlessness.

The climax takes place on and around the contested island of Leshp, where the two armies are set to clash. Vimes and his Watch, through a combination of detective work, daring ingenuity, and sheer force of will, try to avert the full-scale war, expose the true instigators of the conflict, and bring a semblance of sanity back to the Discworld. "Jingo" is a powerful and humorous commentary on the devastating consequences of short-sighted nationalism and the enduring human capacity for both hatred and unexpected acts of decency.

Comments:
Absolutely fell in love with the City Watch here. I wish that I could erase these books from my mind and read them all again for the first time.

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)