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Night Watch turns out to be an unexpectedly moving novel about sacrifice and responsibility, its final scenes leaving one near tears... Terry Pratchett may still be pegged as a comic novelist, but... he’s a lot more.” — Washington Post Book WorldGetting knocked back in time thirty years, Sam Vines, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch experiences a day like no other in which past, present, and future collide with hilarious—and poignant—results in this rollicking Discworld adventure from Terry Pratchett.One moment Commander of the City Watch Sam Vimes is chasing a murderer across the rooftops of Ankh-Morpork. The next, he’s lying in the street below, naked—and back in his own tough past thanks to a lightning strike and a group of meddling, time-manipulating monks.It’s a dark Discworld that is all too familiar. Worse, the cop-killing psychopath he’d been pursuing has been transported back with him, and it’s the eve of a deadly street rebellion that took a few good (and not so good) lives. Vimes is determined to do his duty— track down the murderer and change the outcome of the rebellion. By changing history he might just save some worthwhile necks, and steer a novice watchman straight—an impressionable young copper named Sam Vimes.But if he succeeds, Sam knows it could cost him the future—including the job and the family he loves.The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Night Watch is the 6th book in the City Watch collection and the 29th Discworld book.The City Watch series in order: Guards! Guards! Men at Arms Feet of Clay Jingo The Fifth Elephant Night Watch Thud! Snuff
Commander Sam Vimes finds himself thrust thirty years into the past, forced to navigate a deadly rebellion while hunting a killer who threatens the timeline. Vimes must balance his duty to maintain order with the temptation to alter historical events that claimed the lives of his friends. Trapped in a younger version of his own body, he faces the logical paradox of mentoring his younger self while ensuring the future he knows remains intact. The narrative utilizes a third-person perspective to track Vimes's internal conflict against the backdrop of a volatile, pre-industrial city.
Readers frequently highlight the shift in tone within this installment, noting a transition from purely comedic satire to a more somber, character-focused narrative. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the time-travel trope as a vehicle for exploring Vimes's personal history and the evolution of his professional ethics. Critics often point to the balance between the high-stakes action of the rebellion and the quiet, internal moments of reflection as a defining strength of the work. Many fans consider this entry a pivotal moment in the series due to its emotional weight and the depth of its world-building. The consensus among long-term readers is that the book successfully maintains the series' signature humor while providing a serious examination of leadership and integrity.
Page Count:
338
Publication Date:
2002-11-05
Publisher:
Harper
ISBN-10:
0060013117
ISBN-13:
9780060013110
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