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Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett
Jun. 14th, 2008 09:05 pmMonstrous Regiment
by Terry Pratchett
353 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/Humor
A lovely, quick read that I needed; a refreshing break from Jon Krakuer's Into Thin Air and Valente (which I finally started reading). Polly Perks decides one day to enlist in the army, to find her brother Paul. Her country Borogravia, which is ruled by a dead Duchess and worships an officially insane god named Nuggan, happens to have involved itself in yet another war. This time Ankh-Morpork is also drawn into the conflict, and I get my first glimpse at the legendary Commandar Vimes. (Yes, I haven't read any of the Vimes books yet. Soon.) Of course, Borogravia prides itself on being strictly fundamentalist, aided by the regular issue of Nuggan's Abominations appendix. Polly finds herself now called "Oliver," nicknamed "Ozzy," and her squadmates are not quite whom they seem either. This Discworld book is a satire of religion and gender roles, which Pratchett draws often upon; some of my plot suspicions were confirmed but others were turned and twisted like only Pratchett can. The ending, especially, has a drawn-out falling action that actually works.
It's difficult to discuss the story without spoilers, so scissors please!
( Major book-destroying spoilers )
Lovely; in fact, almost equal to Small Gods, which remains my favorite Discworld novel. I think I'll end up favoring the Ankh-Morpork mini-verse over the witches'.
by Terry Pratchett
353 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/Humor
A lovely, quick read that I needed; a refreshing break from Jon Krakuer's Into Thin Air and Valente (which I finally started reading). Polly Perks decides one day to enlist in the army, to find her brother Paul. Her country Borogravia, which is ruled by a dead Duchess and worships an officially insane god named Nuggan, happens to have involved itself in yet another war. This time Ankh-Morpork is also drawn into the conflict, and I get my first glimpse at the legendary Commandar Vimes. (Yes, I haven't read any of the Vimes books yet. Soon.) Of course, Borogravia prides itself on being strictly fundamentalist, aided by the regular issue of Nuggan's Abominations appendix. Polly finds herself now called "Oliver," nicknamed "Ozzy," and her squadmates are not quite whom they seem either. This Discworld book is a satire of religion and gender roles, which Pratchett draws often upon; some of my plot suspicions were confirmed but others were turned and twisted like only Pratchett can. The ending, especially, has a drawn-out falling action that actually works.
It's difficult to discuss the story without spoilers, so scissors please!
( Major book-destroying spoilers )
Lovely; in fact, almost equal to Small Gods, which remains my favorite Discworld novel. I think I'll end up favoring the Ankh-Morpork mini-verse over the witches'.