Discworld: Nightwatch: Opinions?

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2002-11-30 05:02pm

My opinion is that it was quite frankly fucking awesome!

Sam Vimes is developed wonderfully (both past and present versions). His inner battle to keep the beast of his alcoholic past contained is brilliant.

I also like the villian Carcer. IMO he is well written and is , in a way, comparable to Hannibal Lector, he's looks like someone you could trust and then suddenly BAM!

I think that this book easily highlights the 2 best parts of Pratchett and the Discworld:

1) There are some books in the DW series you can just pick up, having never read a DW book before, and enjoy without getting confused at something that you need to have read a previous book to understand. This is one of them.

2) There are funny DW books and there are serious DW books and there is the mixture. This is one of the more serious ones and it illustrates perfectly that Terry Pratchett is not just a comedy writer. When he wants to he can have me ROLFLMAO, and when he wants to he has me captivated by a spellbindingly good plot.

If you have read it what is your opinion on the book?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2002-11-30 05:38pm

Is it like Thief of Time? That was semi serious in ways (end of the world and all).

I shall add it to my birthday list then. Heh, I still haven't finished The Last hero I got last Xmas, I kept reading the same page or looking at the illustrations.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2002-11-30 05:54pm

I liked it, and was disappointed at the same time. It is an outstanding book, but my favorite bit of the Night Watch series is Carrot, and the rest. As they were barely present, it wasn't all I'd hoped for.

Note to those who are going to read it: unlike most Prachett books, this one requires you to have read the others first to understand it. Read Men at Arms and Thief of Time and you should be set.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2002-11-30 06:07pm

By the by, what the hell is the Ginger Beer trick? Is it pouring a highly carbonated beverage in an uncomfortable place or something?

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2002-11-30 06:50pm

Man, I wish I had $25.95 (plus tax). I adore the Discworld novels, and this one sounds like one that could be my favorite.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2002-12-01 09:01am

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Is it like Thief of Time? That was semi serious in ways (end of the world and all).

It's not really like ToT. With ToT you needed some DW knowledge and it was a DW sort of end of the world. Nightwatch is set in the rebellion against Lord Winder (a former patrician of Ankh Morpork). Vimes and a criminal are zapped back in time during a chase that goes over the unseen universities Libary (one of the biggest stores of magic) In the time they are zapped back to Vimes(from past) is a young lance corporal in the watch and Vimes (from present) takes the role of the seargent that taught him everything after that seargent is killed by the criminal that came back with him. Lu-tze and the moks of time make brief appearences as they attempt to get Vimes back to his own time, but thats the only real DW tie in. Trolls and dwarfs haven't started coming to AM yet. The wizards don't concern themselves with the affairs of the city. For all intents and purposes it's a fairly normal city.

I'm finding it hard to describe it really. My advice is go out and get it.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2002-12-01 09:02am

You also get to see such people as Vetinari, Nobby, Colon, Reg Shoe and other DW personalities in their youth (or while their alive in Reg's case)

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2002-12-01 10:44am

2000AD wrote:You also get to see such people as Vetinari, Nobby, Colon, Reg Shoe and other DW personalities in their youth (or while their alive in Reg's case)

Wahey, it's like one of those episodes in a series where you have flashbacks or travel back in time and see the main stars but younger.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2002-12-01 11:50am

One of the best DW books ever.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2002-12-01 04:36pm

I'm going to have to go have a sit at Barnes and Noble next weekend and read the damn thing.

Good thing I read fast.

Hendrake · Post by **Hendrake** » 2002-12-01 05:02pm

While I tend to depise the time travel stories in general, my opinion on Night Watch is the following:

WHAT A FUCKING GOOD BOOK!!!!!
(five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind...)

Vimes was as his best, and he's my fav character in the Watch books. And we get some insight in how the little wheels in Vetinari's mind work, and the villains where good.

On the top five of PTerry's books, I think.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-12-02 02:16am

At this point, I have to pose the question, Vetinari vs. Vimes, who would win?

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2002-12-02 04:34pm

Vetinari would own Vimes. Vimes may have learned all the back alley fighting skills but vetinari was trained at the assassins guild. And as we see in NW he wasn't a traditional assassin, he used every advantage he could get and he is ALWAYS one step ahead (sometimes even 2, 3 or 4 steps) The only advantage that Vimes has going for him is that Vetinari is getting old.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2002-12-02 05:15pm

2000AD wrote:The only advantage that Vimes has going for him is that Vetinari is getting old.

But even so... "Never told us he moved like a -ing snake." (The Truth)

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-12-02 10:33pm

The other advantages he has are being a paranoid devious bastard, and a "bottle covey".

Zap81 · Post by **Zap81** » 2002-12-02 11:06pm

Hmm...

I've only ever read the first one (The Color of Magic) but if its keeping on with the same style I'm sure its got a good plot and it's hilarious.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-12-02 11:18pm

Dude, you nead to read more of them, immediately. Wgere have you been for the last ten years?

Post by **Beowulf** » 2002-12-02 11:43pm

consequences wrote:Dude, you nead to read more of them, immediately. Wgere have you been for the last ten years?

Under a rock maybe?

Zap81 · Post by **Zap81** » 2002-12-03 01:14am

Dude, you nead to read more of them, immediately. Wgere have you been for the last ten years?

Iid heard of them for a while, jsut never thought of looking at them till now. I just finished The Color of Magic yesterday, and I've got The Light Fantastic and Equal Rites on order now.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2002-12-03 01:18am

razzin frazzin people who don't read good series. oh, wait, that's me too. however , now you have no excuse, you must read them all!