So early next morning she softly arose

[sovay]

I am eight pages into Terry Pratchett's Monstrous Regiment* and already I can see that I may have to keep a sharp ballad lookout. Our heroine Polly has cut her hair, dressed in her brother's clothes, and enlisted as a soldier (in the Borogravian Army) under the name Oliver:

"Age?"

"Seventeen come Sunday, sir."

"Yeah, right," said the sergeant.

*I am convalescing on all the Terry Pratchett I've missed in the last several years. Yesterday was The Fifth Elephant, Thief of Time, and Night Watch. Today, I will be out of new Terry Pratchett. I may re-read Going Postal and Thud! anyway.

Comments

[sovay]

I'd say "Night Watch" is the best of the recent Discworld books, and one of the best Discworld books overall.

I'd definitely agree with that second statement. I'm not sure it would make a good introduction, because you really need to know the modern incarnations of characters before you meet their younger selves, but it's right up there.

I'll say more once you're finished the book; talk to me in 20 minutes.

I'm halfway through (I had to take time out for housecleaning: I'm in Lexington and we're having relatives over) and I already have suspicions about the ways in which this plot could get pretty ridiculous: I imagine they'll be confirmed?

[kraada.livejournal.com]

*puts Night Watch on his to-get-soon list, mostly so he can stand up for Small Gods* :)

Also, I'll offer a trade: I'll clean and deal with relatives, you grade logic exams . . . sound good? Please?

[skotodes.livejournal.com]

"Small Gods" is why I said "Night Watch" is one of the best, not the best.

[kraada.livejournal.com]

For some reason I mentally added "if not the best" in there somewhere.

Nonetheless, it is worth reading one of the best in any case.