Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7)

Title: Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 2005

Date read: 26th July 2011

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Thud!" published in 2005, is the 34th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and the seventh to prominently feature the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. It delves into themes of racial tension, prejudice, ancient grudges, and the complexities of law enforcement, all against the backdrop of a simmering conflict between dwarfs and trolls.

The story is set during the lead-up to the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Koom Valley, a legendary and deeply divisive event in Discworld history where dwarfs and trolls supposedly fought a bloody, chaotic battle. The exact truth of Koom Valley is obscured by centuries of conflicting narratives and ingrained hatred, with both sides claiming betrayal. This anniversary inflames ancient prejudices and threatens to reignite open warfare in Ankh-Morpork, a city that prides itself on its multicultural (if often grudging) tolerance.

Commander Sam Vimes, head of the City Watch, finds himself in a precarious position. His Watch is a famously diverse organization, employing dwarfs, trolls, gnomes, gargoyles, vampires, and even a werewolf. He is acutely aware that if open conflict erupts between the dwarf and troll communities in the city, his own Watch could fracture, leading to widespread chaos.

The tension escalates when a prominent dwarf, Grag Ardent, a provocateur known for his anti-troll rhetoric, is found murdered with a troll's club—a "thud"—in a very particular (and ritually significant) pose. This seemingly open-and-shut case threatens to ignite a full-scale race riot.

Vimes, a cynical but deeply moral detective, knows that nothing is ever as simple as it seems. He immediately suspects that the murder is a setup, designed to instigate a war. He, along with his loyal officers, including Sergeant Colon, Corporal Nobby Nobbs, Captain Angua, Sergeant Cheery Littlebottom (a trailblazing female dwarf), and the new recruit Reg Shoe (a zombie), races against time to uncover the real killer and prevent the racial powder keg from exploding.

The investigation leads Vimes into the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Ankh-Morpork, into the fiercely guarded secrets of dwarf society (including their deep, almost religious connection to the mining arts and ancient lore), and into the cultural intricacies of trollkind. He encounters fundamentalist dwarf factions, learns about the ancient Koom Valley Cube (a relic believed to hold the truth of the battle), and delves into the true, forgotten history of the conflict.

The novel deftly satirizes prejudice, religious fanaticism, and the challenges of policing a diverse, often unruly, population. Vimes is constantly battling not only criminals but also bureaucratic interference, political manoeuvring, and his own inner demons.

The climax sees Vimes confronting the true mastermind behind the murder and the plot to reignite the war, forcing a reckoning with the long-buried truths of Koom Valley. He must use all his wit, his uncompromising sense of justice, and sometimes, his willingness to bend the rules, to bring peace to the city and prevent a catastrophic race war. "Thud!" is a profound and often darkly humorous exploration of identity, prejudice, and the eternal struggle for understanding.

Comments:
Another brilliant book involving the phenomenal characters from the Watch and the comedy that is the diplomacy when two waring factions want to write their own history.

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)