It isn't much of an island that rises up one moonless night from the depths of the Circle Sea -- just a few square miles of silt and some old ruins. Unfortunately, the historically disputed lump of land called Leshp is once again floating directly between Ankh-Morpork and the city of Al-Khali on the coast of Klatch -- which is spark enough to ignite that glorious internationalpastime called "war." Pressed into patriotic service, Commander Sam Vimes thinks he should be leading his loyal watchmen, female watchdwarf, and lady werewolf into battle against local malefactors rather than against uncomfortably well-armed strangers in the Klatchian desert. But war is, after all, simply the greatest of all crimes -- and it's Sir Samuel's sworn duty to seek out criminal masterminds wherever they may be hiding ... and lock them away before they can do any real damage. Even the ones on his own …
It isn't much of an island that rises up one moonless night from the depths of the Circle Sea -- just a few square miles of silt and some old ruins. Unfortunately, the historically disputed lump of land called Leshp is once again floating directly between Ankh-Morpork and the city of Al-Khali on the coast of Klatch -- which is spark enough to ignite that glorious internationalpastime called "war." Pressed into patriotic service, Commander Sam Vimes thinks he should be leading his loyal watchmen, female watchdwarf, and lady werewolf into battle against local malefactors rather than against uncomfortably well-armed strangers in the Klatchian desert. But war is, after all, simply the greatest of all crimes -- and it's Sir Samuel's sworn duty to seek out criminal masterminds wherever they may be hiding ... and lock them away before they can do any real damage. Even the ones on his own side.
There’s an occasional Clanger where Terry is incredibly racist even though this is an anti racist book, but overall it still stands up and crackles along as a tale of peace and the stupidity of war.
Just a joy. Rereading it today still felt very current, and as always I found some proper laugh out loud moments.
"Odd thing, ain't it... you meet people one at a time, they seem decent, they got brains that work, and then they get together and you hear the voice of the people. And it snarls.”
“Sergeant Colon had had a broad education. He’d been to the School of My Dad Always Said, the College of It Stands to Reason, and was now a postgraduate student at the University of What Some Bloke In the Pub Told Me.”
“Colon looked awkward, as if the bunched underwear of the past was tangling itself in the crotch of recollection.”
Not Pterry’s best, but still very good.
Mundodisco, serie de la Guardia, con el comandante Vimes y su tropa. Esta entrega es sobre política internacional, se declara la guerra contra Klatch, lo cual da pie a maravillosas observaciones sobre el patriotismo, los ejércitos y la gloria en general.
Me voy haciendo a la idea de que los defectos de la serie se han estabilizado y no puedo esperar mucho más: argumento un tanto flojo y demasiados personajes como para darles el espacio que necesitan, pero el uso de un mundo fantástico para descabezar todo lo respetable de nuestra sociedad y que no haya página que no me haga soltar un par de carcajadas lo compensa de sobra.
A great read. Funny lighthearted and deep, it tackles war, racism and politics. The Watch gets involved on a war for a floating island that shows up in the middle of the ocean. And shenanigans follow.
Definitely one of the best ones on the series.
read 2/14/13
reread 6/2/13
The overall 'plot' doesn't hold together as well as some of the others featuring the Watch, but the episodes within have some superb sequences and homages to other films. Genius to put Vetinari with Nobby and Colon for the adventure. Says much on a profound level about our own times and our view of 'others'.
As usual Terry Pratchett cracks me up. Good story, an easy read.
