Night Watch: A Novel of Discworld

Once again Terry Pratchett has written a masterpiece. This time it is about the commander of the watch going back in time trying to catch a killer and running into himself as a young copper. Because he has gone back into time, Vimes has to set the past right again or risk damaging the future. The reader gets to meet many of the beloved cast of characters that have emerged from the diskworld series over the last twenty years. The reader meets everyone from Nobby to the Patrician as a young man.
The book is as funny as always although it does have that serious undertone that Pratchett has developed over the last couple of years. He explains the reasons to be honest when everyone else is crooked and some of the bad guys get their comeuppance in the usual ways. This is a great book for the Pratchett fanatic, but not for the new reader because there is too much to miss by not knowing the characters from the earlier books. Read the older ones first and you will love the action in this new one. Highly reccommended.

In Night Watch, Terry Pratchett has a second (and more successful) go at time. It's predecessor, Thief of Time, starred Lao Tzu and his monks (who keep the threads of time running smoothly on their spindles most of the time)trying to thwart a plot to stop time.
Night Watch is a more conventional time-travel story. Watch Commander Vimes, one of Pratchett's continuing characters, is cast back to the Ankh-Morpork of his youth by a lightning bolt just as he is arresting the most-wanted criminal in the city, a stone-cold killer named Carcer. Carcer shares Vimes' fate, escapes and sets about to create a future more to his own liking -- one that does not include Commander Vimes. The time in which they find themselves is a pivotal moment in Ankh-Morpork's history and in Vimes' own development as a police officer.
Pratchett finesses the paradox of having the youthful Constable Vimes encounter his more mature self by having Commander Vimes assume the identity of John Keel, a sergeant of the watch he remembers from his youth. As Lao Tzu labors to bring Commander Vimes back to his proper place in time, Vimes struggles to keep Carcer from killing either of his selves and turning Ankh-Morpork to the dark side. Along the way, we encounter the future ruler of Ankh-Morpork, Lord Vetinari, in his youthful form as an apprentice in the Assassin's Guild.
Much of the action in Night Watch takes place in Treacle Road, which is perhaps unintentionally appropriate. There is a vein of sticky sentimentality running through this story that makes this reader's teeth ache. It needed more of the wry humor with which Pratchett seasons his best books -- like The Word. Night Watch is, nevertheless, an entertaining fast-paced adventure that will please Pratchett's legions of devoted fans.

If you are new to TP, the quoted remark refers to what some people slightly slower on the uptake might regard as a definition of "irony".
I include it because that's where Terry went with Night Watch. NW is the most serious TP book yet, and yet it's still funny all the way through. It's just that the humour is more than ever firmly rooted in the City Watch style of humour (irony, cynical asides, sarcasm) and less in the wizardly style (bickering, puns, one-liners etc. - although there is a great exchange between Ridcully and Stibbons early in the book) It's like Terry decided to slow the jokes down and spread them out. It could almost be a kind of deliberate differentiation - most of the quick-fire humour is in the present-day, while the past is a more cynical time, which I suppose is appropriate for a city on the brink of a revolution. Of course, one constant throughout is Sam Vimes's eternal exasperation, which is always good for a laugh.
Should you buy it? Yep. But if you've read the earlier Watch novels first, you'll have more laughs in this one as you spot all the series regular's younger versions...

I have been an avid Terry Pratchett fan for just a little while now, though I have read all of his books and own most of them (I am currently working on purchasing the rest). I am deeply in love with Pratchett's writing and his superior characters. I started reading his novels in order but quickly began to jump around as fewer and fewer were available in my local bookstore. Thus, due to the relatively widespread nature of Night Watch, I read it before reading most of the other ones. After reading Night Watch, it immediately became my favorite Discworld novel and has remained there ever since.
This book is darker than some of the other ones, but rest assured it has plenty of humor as well. It seems more rooted in real life than many of his others (except for the whole traveling in time thing), but still remains classic Discworld. This is probably the only novel I know of his that covers so many emotions so well. The plot is great, and the deeper meanings are... well... deep. There is weeping as well as laughter, honesty amidst treachery, morality in a dark place.
I enjoyed this book throughout my first read, and I enjoyed it even more the second time.
If you are going to read a book by Terry Pratchett, make it this one. You won't be disappointed. Seriously.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. Sam Vimes, the commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, falls into the third category. From his first appearance as a tarnished copper in "Guards, Guards" to his most recent outing in "Thud" as "not-the-sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer-but-straight-as-an-arrow" Sam Vimes, he has risen above his mediocrity, overcome his tarnished nature, and done great things.

In "Night Watch" we learn how the foundation for this heroic everyman was laid. Commander Sam Vimes, seeking to arrest a serial killer, finds himself thrown back into time, becoming a Sergeant on the old Ankh-Morpork Night Watch. He seeks to de-corrupt the Watch, whip it into a professional law enforcement agency, and guide the career of a rookie officer, Lance Constable Sam Vimes. The future isn't fixed, and if Vimes is ever going to get back home to his wife and newborn son, he must set things right in this same-but-different world.

In addition to exploring some of the implications of quantum theory and parallel time lines, Pratchett manages to give us a nice meditation on what moves some of us to self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.

Mr. Pratchett does it once again. Any fan of his should not, and will not be surprised. What does he do? Well, since you ask....In this his 28ath novel of the Diskworld series; Mr Pratchett gives us a very healthy dose of philosphy disguised as a humorous (actually humorous is too tame a word) novel.
In this particular novel Sam Vimes (my personal favorite of all of the diskworld characters) is the central character in a tale that deals with the potential problems that could ensue if you are able to travel back in time and be there at a pivitol moment in your own life. Also included is a healthy dose of the nature of right and wrong, and good versus evil.
While the above sounds rather heavy, it is delivered with Mr. Pratchetts world class humor and an eye for fleshing out his characters and the world they inhabit.
Sam Vimes is fast becoming one of the most "real" characters to ever inhabit the world of fiction. We see him complete with all of his character traits, both the noble and just, as well as some of his less admirable traits. It all serves to make him a real person. In this novel we are also treated to glimpses of Sgt Colon, Nobby Nobs, Lord Vetinari, Reg Shoe, Mrs Palm (rad the book to find out her first name), as well as some of the characters we have only heard about in the previous novels.
The book is 338 pages and they turn one after the other almost of their own volition. This is one of those (rare) books that just grabs you and won't let you go until the last page is read.
As for myself, as soon as I am done writing this, I am going to sit down, and re-read it, for I find that with any of the Diskworld novels, each re-reading brings new and deeper joys.

Great book. Even if you've never read any of the Discworld books, you can't help but enjoy Night Watch. Terry Pratchett has a way of making us look at our world and ourselves through the eyes of wizards, trolls, gnomes and other characters from a disc-shaped world that flies through the cosmos on the back of four elephants and a giant turtle.
Sam Vimes (Duke, Knight, and Commander of the Ankh Morpork City Watch) travels into the past to a darker, meaner Ankh Morpork on the edge of change. In this Ankh Morpork, revolution (or at least the threat of people throwing rocks) is in the air. The old regime (a paranoid madman) is on the way out and the new (a slightly less paranoid, not-quite-as-mad man) is on the way in. To make it back home Vimes just has to make sure nothing changes. And yet, he just can't let things happen the way they did the first time.
This isn't one of Pratchett's funniest books. But I think it is one of his most meaningful. I can't say enough about this book. (not for lack of trying, though...)

This is one of Pratchett's best. The Vimes stories tend to be his darkest, but also his most intelligent and socially relevant books. And this one is very, VERY dark. The plot makes sense from the first line to the last, the line of events is tight and fast, and the characters are broken and flawed but believable and somehow still honest.

Basically, you have a hard-boiled cop who has to make up his mind between revenge and justice, but in a fantasy world. So there's also time travel, an Igor (made up of body parts), a shockingly evil villain, and of course fantasy species and quirky characters galore. AND it's very dark, but also funny.

I first read "Night Watch" when I was 12 years old. I loved it then, but it wasn't until I grew older that I fully understood the book how I think Pratchett intended certain people to understand it. And only certain people can (i.e., those of a Vimes-ish disposition). I must've read it maybe 10 times growing up, but even these later readings didn't hold a candle to the epiphany of this book after I became a prison guard. To re-read these pages from a guard's perspective is a completely new experience of the Vimes series, and "Night Watch" is by far the most profound, while also cheering the tarnished souls guarding..whatever. Who guards the guards, indeed.. On a final comment: one of my favorite new experiences with the Vimes series is reading about Nobby Nobbs or Carrot or other characters and SEEING THEM AROUND ME AT WORK. It adds a whole new level to such genius humor.

Let me start this review by saying we (the American Terry Pratchett fans/buyers) are being cheated. That's right, cheated. It seems that over in jolly old England they get really, really bloody cool covers for their Discworld books. We get stupid, stylized (spelling?) covers over here. They get the books first there, too. Which is why the last couple of Pratchett books I bought (Last Hero, Thief of Time) online have been from the store UK. Thanks to the exchange rate, I have actually gotten the books cheaper, too!
Anyway, my review. This is a great read. It is hard to put down once you stop. Pratchett is on his game, again. This is not one of the wizard series where anything can happen and it is a laugh a minute. The book has its laughs, boy does it ever. But a lot are actually mean, kind of in your face laughs. It is a Night Watch book. By their nature (crimes, Ank-Morpork at night!) they have to be kind of dark, mean little books.
Sam Vines, on his way to a ceremony, gets pulled into the chase of the city's most notorious (only because the city knows about him) criminal, Carcer. Seems Carcer has just killed a member of the Watch. During the chase Vimes and Carcer get sent back to AnkMorpork of twenty years ago. A dark, dreary, dirty place, good old AnkMorpork! Vimes takes the place of his mentor and, while trying to catch Carcer must: teach the fresh, green Lance Constable Sam Vimes how to be a 'good' copper; lead the watch; and fight a rebellion. All while trying not to change history! Of course he knows what happens and so does Carcer. Carcer, however doesn't care about the future and attempts to change the future by killing the past which is now the present which will only lead to the future. Got it? Want a smoke and a tea while you think about it and then re-read it?
We get to see the original members of the Watch before they became 'honest' coppers: Ned Coates, Nobby, Reg. There are no Trolls, Dwarves, Werwolves, Vampires. Uberwald is not even talked about, the wizards are not fun. This is old AnkMorpork.
Buy the book (either the US or UK version) read it, then re-read the many sections you didn't get the first read through, and anjoy another great Pratchett book!

Like many others, Vimes is one of my favourite characters in the Discworld series. This fantastic tale showcases an unusually innocent Vimes from his youth till the intractable Stoneface that we know and love. It feels more epic than Pratchett’s usual – which is saying something, considering that Vimes’ previous excursions has had him crossing continents and arresting city rulers. Perhaps it is because this time, the stake is closer to home in a more visceral way. Vimes travels back into his own past and has to fight for the continuance of Ankh-Morpork and Vimes as we currently know them. Who doesn’t love a meaty space-time conundrum in the untraversed backyard of a beloved character, with a generous side helping of the classic Sam Vimes’ inner struggle?

A wonderful ride of heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud bits in the best Pratchett fashion.

the store listing for this states Sept 30, 2003 printing. The copy I received is the Oct 2003 printing in which pages 169-200 are completely missing. I read to page 168 then it skipped to pages 217-248 and then it repeats with pages 201 to 248. If it had restarted from page 169 after those two errors at least I could have read through & it would have been merely annoying, but there's a chunk of 32 pages of the storyline completely gone. Perhaps there are other errors but I was so disgusted after the 2nd mistake I borrowed the hardback from our library and it was fine. So if you purchase this book check it to make sure your edition doesn't have these errors.

The Duke of Ankh Sir Samuel Vimes knows that in his role, as Commander of the Watch, there is never a dull day on Discworld. Usually Sam stays off the street and works behind a desk, but when a particularly vicious psychopath kills one of the men under his command, Vimes is determined to find Carcer and bring him down. He corners him near the university but just as he is about to apprehend him a freak occurrence sends them back in time.
Carcer kills John Keel, the man who taught Vines how to be a good copper, and it is up to Sir Samuel to find a way to teach the young Samuel Ivens how to bring honor to a job. Before he can think of returning to his present, he must also take care of Carcer, show the Watch that it needn't be corrupt, and find a way to put history back on track.
The Discworld novels are always interesting and humorous and Night Watch is no exception. The hero is thrust back in time and into an organization that is corrupt, inept and inefficient. Using the knowledge gained in the thirty years on the job he brings a sense of honor and fair play to the NIGHT WATCH, which makes him very appealing to the readers. Terry Pratchett has written a fine well-rounded novel that will please his fans.
Harriet Klausner

Terry Pratchett doesn't seem to be able to write a less than wonderful book. Night Watch is another installment in the popular Discworld series and is a perfectly plotted adventure for Sam Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork Night Watch. The plot starts simply enough, with Vimes having a conversation with a hapless assassin. Thereafter however, the we follow Vimes back in time to the day that he joined the Watch.
This is one of the more moving books Pratchett has written. It fleshes out even more the characters we are growing to love and gives us some peeks into some of the origins of these quirky folks. Pratchett is a master satirist and plotter. If you want some entertaining reading that will still move you and make you think, here it is.

Excellent work; tough to put down long enough to sleep; actually rates about a 4.7. I suspect TP was a murder mystery writer in another life. He opens Night Watch well, with a question and a few clues <lilacs?>. Throught the rest of the book he proceeds to allow you to uncover the answer.
The technique works for me, although, as in most of his recent books, TP gives in to the temptation to substitute irony for comedy. STILL:
Vimes is his usual fuming, funny self, out to keep the peace and everyone's body parts where they belong. I particularly enjoyed Detritus' marching song (true to the troll) in the beginning, though I missed the 'whiz-BANG' of Lady Ramkin's dragons, and Carrot's silly, noble 'dudley doright' attitude.

Night Watch is the 27th, or 28th (depending on how you count them) book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The Discworld series takes place on the flat world of the Disc which is carried on the backs of four elephants standing on the great Turtle, A'tuin, as he (or maybe she) swims through space. On the Disc mariners who attempt to sail over the horizon, in fact, sail over the edge. The Disc is home to magic and many magical creatures and beings abound, gods, dwarfs, trolls, vampires, zombies, werewolves, wizards, witches and more. Terry Pratchett's Discworld books can be grouped into categories depending on who the primary characters are. I tend to think of the categories as the Wizards of the Unseen University, the Witches of Lancre, Death, and the City Watch. Most of the Discworld books fall into one of these categories although a few like Pyramids, Moving Pictures and Small Gods don't. Night Watch though is definitely a City Watch book.
In Night Watch, we learn how Samuel Vimes' character was formed. His Grace, the Duke Samuel Vimes, the commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is dispatched back in time (along with a ruthless killer) to the waning days of the corrupt Lord Winder's reign as ruler of Ankh-Morpork. Vimes must assume the identity of John Keel, a guardsman recently recruited to the Ankh-Morpork Night Watch as a Sergeant at Arms. In the Night Watch he finds his earlier self, takes him under his wing and teaches him how to be a good copper. In his jaunt back to the past Vimes meets earlier versions of Fred Colon as a corporal, Nobby Nobbs as a street urchin, Reg Shoe as a non-zombie revolutionary and a young new street vendor named Dibbler just starting out. Lu-Tze, the sweeper monk of history, makes an appearance trying to get Vimes to accept his role in the course of events leading up to the revolution that ousts Lord Winder. A young Vetinari, as a senior at the Assasins Guild also takes part in the plot.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are jewels of humorous fantasy and Night Watch is no exception. The most enjoyable Discworld books involve the City Watch, Guards, Guards, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, and The Fifth Elephant. Night Watch continues the story of the City Watch characters by going back in time to explain how the central character, Sam Vimes, came to be. However, Night Watch, is not the typical hysterical Pratchett romp through the fantastic world of the Disc. This book, while still funny, is a little darker than the average Discworld book and a little bit deeper, which makes it a very nice change of pace. The older Sam Vimes as John Keel, teaches the younger Vimes the meaning of being a watchman, doing the job that's in front of you and keeping the peace. It's in some ways a sad and trying story, but it opens up tremendous insight into one of the most beloved Discworld characters. This book probably is not the best choice for your first Discworld book, but if you are a fan of the Discworld and enjoy the books about the City Watch, this book is a must read.

For some strange reason I thought that this was the first book in the series. I think that it was listed so on a page here at the store. And so I started this long series with the 28th book. But you know what, I still enjoyed it very much and was left wanting more. I don't think that I needed other books in the series in order to place a context exactly for what Pratchett offers up here.

All in all `Night Shift' was a pretty interesting read. I think that fantasy/science fiction allows for the author to be more creative than other genre writers. Thus Pratchett delves into a scenario and plot structure that while being in essence simple and accessible to younger readers also reads as original and fresh. The story was a fun time puzzle with interesting characters.

I would not stop anyone from picking this book up.

Night Watch was by far my favorite work by Terry Pratchett to date, and I have read many. Vimes going back in time 30 years and reliving a key moment in the current Watch of Ankh-Morpork's history could have been another sad attempt at a back-story type book with time travel elements. Pratchett turns the entire premise into a gorgeous roller coaster of Morporkian history mixed with a closer look at some key players. Wonder how Reg Shoe became a Zombie? Why did Nobby join the watch? Did Vetinari really go to Assassin school? All of these questions and more are answered masterfully along with a slight parody of fascist governments and a nod to John "Duke" Wayne. This book has to be one of the best Pratchett has ever written, and I can't recommend it enough.

Not a typical Watch book. Our hero Sam Vimes accidentally slips about 30 years back in time in pursuit of a criminal, only to encounter his younger self as a wet-behind-the-ears Lance Constable. Will he find a way back to Sybil? Will Carcer (our criminal villain) kill him first? Can Vimes prevent an uprising of the common folk from turning into a massacre? Moving back in time leaves Ankh-Morpork free of many (but not all) Watch favorite characters (the book is quite Carrotless, troll, dwarf, and almost zombie-free). This reduces the slapstick and rat-pie quotient significantly but if you prefer Vimes' hardboiled cop to those hijinks, you will like this a lot. It's quite thrilling, actually, and a lot of fun seeing many of the Watch series' human characters in younger form.

I'm sure there are many, many people who will love this book. After two reads, I don't think it likely my opinion - that this is one of Pratchett's lesser efforts - will change.
The central idea of "Night Watch" is that the individual matters; that an individual and the actions their character leads them to commit can be central to history's progression. Fine. However, my feeling was that "Night Watch" did not illuminate Vimes' character - as opposed to his personal history - beyond what had been established in previous books, notably "The Fifth Elephant". What is the point if we already know just what Vimes is like and can predict what he will do in every situation? And despite the continuous reminder that, yes, he has his dark side, Vimes never steps over that particular line. Not once. Again, what is the point? Whatever Pratchett may have thought he was doing with this book, what I found it to be was a slightly tedious tale re-treading the familiar territory of Sam Vimes the slightly-grimy-but-honest copper. There's too much baggage for the new reader; all the cameos have no resonance unless you're already familiar with the characters, and the lack of humour in "Night Watch" somehow leaves the Ankh-Morpork of this book adrift from the city as it appears in Pratchett's previous books.
This is a well-written, well-crafted story with some interesting issues to think about, if that's your cup of tea. But for me, Pratchett's real talent is for comedy, and I think that's where he should stay.

[For context's sake, I have been reading the Discworld books in publication order. Night Watch is #29.]

I believe Night Watch may be my favorite Discworld book yet. It moved well, it was complex but not needlessly so, the characters were relatable, and the action was fun. I loved getting such deep and rich backstory on characters that I already felt I knew well, and I'm curious whether there will be any lasting differences in the characters as the series moves forward.

and that's saying something. The books just keep getting better and better, and after so many novels, Pratchett has yet to repeat himself or slip into the all-to-easy fantasy stand-by of ripping of Lord of the Rings (unless you count the cameo appearance of Golom in Witches Abroad.) Commander Sir Samuel Vimes, by far my favorite Discworld charactor, is the focus of this latest instilation of the Discworld series. He's mean, violent, tough and increadably endearing. A devoted husband, soon-to-be father and workaholic copper, Vimes finds himself in what seems to be a no-win situation when a magical experiment gone wrong sends him back in time to the world of his youth. He arrives to find that the same accident has caused the death of his childhood mentor, John Keel, and now, if he doesn't want his life to be destroyed, he must assume the mans identity and teach young Sam what it means to be a good copper. Unfortunatly, as Vimes recalls, Keel is destined to die in a few days time...
This book is a perfect example of Pratchett's trademark combination of action, witt and philosophy. Old fans will adore meeting Nobby Nobbs as a street urchin, Havelock Vetinari as a student assassin, and Reg Shoe as a young (and very much alive) rebel-without-a-cause. As for new readers, just read the first sentence and see if you don't like it. Go on, I dare you. Here it is:
"Sam Vimes sighed when he heard the scream, but he finished shaving before he did anything about it."
Curious? Interested? I hope so.
Terry Pratchett's writing style is so vivid and elegant that the reader is pulled right into the story. His writing is so good in fact that I think a reader would be justified in saying "I was there."

Sam Vimes has quite a lot of problems - his wife is delivering their first-born and a maniac killer attacks his watchman. And it is *the* anniversary. Small wonder the man wishes to be back in those beautiful old days of his youth, when everything was simplier.
But it's Discworld. Such thoughts are dangerous - they may too easily turn true. And they do.
Cast thirty years back, without money, weapons, friends and with the maniac killer wanting his blood, Vimes is forced to fight against everything - time, history and rapidly multiplying enemies. And it turns out that the anniversary he was hoping to celebrate might be the one of his own death.
This book is much darker than the previous ones. We learn how Ankh-Morpork did look like without Vetinari in charge, and it is an ugly sight.
The city is about to change one mad Patrician for another. People are moving, revolution rises its head, decent folks place all their hopes in an unworthy man. Only Vimes knows better.
It is an absolute must-read for all the Watch series fans. Just don't expect as many jokes as usual, though the book *is* funny at times.
It offers an unique insight into many characters' youth. You'll meet quite a lot of old acquantainces - young Vimes (promising lad), Dibbler, Colon and Nobby (check for character development here!), Mrs Palm without the Seamstresses Guild, Lord Downey (a bit of a surprise), Lord Rust (no surprise whatsoever). And, of course, Vetinari - the lad does deserve a solid kick for the "boo".
A must-read. Repeat - a must-read. Just read all the Watch books earlier, you'll get too much confused if you don't.

Whilst about to apprehend a homicidal maniac called Carcer, Commander of the Watch Samuel Vimes is caught in a funny sort of magical storm and wakes up - naked - back (about 25 years?) in his own past, when the mad, bad and paranoid Lord Winder is Patrician, Vimes' wife Sybil is a 16 year old girl living at home with her father, and Vimes himself is a young lance-corporal: inexperienced, and not a little idealist.
Those were... These are, troubled times. A rebellion is getting ready bubble up and when it does it won't be pretty. Vimes knows how it's going to turn out, and who's going to die. Trouble is, if he manages to save them, then the future he came from might not exist. And then there's still Carcer, who's loose and dangerous in this past version of Ankh Morpork.
Certainly the most sombre Discworld novel ever, Night Watch is still very funny and never for a moment lost my interest. This book shows you one of events that make Anhk Morpork the functioning-against-all-evidence metropolis that it becomes; and it will give your the answers to, among others, these questions:
Just who - that is if you can see him - is that young Assassin in the (non-Guild regulation) dark green outfit? Why is Nobby, of all people, wearing a lilac blossom? And how exactly did Reg Shoe become a zombie?
By the end of Night Watch, the reader will never be in doubt of what any reader of Pratchett's phenomenal series would already know, that, both figuratively and physically, Vimes and Vetinari rule.

Night Watch is a funny novel filled with serious messages. The book is reminiscent of Joseph Heller's Catch 22 and Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales in that it is trying to convey the author's opinion on things that happen in their respective worlds. However, all three of these books mask their opinion (frequently criticism) with an amusing plot.

The beginning of Night Watch introduces us to the character of Sam Vimes. It is the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of a small but memorable revolution. Sam Vimes is the Commander of Ankh-Morpork's City Watch. Ankh-Morpork is a fictional city in Pratchett's fantasy world, Discworld. Vimes is a practical "copper" (policeman). He bends the rules when he needs to, and heeds them when he doesn't need to bend them. For instance, he isn't afraid to fight dirty, with brass knuckles and such. The criminals he's fighting do it, so "fight fire with fire". He's not afraid of taking risks, especially when those risks can further a good cause. In fact, he showed annoyance at being taken off the Assassins Guild's register, "it [being on the register] showed that he was annoying the rich and arrogant people who ought to be annoyed." Vimes also won't hesitate to chase after a murderous criminal himself, even if he is the Commander of the City Watch. Vimes is obviously one of those characters that feel he has ascended too far, and he yearns to go back to the time when he was doing the dirty work on the streets; not sitting at his desk pushing papers. Ironically, his wish is granted. On his ill-fated chase after the homicidal criminal, Carcer, on the eve of the revolution, Vimes is transported back in time thirty years, along with Carcer. Vimes is also aware of the events that will occur in the near future. Many unnecessary deaths occurred as a result of the revolution. And so he is faced with a hard choice. Does he allow things to occur the same way they did the first time around, which will allow him to come back to the future he once knew? Or does he change things, and prevent the needless deaths of some of his compatriots? Does he even have a choice? Or has the path of fate already been laid out?

Terry Pratchett is no stranger to fantasy books. Night Watch is one of Pratchett's thirty Discworld novels, which are all fantasy books set in the same world with the same characters. All of his books have a purpose, and using Discworld, Pratchett has said many things about the state of our world. In Night Watch, this is most certainly the case. Pratchett tells us his thoughts on revolutions and social unrest. The book is written in the third-person, but it is focused on one central character...Sam Vimes. Pratchett uses Vimes and the plot around him to portray his own personal beliefs. For example, on page 249 he writes, "...Some had been idiots as mad as Swing, with a view of the world just as rigid and unreal, who were on the side of what they called `The People.' Vimes had spent his life on the streets and had met decent men, and fools, and people who'd steal a penny from a blind beggar... but he'd never met The People. People on the side of The People always ended up disappointed, in any case...And so, the children of the revolution were faced with the age-old problem: it wasn't that you had the wrong kind of government, which was obvious, but that you had the wrong kind of people." This is one of the few occasions in which Pratchett actually spells out his beliefs for the reader. Most of the time, you are meant to discern it from the actions and words of the fictional characters in the fictional plot.

Because of this, Night Watch is a versatile book in terms of reading level. It is a light and amusing read if you want it to be, and this is perfectly all right. However, if you aspire to, you can choose to truly think about what's happening in the book, and try to connect the events occurring in this fictional world to events that occur in our world. Much of the material in the book can be related to revolutions like the French Revolution of the late 18th century and the Russian Revolution of the 20th century.

Night Watch is a thoroughly enjoyable book with a fabulous balance of laughter and serious contemplation. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading in general and feels the need for a split side combined with a splitting headache!

This is mainly a book for the die hard fans of Discworld. As one reader commented here, the cameos and some briefly seen characters are mostly enjoyed by those who have already met them.
I personally love Vimes, even back when he was portayed as a drunk (Guards! Guards!), I feel he is a very human hero (and cynical, disgruntled, rumpled, etc.).
In this book Pratchett delves into destiny, fate and the individual, something he had not done since "Small Gods" and carries it out succesfully. I look forward to his next book.
I agree this might not be the best book to start the series with but there are plently of others to chose from. Just pick one.
For new readers I say: "What are you waiting for?! Get yourself into gear and visit Discworld"
For the die hards: "Aren't we lucky? Pratchett continues writing for us."

And then nearly didn't get up for work the next day!!
I eagerly look forward to every Terry Pratchett book I can get my hands on. The man has made such a wonderful contribution to the literary world that, as an American, I am thunderstruck by how few people seem to know his work over here. With the relatively recent stateside success of the Harry Potter books and Lord of the Rings relaunch (well I'm sure the films helped, too *grin*), I think Terry Pratchett is primed to continue to become more well-known here.
Onto the book . . . Loved it. Sam Vimes is a wonderful character. He has made great strides since his first appearance in "Guards! Guards!". Good story for fans, maybe not as friendly to new readers as "The Truth". I must confess that I wish Carrot would get to shine some more. I sometimes wonder if Terry hasn't been sure how to advance the character (I'd hoped for more from "The Fifth Elephant" in regards to Carrot's character development). But these are all fanboy geek wants. I'm not going to replay the story of "Night Watch". That's been done enough here. However, if you're a fan of the series, especially the "Guards" books, definately pick it up. If you haven't read a "Discworld" Novel before, then I suggest you try these first, "Guards! Guards!", "Men at Arms", "Feet of Clay", "Jingo", then "The Fifth Elephant", before picking up "Night Watch". My thinking is, if you try the first one and aren't hooked, then you're better of with another series and possibly another writer. My belief is that you will be hooked, then just follow the list I gave in order to read the "Guards" books in order.

I've decided he's too good and too prolific for me to write a brand new review every single time I read one of his books. Discworld currently has 34 titles and every one of them will probably knock your socks off. His mind bubbles and flashes like a boiling pot of electric eels, and I simply can't get enough of his writing.

A reviewer has compared him to Geoffrey Chaucer. He reminds me more of Douglas Adams, or perhaps S Morgenstern. Great company, isn't it? He's an extremely skillful and imaginative writer, damn funny, clever and observant to boot. He's also very easy to read. A master of characterization, and if there's anything else you like about reading that I didn't mention here, assume I simply forgot. He's awesome.

Another reviewer mentioned Jonathan Swift and PG Wodehouse. Why such hallowed company? Because Pratchett belongs there! Truly, I'm enjoying my quest to read every book in the series. You should do the same, and begin your quest at the library because he's got to be there. He's awesome!

Yet another reviewer said Jerome K Jerome meets Lord of the Rings. Yeah, that works too.

Why do we, as reviewers, compare authors to other authors? Because it's easier than thinking. In the case of Terry Pratchett, it's probably because we'd otherwise wind up quoting the guy. He's so unique that we just don't know how else to cope with his greatness. Even this paragraph sounds like foamy drool raving, doesn't it? That's how all readers react to Pratchett. Reviewers simply don't have the good sense to keep it to themselves.

I could call his writing fantasy, but I could likewise call what Douglas Adams wrote science fiction. In both cases, I wouldn't be wrong, but I'd be neglecting so much and just totally missing the point. A rare few authors transcend a genre to such a degree that you know they're shouting out, loud and proud, a big fat "Bite me!"

I love Terry Pratchett's writing, and I completely understand why some folks refer to him as their favorite author. Or favourite, I should say, since we're being British. He's one of those authors that makes you want to grab whoever's in hearing range and start reading passages aloud. I'm simply thrilled that there's such an extremely talented and prolific author who's been working for years without me being aware of him. Now I have much catching up to do, and I will love it.

While his wife is in labor, Vimes accidentally goes back in time while chasing an arch-criminal and meets his younger self, taking on the role of an unsung hero of one of the revolutions in Ankh-Morpork. We meet a young Patrician and Nobby. The Monks of Time make cameos, but are under-used. This book is more serious than the usual Discworld novel and contains a lot of meditation on the nature of duty, responsibility, and heroism. It would seem that a whole book going deep into Vimes' past and psychology would be interesting, but I agree with one of the reviewers on the store; if you already know Vimes, you'll find that he never really surprises you in this book. I'd give it four stars if it were either funnier _or_ a better serious novel. As in a lot of Pratchett, many scenes in this story cry out for a stronger sense of place and evocative detail; there's too much telling and not enough showing. It wouldn't make a good introduction to Discworld; for that, try _The Truth_.

His Grace The Duke and Commander of the City Watch of Ankh Morpork, Sir Samuel Vimes is an angry man. He's angry because the world which never seems to conform to his sense of what is right and wrong. But this sense of justice has driven him and his organization, the Watch, to become the premier law-keeping force in the city, so respected that they have become grudgingly accepted as a normal part of the city's functions.
Yet things were different once. Once the Watch was split into two - Day and Night Watches. Both were havens for misfits and losers. Once the Night Watch was an inept one - afraid of the shadows in the dark. Once Vimes was no more than another copper, trying his best not to see the things that were wrong with his city. Things were different once.
In the present, Vimes is called away as his wife is giving birth. The Watch is closing in a dangerous psychopath, a cop killer, a brutal and calculating murderer and Vimes needs to be there to arrest him. But there is a storm brewing, and as Vimes faces down the fugitive, there is a lightning strike that hits both men. And they vanish.
Vimes finds himself 30 years in past, facing an uncertain future. For the fugitive has escaped and murdered Sgt. John Keel, the younger Vimes' mentor. To preserve the future, Vimes must masquerade as the dead sergeant and must teach his younger self how to be a policeman, in the eve of a bloody revolution. But Vimes remembers how the past will turn out and he finds himself having to make a choice: if he changes stops innocent men from getting killed in the revolution, he will change his future. But if he does this, he will never get back to his wife and never see his unborn child. Because if he changes the past, there will be no future for him, nothing but a lost memory.
Grittier than most of the Guards series, this new entry spoofs elements of time travel in movies including Terminator series, the Back to the Future trilogy as well as the more classic "Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. As with the rest of the Discworld series, Terry Pratchett once again merges humor and intelligent satire with a pragmatic but optimistic view of humanity. Pratchett's trademark tongue-in-cheek wit is still prevalent, but it's far more subdued than usual. However, long time readers will appreciate the first glimpses of such characters as Reg Shoe, CMOT Dibbler, Nobby Nobbs, Fred Colon and the deliciously machievellian Vetinari. In any event, even new readers could appreciate the tightly drawn plot of a man trying to do the right thing in the middle fo revolution. All in all, a heartily recommended read and another fine addition to the Pratchett pantheon.

As some astute readers have figured out by now, the title of this review is What Would Vimes Do? That is, What Would he Do if he was thrust immediately thirty years into the past, on the cusp of a great tragedy that he already survived once? This book deals with exactly that scenario. As previous reviewers have said, this book is far more serious than Pratchett's usual fare. However, that does not mean it is not funny. It is lacking much of the lowbrow, slapstick humor that acts as a "lowest common denominator" of humor in other Pratchett books, but his characteristic intelligent, satirical wit is alive and well, and uproariously funny. The book deals mainly with powerful themes: responsibility being the preeminent one. Responsibility to a community, to a society, to one's self. Prathcett goes deep here; the book left me thinking. The chracters are not developed as much as in other books, but since there are very few new ones (and the biggest new character is extremely, spookily well developed) this is no great loss to old readers of Pratchett works. To new fans, I would recommend Mort, Guards! Guards!, or Pyramids as a first read; progress to this one later.

The conundrum here is-
1) Yes it IS the best Pratchett yet that I've read (though I haven't read them all)
2) If you've never read Pratchett before, don't start here.
Sam Vimes is my favourite character...any guy who can run naked in the snow with nasty things after him has my admiration...Jingo is a good book to read to get know this most excellent of Pratchett's characters! Night Watch focuses on Vimes quite a bit and readers might miss Carrot and other more recent characters. It was really interesting to see Vimes young and Vetinari makes his usual cool-as-ice appearance. I wish HE had a book all to himself!

Night Watch is Terry Pratchett's consummate masterpiece. He applies his insights into politics, ambition, loyalty, commitment, love, duty, sacrifice, and human fragility in a powerful, frequently entertaining, and ultimately overwhelming story. Pratchett shines when he fills each page with something to make it worth inclusion in the whole, and he does so brilliantly in Night Watch.
On my first reading, I carefully avoided reading ahead, and although many of the book's conclusions were clearly foreshadowed, I was near tears at the book's final revelations. The book sharply contrasts the potential for great natural bravery among the streetwise downtrodden with the potential for casual cruelty among the powerful elite. Not that the elite are typecast as cruel - several major characters among the "elite" are written with great depth, and the future Patrician of Ankh-Morpork finally has his moment to shine, albeit as a young man.
My favorite Pratchett novel, bar none. Worthy of many rereads.

I've read pretty much all of Mr.Pratchett's books (except some of his children's books) and have loved all of them.As brilliant as he is,I still prefer some of his books over the others,specifically his Lancre-books and his city-watch books.Well,Night Watch just moved to the top of my list.It has everything we have come to expect from his books and more.If you've never read any of his books before,this may not be a great place to start,as it includes characters well-known from other books,but to everybody else:read it!And to those of you who have never read Terry Pratchett before;get started,you have a lot of catching up to do.

Always one of my favorite Discworld novels. This one does as much as Guards! Guards! to develop the story of Sam Vimes.

It also features the recently-introduced History Monks and plays out Pratchett's sense of time travel in one of the most narratively-satisfying ways I've seen in fiction. It's amazing how many different kinds of story the man can incorporate into his core series, and even more amazing how completely he masters the format. And rather than diluting or breaking his story world, it only gets richer every time.

This is the first Pratchett book I read. He has a great writing style that at times is hilarious and others deeply touching. There are two great "so you would like to..." lists out there that give the exact chronology of the series. The Night watch section of the Disk World Series is the only one I've started but I can honestly say I would rank this up there with Robert Aspirin's "Myth-" series and is almost as funny as Adams' Hitchhickers Guide to the Galaxy.

The Discworld books are always entertaining. They make me laugh a lot, and amazingly for such funny books, they occasionally make me cry. Of all the Discworld series Pratchett has, the men of the Night Watch are my favorites. (This group of characters start off in "Guards, Guards" a wonderful book.) This is a great addition to the Night Watch and the life of Samuel Vimes.

The story here is a nice addition to the Discworld series, and Vimes is a great character, though I felt Carcer was underdeveloped and a bit one-dimensional -- would have been interesting to get more background on him. My three stars are for the readers on the Book-on-tape. They all do a good job, but I desperately miss Nigel Planer as narrator and hope he will be back for future Discworld titles. Hearing Vimes and company in someone else's voice(s) just seems *wrong*, Planer is such a talented reader and has such a tremendous range, I just couldn't get used to hearing anyone else. Please bring him back!

A really good Sam Vimes novel with a healthy dose of intrigue and Pratchett's usual delicious satire. I accidentally read it out of series order, but there aren't that many spoilers for the rest of the Vimes timeline.

There is a difference. This book was not your usual laugh out loud Discworld novels, but it is probably one of my favorites (though admittedly, I haven't read em all in order...shame on me...). This book digs deeper into the personality of Sam Vimes (yay!, and also goes a little bit into the young life of the Patrician (yay for Vetinari!), and includes cameos of other characters.
Admittedly, I would have liked to see a bit more about young Sam then just "Fetch the crossbow", etc. but nevertheless, a really good book, one that I would buy, because it is something that can be reread over and over (okay, well I buy all the books anyhow, but that's cause my stupid library doesn't have any of the Discworld novels! I hate you library!)
If you're looking for laughs, this isn't for you. If Sam Vimes is a favorite character of yours, or you don't mind the occasional serious books, then buy...*drum roll* NIGHT WATCH!!!

Terry Prachett does it again! As part of the Diskworld series, Night Watch is a time-twisting novel that gives insight into a main character in Diskworld. It's funny, action-packed, and involves the reader in the story...

The best Discworld to date. That means, it hits you very hard under the belt. It's all been said in the other comments, except I just wanted to pick up on the word poignancy, and link it back to one of Pratchett's inspirations for this book, the Paris Commune. For 'the wearing of the Lilac', read 'cherries behind their ears', and idealist revolutionaries barricaded in the Montmartre cemetery who know they will soon be dead. Anyone touched by this novel could read up on that particular passage of history. Poignant.

As a huge Sam Vimes fan I'm always glad to start a new Night Watch book. Seeing him churn his way through a truly unexpected turn of events was one of the most gripping reads I've had in a long while.

Night Watch is my favorite book in Pratchett's Discworld series. It's definitely not, however, the book you want to read first in this series. As it's a time travel book, too many of the giggles for it come from seeing the many characters you know in the current-day city of Ankh Morpork as they were years before.

It's a book that deals much more heavily with morality, humanity (or whatever you would call it that also includes trolls, dwarves, etc.), and doing the right thing when authority or fear says you shouldn't. It also deals with loss and sacrifice. It's much more poignant than previous (and later) books in the series, and the laughs are much more subtle. I still managed to chuckle and laugh and enjoy myself while being emotionally moved, however.

If you're a fan of Commander Vimes and his world view, this should be another good book for you.

So it's not as flat-out funny as other Discworld books, but sometimes a change of pace is a good thing. However, if you're just starting the series, make sure you read at least Guards Guards and Men at Arms before you get to Night Watch. (The more books, the better your appreciation as you'll know more characters and enjoy seeing the changes or origins.)

This is the most coherent and believable (if you will) Discworld book I've yet read. I've read them all, except "Where's My Cow?" The only parts that get a little confusing are about the History Monks, but I thoroughly enjoyed this Vimes-in-Distress story and look back at earlier (pre-Vetinari) days in Ankh-Morpork. If you like time travel stories this will intrigue you.

No need to write much -- this is far and away the very best of Pratchett's discworld novels. This pulls away from the series novel onus -- oddly enough, though, it is the one book in this series that requires that you have read one or more of the others to fully enjoy.

It is witty, melancholy, rompous, gently cynical, open-hearted and loving toward its characters -- even the bad guys.

With Terry Pratchett as my favorite author, I really looked forward to Night Watch, especially since out of Pratchett's wide range of characters and character settings, my favorite is about the men, troll, dwarves, werewolf, etc, in the nightwatch division of the police force. It is so easy to escape into a Pratchett book, with the characterizations so well done and the humor intoxicating. I would recommend Jingo, Men at Arms, or Feet of Clay over Night Watch though. It was not as humorous as I would have liked, except for the parts with Nobby Nobbs as a young street urchin. Those parts were excellent! Overall, the book is a good fantasy with Vimes going back in time and seeing things from a slightly differnet perspective than he had experienced them before. Cleverly written, just not quite the caliber of previous books. Still very much worth reading.

I really like all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld (fantasy) books, including this one. You will best enjoy reading them in the order published, but they're good on their own. They have a unique, fey humor: I expect you will like all or none, so if they're new to you, get just one to begin with.

This is, so far, my favorite book by Terry Pratchett (and i've read all of his Discworld books plus a couple more) It's funny, has awesome characters (Vimes! The History Monks!), a great plot, isn't increadably cliche, and actually stands ok on it's own. IT would help if you have read at least one other book with the night watch in it, so that you can fully appreciate the characters, but I think that you'd be OK if you hadn't.
I totally recomend this book, it's well worth buying!

The novel, Night Watch by Terry Pratchett, may not be a Shakespearian tragedy, but the books concept along with Pratchett's wit and humor make it well worth reading. Night Watch is one of Pratchett's Discworld novels. It tells the story of Commander Sam Vimes of the city watch. Vimes goes back in time and is forced to go back in time to revisit one of the dark parts of his life, when he was just starting out as an officer of the night watch, only this time his current self must play the role of the sergeant that taught him everything. Since Vimes already knows what is going to happen he has a lot of trouble figuring out what actions to take as he finds that it's harder to fix history than he thought. Vimes has the constant longing for his future, "He wanted to go home. He wanted it so much that he trembled at the thought" (273). And he fears that his actions in the past might change his future.

Pratchett's excellent writing style held up to this slightly more serious book than he usually writes. Although Vimes's observations of the world around him do provide ample humor, Night Watch does have a more serious aspect to it, since Vimes is trying to ensure that his past self survives and that the future he left behind will not end up to only be a memory. It makes a person really examine his or her own past and realize how important the people in your life now matter to you. Pratchett skillfully weaves in this more serious side of the story with his usual assortments of puns, plays on words, and jokes. Pratchett really examines how hard it is to let the mistakes of the past happen all over again when Vimes is confronted with the choice of letting seven men die or trying to find a new past which may lead to a new future, "Supposing we don't lose? All they had to do was hold out...And there's seven unfilled graves in the cemetery...Would he be able to go back then? Supposing Madam was right, and he got offered the post of commander not as a bribe but because he'd earned it? That'd change history" (p273). Vimes has to wonder if taking the harder road of defending his men to try and keep them from being killed will end up erasing his happy future as a Duke with a loving wife, but his sense of humanity predetermines the choice he must make. This is one of the better parts of Pratchett's writing style, that his characters have such set, strong personalities that they never disappoint. Although Pratchett's endings are not always the perfect Disney endings where the charming prince marries the damsel in distress, the prince's squire will probably end up saving her and finding a suitable place for her to live.

The novel, Night Watch, is sometimes confusing. That is one down fall of Pratchett's writing style. His characters are so well developed that in order for his books to keep from being predictable, his plot lines tend to be interesting, but fast moving and at times confusing. For instance from the beginning of the book to page fifty seven, the character of Vimes is knocked out and wakes up again several times. This can be confusing because Pratchett does not explain Vimes' passing out very much, or always give a cause for it immediately, making it hard for the reader to determine what happened and where Vimes is. Also since during most of the book there are two Vimes, past and future Vimes, it can sometimes be confusing who Pratchett is talking about, "Vimes patted the man's belt. `Oh dear, what have we here a very nasty dagger. See this, Lance Constable Vimes?" (p138). It gets complicated since Vimes usually uses his last name when referring to his past self, while Pratchett always refers to Vimes' future self as Vimes as well and referring to past Vimes as Sam, and future Vimes is calling himself John Keel. When reading sometimes it take a moment to remember which one is being referred to.

Despite the slight confusion, the book is very well written. His characters are well developed, and his plot lines are fun and interesting. If you enjoy any of his other books about the Ankh-Morpork city watch or if you found one of his other Disk world novels too slow of a read, I would highly recommend reading Night Watch.

First, the story. Commander Sam Vimes is blasted back in time along with a demented killer to take part in the revolutionary years of his youth. Assuming the persona of Watch Sergeant-at-Arms John Keel, Vimes guides his younger self in the ways of honest policing and tries to keep history on track so that he can get back to his wife and soon-to-be-born child. We see Ankh-Morpork in an earlier era before the rule of Vetinari, and come across many well-known characters still finding their place in the Discworld.

This is a well-executed story and has enough to keep you interested. However, it lacks any real inventiveness and spark, instead relying on elements from previous Discworld novels; Carcer is a clone of Teatime, Captain Swing harks back to the villain of 'Guards! Guards!', all the supporting cast do and say largely what they have done in previous stories, and we get exactly the same wry descriptions of the denizens and neighbourhoods of Ankh-Morpork. And Sam Vimes. Oh, Sam Vimes. I am so tired of the man and hearing how wonderful he is. It is just bearable in this novel, but even here we have the set up for the infuriating way he is described in 'Thud!'. We need a humorous and rough copper, not a tragic hero.

Pratchett also shows a little too much preoccupation with his social commentary on repression and democratic government, at the expense of having fun with the story. We will be able to draw real-life parallels ourselves without too much help, if we are given an engaging satire. After a while it feels less like a parody of 'Les Miserables' or 'A Tale of Two Cities' and more like an homage to them.

I think the best years of the Discworld are behind us, but this is one of the stronger novels from the latter part of the series.

Witty and sarcastic as always, Vimes encounters his past in an exciting and memorable way. Terry Pratchett shines again through his brilliant satire and on-point social commentary. This is my favorite Watch book yet; this page-turner is full of everything that makes Vimes such an intriguing character and Discworld such a dynamic and nuanced setting.

If you're already a Pratchett fan, this book will give you an opportunity to see some of the most prevalent characters in their younger years, something I found delightful. If you're new, this book is a great way to get hooked, as it supplies enough basic information about the previous books that one can keep up.

My favorite set of characters is the Watch, so reading about the city in its more corrupted days, when Vetinari and Vimes were very young man, is grand.

I read this book in one sitting.

...without Rincewind. Rincewind is definity my favorite, but this book clearly proves that all of his books are awesome. I'm a huge fan of Discworld. I am slowly collecting all of Terry Prachett's books, and his writing couldn't be more enjoyable. I was looking for a good Discworld novel to give to a friend, so I started reading Night Watch, to see if it would make a good gift for a fellow Discworld addict. It blew me away! Vimes is truly a spectacular character. The comedy in the book is outstanding, and the plot is superior, e.g. Qu of the Time Monks making the technology. If you haven't read any of his other books, you should not read this one, for it builds off his other work. But if you are an addict like I am, BUY THIS BOOK!

A Discworld novel that goes beyond mere comedy fantasy. This is Terry Pratchett at his literary best. When Pratchett is reassessed by critics and writers in the future, not just as a satirist or a fantasy writer but as a novelist, this will be regarded as his best achievement and the quintessence of his psychological story-telling style.

Being a prison guard (no, not like the ones in this book, a REAL one) I find great comfort in Sam Vimes. Moralistic humor, nice twisty view of the world, yet always trying to do right - even to himself. This book has gotten me through hard times when I needed to be reminded to be true to myself, to do what I know is right, to look to the greater picture. I adore Terry Pratchett's view and agree wholeheartedly with it. Acceptance that people are who they are, but we need to be who we need to be also. I believe all his books are quite readable, enjoyable. I am currently in the process of reading the entire discworld series in chronological order and am impressed to watch not only the characters grow, but the author also. Thank you sooooo much Mr. Pratchett! Not only are your books entertaining, but provide the view more of us need to see the world through.

Terry Pratchett has written over 30 books and Night Watch is, without a doubt, his best. A book that spins together wonderful intrigue and mystery in a way that would make Agatha Christie sit down and weep, and humor so witty and clever that Wodehouse would be rolling in his grave.

If you're looking to find a great new book then check out Pratchett's Night Watch; it'll keep you hooked and probably cost you a lot more money as you end up buying the rest of his books!

While this had the usual wry humor, this book was more serious than most of his books, about people caught up in events larger than themselves and doing the best they can one step at a time and how little things can make a difference.

I loved this book and have re-read it several times as it never gets "old" for me. Classic Pratchett Characters and subtle barbs and jokes, but all the while sufficient tension to keep you looking for more and looking for the next surprise or revelation. One of the Best, I thought.

A Tale of Two Cities falls through a crack in the space time continuum and lands in the hands of a very strange librarian. One with orange hair. All over. I have read as much Terry Pratchett as I could get hold of. No, this is not like his other books (with the possible exception of Maurice and His Educated Rats). Both have a stream of darkness running through them which lends them a totally different flavor (air, ambiance, meaning?) I have just finished reading this book again and I have to say that I think it is one of his finest. "I laughed, I cried, I fell down...." Get this book and read it. Then read it again. It grows on you. Sort of like Nobby. Of course, Nobby looks like all sorts of things grow on him...

This book is a riot. I have not read all of the Pratchett books, but I am steadily making my way through them, and besides the collaborative "good omens" this is my absolute favorite. For a work of comic fiction, there is a masterful portrayal of a psychotic French Revolution which has all the charm and sentiment of Les Miserables, which I appreciated all the more since I was having trouble keeping my car on the road (The audible.com version in my CD player, laughing so hard my eyes were watering.) Immensely amusing, and enjoyable in the deeper way than many of his other books, this makes a fantastic read

This is a hilarious and fantastic book. It's a rare author who can manage to make a book have gravitas and feel important, and still integrate enough humor that it's a hilarious read. The Watch books are particular favorites of mine. This one has dark moments, which is a nice surprise. I had to be talked into reading Terry Pratchett by my husband. I'd tried before and it didn't click for me, but I'm really glad I gave him another shot. This book is hilarious, intense, and touching, sometimes at the same time, and I definitely recommend it.

Every time I read a Discworld novel, I have a new favorite. This one is no exception. I'm quiet positive this is the best Discworld novel. I like how this one relates so closely to the events of "Monstrous Regiment" and "Thief of Time."

I love Terry Pratchett. This book is not like most of his other ones, but it is good all the same. It is very dark and has a strong message. Don't expect this book to be like all the other Terry Pratchett books, but I recomend it all the same.

The guards in general, and Sam Vimes in particular, are real heroes, in the meaning that you really feel that this is how real heroes would handle the tough calls, the conflicting interests, the raw chaos of unclear loyalties etc. and walk away with their integrity intact. He has succeeded in creating distilled reality, and that is magical, as magical as the making of fine malt whisky and as the library at the unseen university. He can even paint personalities with a one-liner, and that's bloody sourcery. I wonder about his ancestry, surely he must be the eighth son of an eighth son...
The guards are hist best creation, and they were never better than here.

Sam Vimes is my favorite Discworld character, and this book is his triumph! I've read all of the Discworld books to date, and this one is my favorite. Keeps the reader in suspense, and I couldn't put it down. Great characters from the Discworld are seen in their younger days. A must read for all Discworld and Pratchett fans!

The Sam Vimes arc is my favorite of the Discworld stories, and this is my favorite book. Sam offers such an interesting perspective on the situation and his perpetual frustration is hilarious. And I love how he has scruples, but picks when to use them. This is book is a good introduction to this particular arc, because it offers a wealth of backstory for the other books. And the story is priceless.

Forgive the corny joke. This is a marvelous book, the first that really focuses completely on Sam Vimes. As other reviewers have mentioned, it is somewhat more serious than previous Discworld books. There is still a lot of dark humour (and how can you not laugh when Nobby reflects upon Keel giving him a spoon?) and tonnes of laughs. At the same time Pratchett makes you think about the "might-have-beens" in life. It's a marvelous book; READ IT!

I'm going to keep this short because so many other people have already highlighted the book. I agree with all the people who said this is not a good starting point for new readers. There is more character development here than in any of Pratchett's "watch" novels since Guards Guards!
This book was so good that I missed several meals because I didn't want to put it down, and when I did finish I just sat there and let it all sink in. Much like after really good sex.
Highly reccommended.

I love a funny book that really examines what it means to make difficult choices. Even though this book is set in a fictional world, which is usually not my thing, the dialogue and situations make me feel completely at home. Pratchett's dialogue is great. the characters really come alive. Just a really funny and moving book. I'm picking up the others in the series!

Night Watch, the newest discworld book, features the Night Watch when Vimes joined. It is not only funny, but interesting and really fun. It has more of a concentrated plot than some of the other books, and ties together the story of the City Watch, and also includes Lu Tze, Qu, Lord Vetinari as a student assasin, and other well loved characters. Anyone, even if they haven't read other Discworld or Pratchett books, will enjoy this book.

This is one of the best Pratchett books I've ever read. I don't need to go into details, they're already mentioned, suffice to say that I read it in one sitting, lent it to one friend and got it back from another. One thing annoyed me though, anorak that I am; at the beginning of the book Keel is buried under a 'simple wooden cross' but at the end Vimes finds himself pinned up against Keel's 'headstone'. Aaargh! Where have all the copy-editors gone? 'Nuff said. Read, enjoy and become enthralled by the Discworld.

Anyways THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!! I do run the movie theater at Downtown East. All my guests say that my movies are amazing!!!!! Some say that I should turn this book into a wonderful movie for my guests. So the new edition: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is coming out soon!!!!!!

The best Discworld novel I've read to date, and I own them all....and have read most of them three or four times. Consistently funny, as well as emotionally powerful and philosophically both deep and sound (although you can read it as a straight, non-philosophical story, too, if you're tired).
Buy this book. Now. You will not regret it.

Pratchet's books are my drug, my perfect escape. It pains me that in a short time I will have read them all for the first time and some of them for the second. I love the characters and their world. Night Watch is true to dicsworld form and thoroughly satisfying.

Night Watch gives a view of Sam Vimes and the events in his early life which molded him. I found this book funny, thought provoking (ALL revolutions end up with some of the participants against the wall with the machine guns) and a really enjoyable read. I have enjoyed all of Terry Pratchett's books, this is his best yet.

I was unfamiliar with the author or the "Discworld" universe, but this was a very good book in and of itself. The characters are intriguing and there are a few twists that keep you coming back. Pratchett mixes serious situations with humor and the result is very entertaining.

To me Night Watch is one of Terry Pratchett's best works yet. While a little darker then his previous ventures Pratchett demonstrates his remarkable talent of combining humor and poignancy into one incredible mix. His grasp of his characters is to be commended. He knows what he's doing with them and he does it well. One warning though, to those not familiar with the Ankh-Morpork crew(ie.Dibbler,Nobby,Reg Shoe,etc.)should probably read other "City Watch" novels before this one. It is definetley more enjoyable this way. Trust me.

There was one really fatal flaw in Night Watch. It just wasn't funny. Instead of the usual hilarious humor, we had Terry Pratchett pontificating on revolution, repression and who cares? This may be an occupational hazard for best-selling authors: deciding that they have a mandate to Share their Views.
There was one good joke at the start of the book, where Vimes get depressed because the Guild of Assassins is no longer trying to kill himl, but that first joke was the last. I was used to laughing out loud at Discworld, but this time I barely smiled. Calling the secret police "The Unmentionables" could have set off a satire on The Untouchables, but no such luck. Just one more missed opportunity.

This is a strange book, quite good, but it reads like well-informed fan fiction, not at all like Terry Pratchett himself (i have read all of the Discworld series, some titles several times over).
The style is dry, the characters non-developed, the pacing and structure do not have the same feel as other works, and it lots of ways this story is flavorless.
It doesn't feel right....

This is one of Pratchett's best. The Vimes stories tend to be his darkest, but also his most intelligent and socially relevant books. And this one is very, VERY dark. The plot makes sense from the first line to the last, the line of events is tight and fast, and the characters are broken and flawed but believable and somehow still honest.

Basically, you have a hard-boiled cop who has to make up his mind between revenge and justice, but in a fantasy world. So there's also time travel, an Igor (made up of body parts), a shockingly evil villain, and of course fantasy species and quirky characters galore. AND it's very dark, but also funny.

As if becoming a father wasn’t transformative enough, San Vimes finds himself saving his city (and his younger self) in Ankh Morpork’s troubled past. Pratchett was truly in fine form with this one, and one of Diskworld’s most beloved characters takes on new depth.