Monstrous Regiment

by Terry Pratchett, Terry Pratchett

Electronic resource

English language

Published Nov. 6, 2007 by HarperCollins.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-134760-3

(70 reviews)

In the twenty-eighth Discworld novel the Discworld goes to war.It began as a sudden strange fancy... Polly Perks had to become a boy in a hurry. Cutting off her hair and wearing trousers was easy. Learning to fart and belch in public and walk like an ape took more time... And now she's enlisted in the army, and searching for her lost brother.But there's a war on. There's always a war on. And Polly and her fellow recruits are suddenly in the thick of it, without any training, and the enemy is hunting them.All they have on their side is the most artful sergeant in the army and a vampire with a lust for coffee. Well... They have the Secret. And as they take the war to the heart of the enemy, they have to use all the resources of... the Monstrous Regiment.

28 editions

Jaelyn reviewed Monstrous Regiment: Discworld Novel 31 (Discworld Novels) by Terry Pratchett

Review of 'Monstrous Regiment: Discworld Novel 31 (Discworld Novels)' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

As her country fights an insane and mostly unwinnable war, Polly Perks signs up to the army to find her brother Paul. As dressing as the opposite sex is one of a multitude of insane religious rules in her country, she employs short hair, trousers, burping and socks in her pants to ensure she enlists as a man. As she signs up alongside a troll, a vampire and a zealot among others, she rapidly learns she’s not the only woman in the military. It’s Pratchett so you know it’s awesome, but it’s a great ride through the absurdities of war, nationalism, sexism, and religion. But it’s also a fun comic take on the very very very long history of women cross-dressing to join the military (many of whom had distinguished service before they were discovered).

Eduardo Santiago reviewed Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

Review of 'Monstrous Regiment' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.

It was exquisite. How I wish that more people would read Sir Terry; would learn from his perceptiveness. This one is full-on biting satire, yet also loving and kind in the way only Pratchett can manage. His targets here are many, and he hits hard against each one: sexism, jingoism, bellicosity, religious fanaticism, xenophobia, mindless obedience. (Know any political parties like that?) His protagonists are complex, conflicted, by and large honorable... and, also by and large, women. This makes me a little uncomfortable: it takes hubris for a male writer to attempt this. I will never know if he gets it right; I suspect my female friends will have differing opinions; I will listen to them. What I do know is that it rings true to me, and …

Sharyl reviewed Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #31)

Review of 'Monstrous Regiment' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

...another clever, engaging, and thoroughly enjoying Discworld adventure. Sometimes, one needs a trip to Terry Pratchett's intriguing, alternative universe. It's been a grand vacation!