(Discworld Novel 19) (Discworld series) - Feet Of Clay

Feet Of Clay is a terrific book. It has always been a favourite of mine and reading it again (for the third or fourth time, I think) it has lost none of its brilliance. It's worth saying that if you're new to Pratchett, don't be put off by the trolls, dwarves and so on. It's just an incredibly effective device for mirroring human society. (And Detritus the troll is a wholly wonderful character, too.)

Here, Vimes and the Watch are investigating apparent attempts to poison the Patrician, while something strange and menacing is going on with the golems in the city. It's a superbly constructed story, excellently paced and very exciting a lot of the time, but what makes it special, as always it Pratchett's incisiveness about human issues. There is some wonderfully acute observation about race, gender politics and class, for example, all lightly and often very funnily done, and underpinned by Vimes's humanly flawed attitudes and pragmatism. He manages to say really important things without ever being ponderous or preachy about it.

There are, of course, plenty of great comic moments. For instance, early on, three crooks burst into the Watch's bar, take Angua hostage and haul her out into the street:
"Hadn't we better help?" said a constable who was new to the Watch.
"They don't deserve our help," said Vimes.
(I should probably confess at this point that I have been hopelessly in love with Angua for years.)

Feet Of Clay is written in really good, unobtrusive prose and it is thoughtful, exciting, gripping, very funny and at times genuinely moving. What more could you want? Very warmly recommended.

It is interesting to see how golems evolve from Pratchett's Discworld novel, "Feet of Clay" (1996), where they are speechless slaves of clay, to "Going Postal" (2004) where a well-educated but humorless golem serves as body guard and lecturer-in-morals to the new Post Master. This is where it all begins...

Commander Sir Samuel Vimes, of Ankh-Morpork's Night Watch pays a visit to the Dragon King of Arms at the urging of his new wife, who thinks Sam needs his own coat-of-arms now that he's been knighted. Unfortunately, one of Sam's ancestors was a regicide so his descendent is denied an armorial bearing by the College of Heralds. He does learn that one of his watchmen is actually the Earl of Ankh: the inimitable Corporal Nobbs, who is forced to carry around a piece of paper signed by Ankh-Morpork's Patrician certifying that he's really human.

Well, this is a bit of a come-down for Sir Sam, but he's got more important matters on his mind, including the murders of two harmless old men. One of them was beaten to death by a loaf of Dwarf bread. His body was discovered by Captain Carrot and Corporal Angua, the only werewolf in the Night Watch, when they visited the Dwarf Bread Museum on their day off.

The only link between the two corpses is a trace of white clay at both murder scenes.

Subplots zigzag every which-way through "Feet of Clay." Corporal 'Earl of Ankh' Nobbs is being courted by a group of well, nobs who haven't given up on the notion that Ankh-Morpork should be ruled by a king. Captain Carrot, hereditary king of Ankh-Morpork who wisely refused the crown in "Men at Arms," is busy tracking murderers and emancipating golems. Sargeant Colon is about to retire if he lives through a trip through the sewers with Wee Mad Arthur. Corporal Angua helps a new dwarf recruit come to terms with her yen to wear lipstick.

Death, who has at least a walk-on role in all the Discworld fantasies is still working on his sense of humor: "I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. I TURN UP ONLY ONCE."

If this sounds confusing, it isn't. It's brilliant. All of the story lines tie together according to character. I don't know how Pratchett digs through the sewers and stockyards of Ankh-Morpork, and rubs together a monarchist plot with a bit of animated clay to create such a gem.

I think he must use magic.

When the clues to a series of murders point toward the golems of Ankh-Morpork, city watch commander Vimes has to try to figure out if something could have gone wrong with the magical constructs that are normally incapable of doing harm.

With the usual political intrigue afoot, and a possible poisoning attempt on the city's Patrician, Vimes and his department are in a race to solve the cases before the tensions in the city boil over.

This was a really amusing fantasy detective story with fun interactions between the cast and some interesting questions raised about the nature of sentience, and about the interactions between the various fantasy species that inhabit the city of Ankh-Morpork.

Terry Pratchett's City Watch novels have been steadily improving as the series goes along, and this third book continues that happy trend. Whereas the introduction of nonhuman characters into the Watch in the previous volume felt largely like an unfunny joke about affirmative action, their inclusion here seems more like a celebration of diversity, which is a much better fit for a melting-pot setting like Ankh-Morpork as well as the overall comic tone of the larger Discworld series. The golems at the heart of this story also allow Pratchett to explore some weighty issues of slavery and dehumanization with a light touch, much as J.K. Rowling would later do with house elves in her Harry Potter books. The subplot about Nobby Nobbs as a possible heir to the throne isn't nearly as effective as the rest of the story, but overall this is a great deepening of this particular section of the Discworld.

Once again events in Ankh-Morpork necessitate that the City Watch buckle down to save the day, so how will the city survive after “Feet of Clay”? Terry Pratchett’s third book of the Guards sequence, sees the very integrated (sans vampires) tackle a rampaging golem and the sickening of the Patrician in yet another monarchist coup attempt but is just slightly lower in quality than the previous two books.

As stated above, the plot revolves around monarchists wanting to return to the “good ol’ days” before Sam Vimes ancestor decapitated the last King of Ankh-Morpork. However, unlike previous times the main instigator has gone for a slow approach so make others accept the candidate he proposes. However, everything is undone by an insane golem roaming the streets that forces the Watch to not only find him while figuring out who is slowly poisoning the Patrician. It turns out that both situations are interconnected, but on the way Vimes, Carrot, Angua, Fred Colon, and Nobby all have to deal with serious issues amongst themselves as well as some new watch members of the integrated force. All told it’s an interesting few days in Ankh-Morpork for everyone involved.

While Pratchett mixes situational humor and wordplay with a very good story, this particular “Guards” book did not feel as up to the previous two. My main problem was that one little subplot felt forced, and that was the citizen impulse to smash golems when they were offing themselves. I guess one could mark it down as public hysteria, but still it felt forced as a way to make the Watch’s common sense approach stop the proposed violence.

However, even though I have one little problem with the book doesn’t mean I don’t recommend it to everyone else that is a fan of the Discworld books. But if you’re a new reader to the series, read either “Guards! Guards!” or “Men at Arms” before this one as both are slightly superior.

The golems were an interesting bunch, certainly when it comes to Dolhf, and I love the transformation Cheery went through over the course of the story.
Of course, with murders come clues and they were ... well, to be fair, some were a little odd at first. Vague enough to actually have me wondering how they got to where they got to from such information (yes, I peeked at the end and was puzzled until I reached where they'd solved it all).
Though I enjoyed it, I've two niggles about this one. Firstly there's the descriptions of the heralds themselves. I got all muddled in having three (or was it four?) being described one after the other. Maybe it was due to the late night I read that particular piece. Even so, thank goodness there's a page in the front with the pictures.
Secondly it's Angua. More precisely her insistence that something must eventually go wrong with her relationship and she'll have to leave. So she always seemed all geared up to go. I never feel settled enough in the character to fully enjoy reading some her scenes. She just rubs me the wrong way.

This is one of my favorites of the more serious Discworld novels. Two sudden deaths attract the attention of the Ankh-Morpork Watch. In short order, Commander Vimes, Captain Carrot and Constable Angua are enmeshed in a plot as deep as the best of mysteries, with Golems skulking through the night, and an attempt to assassinate Lord Vetinari, the Patrician, repeatedly. The story is unusually complex for Pratchett, who has an axe to sharpen about personal freedom, the general perfidy of nobility and devious plots in general.

The Watch has grown a great deal from our introduction to it. Detritus the troll and his war on drugs ("Jus' say AarrghaarghpleassennononoUGH") makes a major appearance. Corporal Cheery Littlebottom makes his (her) debut as the Watch's forensic specialist and we discover Little Mad Arthur, the gnomish (6 inch tall) rat hunter with a bad attitude and the strength of 1000 pixies. And there is even a walk-on part for Constable Visit-The-Infidel-With Explanatory-Pamphlets. In the background are a number of golems, and even larger number of guild masters and nobles, and a vampire herald deeply interested in human husbandry.

The story turns on the series of killings that appear to have been committed by golems. Golems, you might not know, are made of clay, and are controlled by a bit of text placed where their minds are supposed to be. Golems are not suppose to be able to kill, but a series of guilty suicides make it clear that the clay people are somehow involved. While Carrot and Angua try to piece together that puzzle, Vimes desperately searches for the method by which Vetinari is being poison. Something is not kosher in Ankh-Morpork.

This is a subtle book. While mystery is an unusual form for Pratchett he manages it beautifully, throwing in clues and red herrings enough to confuse any reader (or watchperson as well). Why are the Golems dying, where does the arsenic come from, what is the reason for Nobby's sudden elevation to the peerage, who is selling bad rats? Vimes skirts insanity until he finds the solution. And then the reader will discover that the message of the book is either that freedom is a right of all creatures or that atheists are obnoxious and empty headed. Of course, it could always be both.

"Feet of Clay" is the nineteenth novel in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series, was first published in 1996 and is the third to focus on Sam Vimes and Ankh-Morpork's City Guard.

Sam is the now the Commander of the City Guard, and - having married Lady Ramkin - a member of the nobility. It's fair to say he's not your typical hero : he doesn't like the Undead (particularly vampires), Assassins (they keep trying to kill him) and - in keeping with an old family tradition - Kings (not an ideal musketeer then). Sam has quit drinking - though it's still something of a struggle - and smokes the occasional cigar to ease the blow.

Although numbers among the ranks are rising, Sam tends to rely on those he knows best. His most capable officer is Captain Carrot - who was born human, although raised as a dwarf. Carrot is an incredibly innocent and very honest character and is widely believed to be Ankh-Morpork's rightful King. (Sam has - to date - refrained from beheading him). Carrot's girlfriend, Angua, is also a member of the City Guard though - being a werewolf - she isn't quite so popular. Sergeant Detritus, a troll who deals roughly with troll drug-dealers, seems a natural - not to mention likeable - cop, though Sergeant Colon and Corporal Nobbs (a confirmed slacker and probably human) are the most experienced officers. The one newcomer is Cheery Littlebottom, an ex-alchimist dwarf who becomes quite useful in the City Guard's newly established forensics department. (Cheery left the Guild of Alchemists after, accidentally, blowing up the Guild Council. Alchemy is an unusual profession for a dwarf, though Cheery - as it turns out - isn't your usual dwarf).

"Feet of Clay" gives Sam a good, old-fashioned mystery to solve - a mystery that includes a couple of rather unusual murders. One of the victims is Father Tubelcek, who Sam considers to be one of the neatest corpses he's ever seen : eyes closed, arms neatly folded across his chest...and a slip of paper with some strange writing on it in his mouth. The other victim was Mr Hopkinson, curator at the Dwarf Bread Museum. Dwarf bread is much more useful on the battlefield than on the breakfast table, and Hopkinson had unfortunately been beaten to death with a loaf. There is a little white clay and a suspicion of Golems hanging around, but the murders are puzzling...however, it's difficult to focus on a puzzle, when you've also got to investigate the poisoning of the Patrician. (He's surviving, but only barely). The difficulties aren't confined to professional matters - there's even bad news for both Sam and Nobby at a personal level. Following a visit to the Royal College of Heralds, Sam learns he is ineligible for a Coat of Arms. (An ancestor, Old Stoneface, killed Ankh-Morpork's last king). To make matters even worse, news of his rejection is delivered by a vampire called Dragon King of Arms. Nobby, on the other hand, is devastated to learn he is Earl of Ankh.

Another very funny book from Pratchett, with a storyline 'underneath' it all that your standard murder-mystery writer would love to tell. Excellent stuff, highly recommended !

It is interesting to see how golems evolve from Pratchett's Discworld novel, "Feet of Clay" (1996), where they are speechless slaves of clay, to "Going Postal" (2004) where a well-educated but humorless golem serves as body guard and lecturer-in-morals to the new Post Master. This is where it all begins...

Commander Sir Samuel Vimes, of Ankh-Morpork's Night Watch pays a visit to the Dragon King of Arms at the urging of his new wife, who thinks Sam needs his own coat-of-arms now that he's been knighted. Unfortunately, one of Sam's ancestors was a regicide so his descendent is denied an armorial bearing by the College of Heralds. He does learn that one of his watchmen is actually the Earl of Ankh: the inimitable Corporal Nobbs, who is forced to carry around a piece of paper signed by Ankh-Morpork's Patrician certifying that he's really human.

Well, this is a bit of a come-down for Sir Sam, but he's got more important matters on his mind, including the murders of two harmless old men. One of them was beaten to death by a loaf of Dwarf bread. His body was discovered by Captain Carrot and Corporal Angua, the only werewolf in the Night Watch, when they visited the Dwarf Bread Museum on their day off.

The only link between the two corpses is a trace of white clay at both murder scenes.

Subplots zigzag every which-way through "Feet of Clay." Corporal 'Earl of Ankh' Nobbs is being courted by a group of well, nobs who haven't given up on the notion that Ankh-Morpork should be ruled by a king. Captain Carrot, hereditary king of Ankh-Morpork who wisely refused the crown in "Men at Arms," is busy tracking murderers and emancipating golems. Sargeant Colon is about to retire if he lives through a trip through the sewers with Wee Mad Arthur. Corporal Angua helps a new dwarf recruit come to terms with her yen to wear lipstick.

Death, who has at least a walk-on role in all the Discworld fantasies is still working on his sense of humor: "I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. I TURN UP ONLY ONCE."

If this sounds confusing, it isn't. It's brilliant. All of the story lines tie together according to character. I don't know how Pratchett digs through the sewers and stockyards of Ankh-Morpork, and rubs together a monarchist plot with a bit of animated clay to create such a gem.

I think he must use magic.

Ankh-Morpork City Watch - despite its growing ranks of dwarves, trolls, gargoyles, werewolves and "normal" (as much as they can be called that) folk - is getting increasingly snowed under. The more recruits enrolled, Sir Samuel Vimes is discovering, the more crimes seem to be uncovered.
Someone is poisoning the Patrician, and Vimes is growing increasingly frustrated because he just can't figure out HOW... And someone is murdering harmless old men. First, there is the old priest Father Tubelcek, who at least died with a glow in his eyes. And then there is the curator of the Dwarf Bread Museum, battered to death with one of his own exhibits. But, perhaps most disturbing of all, the golems - the solemn men of clay who aren't really alive, work all day and all night and never harm a soul - have started to commit suicide...
And it's not as if the Watch hasn't got problems of its own ...there's something odd about the new dwarf recruit. There's a werewolf suffering from pre-lunar-tension. And, having discovered that he is actually the Earl of Ankh, Corporal Nobby Nobbs is busy hob-nobbing with the nobs.
Vimes finds himself faced with the most puzzling case in Discworld history. There are Clues throwing themselves up all over the place, and they only cloud the issue. Plus, Sam is finding that, for all the answers lying about the place, he can't for the life of him think of the question...
All the more ominous is the fact that the real truth may not really be out there at all, but that it might be in amongst the words in the head...
First, lets get one thing out of the way. It's hilarious. But of course it is, it's Terry Pratchett. There are some passages that have you chuckling to yourself, and there are others that strike you down helpless with a big belly-laugh. And then, (and these are my favourite) there are those that cause you to laugh jocularly, but then to take a step-back, awed, at the sheer TRUTH of what some of his humour illustrates to us, and the almost unbelievable cleverness of what he's saying and the way he's said it. The mirror he puts up to our own society enables us to laugh at it, to recognise it's curiosities and, sometimes, its shocking flaws.
His plots are brilliant, and this one more-so than most. Like his other books, it's a fantasy of the Discworld, but unlike his others, it's also very much a crime/mystery story. And a darned ingenious one it is, too. I've not ever come across a more astoundingly clever way of poisoning someone in all the books I've read that normally fall into the crime/mystery genre. (And that is a LOT.) His characters are wonderfully well-drawn, and Sam Vimes is one of the most fascinating investigators of crime since Inspector Morse or John Rebus.
To be honest, any point in the series is a fine a place to begin (and make certain that you DO begin it. You'll not regret doing so, believe me. Well, and his sales figures) as any other, because you're guranteed to want to re-read them all anyway, but it may take you a couple of books to get used to the style. If you balk at anything other than reading a series through rom its beginning, then by all means do so. You'll reap the rewards. But if you're not all that bothered, try a couple from the beginning of the series - perhaps The Colour of Magic and Mort - and then read Feet of Clay.

The Watch is made of the weirdest bunch of cops you can imagine, including werewolves, dwarves, trolls, gargoyles -- and those are the ordinary ones. If you like mysteries in general, and murder mysteries in particular, then "Feet of Clay" is an offbeat story that you might just enjoy.
First a priest is murdered, and found with a slip of paper in his mouth. Then a curator. And Vimes has no idea how this is happening, or why anyone would kill a couple of harmless old men. To make things worse, he learns that the extremely un-royal Corporal Nobby Nobbs may be the rightful king of Ankh-Morpork (if that doesn't warp your view of reality, nothing will), and that the Patrician is being slowly poisoned -- but no one knows just how the poison is being administered.
The answer to the mysteries may lie in the golems: Not-living-but-not-dead creatures made out of clay, who don't speak and always follow orders. Theoretically they can't kill . But they come under suspicion when, inexplicably, they start destroying themselves as the evidence starts to point toward a golem murderer. However, Vimes soon learns that the conspiracy is far more extensive -- and sinister -- than the golems...
"Feet of Clay" is not merely a murder mystery (although it has one of the coolest ways of murdering a person that I've ever heard of). Pratchett also offers some commentary on society, on what makes a person a person. His handling of the golems is remarkably thought-provoking. And their connection to the attempted murder is also very hard to unravel -- you won't guess who or how or why.
This is, in some ways, more serious at times than his other books; one scene has Vimes exploding over the death of a little child and a cleaning lady. But don't think he's abandond his skewed brand of Discworld humor: the rebelling dwarf, the unsuccessful assassination at the beginning, Nobby's outrageous behavior and seven grandmothes, and especially a vampire with self-destructive tendencies (sunglasses tester, garlic stacker, pencil factory worker, holy water supplier). Not to mention the organizer with the little imp inside.
As always, Vimes is the hard-boiled scrap of sanity among the weirder characters. Angua is, unfortunately, much flatter than the weirder characters; Carrot is his usual likable self, while Nobby gets to act more bizarrely than usual as he is accepted into the upper crust as an aristocrat (a thieving, unsanitary one). Detritus is a likable clod, and we get a new character in Cheery Littlebottom, a dwarf female who wants to start looking like one. And Pratchett outdoes himself with Dorfl, a secretive golem who never speaks or changes expression.
While not Pratchett's best, "Feet of Clay" is a solid mystery/fantasy/commentary with plenty of humor and suspense. Definitely worth looking at.

I just finished the third book in the City Watch series, Feet of Clay. It is another home run for Pratchett. The book is not quite as funny as the first two, but it says even more about the human condition. No human institution is left unscathed as he hits politics, religion, social class, and racism. All in one book, while still filling it full of parody, jokes, and slapstick comedy. What more could you ask for?
The plight of the golem in this book is very well-staged. Pratchett presents some very biting commentary on life in general and our attitudes toward different people, using the golems as a focal point. Are golems really alive? Do they constitute a race, and thus they can be discriminated against? Some of the arguments parallel the Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode "Measure of a Man," where Picard asks some of these same questions. Once you create a group of "beings," at what point do these beings become a race? Do they have a soul? Pratchett doesn't go that far, but he does present some very good points about all of this.
The character development of Carrot and Vimes continues as well. Carrott is now a captain in the Watch, and thus has authority (authority which he's always really had, due to his charisma). Vimes continues his determination to have the Watch be a respected institution as Carrot's devotion to duty continues to rub off on him. He has grown from a character wallowing in drink to forget about the Watch and his problems, to a well-rounded person who's determined to make the best of himself and watch out for his people.
The Watch has grown in size as well, with many more members. They now have a forensic alchemist (a female dwarf who has decided to start actually showing she's female), along with a gargoyle and a man who likes to distribute religious literature. Of course, there are also many more unnamed ones. Pratchett does a wonderful job of giving each of these characters three dimensions.
I didn't find this book quite as funny as the first two, but it still does have many great moments. The lessening of the humour is off-set by some great social commentary. Don't be fooled, though. This isn't a social treatise. It's a funny book that makes some good social points. And isn't that what good social commentary is all about? Read this book, but read the first two before this one. I think you'll get more enjoyment out of this one if you have the basis of the first two books. It's certainly not mandatory to understand what's going on, but it helps.

Probably I should have tried to read the Discworld novels in proper chronological order, instead of however they happened to come to hand, but my slightly more chaotic approach is perhaps more in keeping with Pratchett's style. Especially the "Watch" subseries should be read in order, because there's an evolutionary progression in its organization and the lives of its characters. FEET OF CLAY immediately follows MEN AT ARMS, in which Capt. Sam Vimes of the Watch became Commander Sir Samuel, and the Watch itself began to expand from three or four coppers to a couple dozen watchmen of all sorts and species. That process continues here, with the incorporation of a number of trolls and dwarfs, as Vimes tries to figure out who's attempting to poison Lord Vetinari, the Patrician. As always, there are various parallel secondary plots, including the budding romance between Capt. Carrot, who is also the hypothetical king of Ankh-Morpork (but who knows better than to try to enforce his inheritance) and Angua, a werewolf of uncertain desires who is the best tracker the Watch has got. The introduction of golems lets the author explore the question of how we define human-ness, and the conspiracy against Vetinari brings up the problem of legitimacy in government and whether kings are of any use whatever. (Pratchett may not be a card-carrying republican, but he doesn't seem to have much use for royals generally.) Also as always, his turn of phrase and ironic observations are both pertinent and very, very funny.

If you're like me, and voraciously read the great British authour Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels as soon as you see them on the shelves of the local bookstore, then there is a genuine cosmic force that will compell you to get this one and nothing I can say will make any difference.

But lately, over the last few entries into the series, that certain colour of magic has been missing from them, which made the early works so great to read. But not to worry...Pratchett is definately in top form with this one, which marks the always hilarious return of the Anhk-Morepork City Watch, headed by 'Sir' Samuel Vimes.

Along with the already well fleshed-out main cast of Watchmen including Corp. Carrot, Angua, Nobbs, Detritus and Fred Colon, we have some new characters, all who jump off the page with Pratchett's expert handling. Even though this is a comic view of fantasy, sort of a Douglas Adams by way of Tolkien, there might be no better weaver of plot and character than Mr. Pratchett.

As usual, the much put-upon metropolis of Ankh-Morepork is in grave peril, this time by a rampaging Golem, out of control and looking for blood. Things are complicated by another crisis as the slow poisoning of the Patrician has Vimes retracing the path of his childhood.

So, as we've come to expect from our previous travels across the Discworld, Pratchett throws in everything but the kitchen sink, somehow managing to stray off in many directions but always keeping a complicated plot, engaging characters, vivid location and a continuing sense of wonder with this world all in the air at the same time.

Trust me. Buy this book. It's worth any price. And that's cuttin' me own throat!

Commander Vimes, Head of Ankh-Morpork City Watch, is used to hunting down illegal crime in the most crowded city of the Discworld. But this time the clues are numerous, as are the answers. If Vimes only knew what the questions were. Two murders: first a dead priest is found with a slip of paper in his mouth, and then a curator of the Dwarf Bread Museum is killed using a loaf of bread. When it turns out that someone even tries to assassinate Lord Vetinari, Vimes finds himself faced with the most puzzling case in Discworld history.
The amazing thing about the Discworld saga is that it keeps getting better. Where the earlier episodes did lack a good storyline, Terry Pratchett now clearly has no problems spinning a complex mystery out on paper. The complexity of the case does easily compare to an Agatha Christie novel and the denouement is as hilarious as it is surprising. I really loved the way Terry constantly makes references to great detective stories and in doing so feeds the reader a plate of really nice red herrings (false clues).
Of course, when the City Watch appears in a Discworld novel it can only mean one thing: absurd humor at its best! I have to admit that the jokes are a slight bit less pungent than in Guards! Guards!, but that is certainly not enough reason to complain. The new character Cherry Littlebottom is a neat addition to the Watch. When Cherry goes on patrol with Angua, not knowing that she truly is a werewolf, you get that kind of chemistry that will blow your socks off.

Imagine a book that is so sinister and gloomy it is disturbingly creepy to read. Imagine a book that has so many deep,hidden themes that you'll be thinking about it for weeks to come. Imagine a book that is so controversial you'll begin to question everything and everyone around you. Now think of the exact opposite and you get Feet of Clay, one of the books in Terry Pratchett's great Discworld series.
This book is simply a great, fun read. It's packed full of good humor and lively characters. Reading this book is actually fun. Where and when better to base a funny book than in the city of Ankh-Morpork in the medieval/fantasy era we all know and love. The book has it all-goblins,dwarfs, dragons and lots more are all brilliantly protrayed and are so brimming with character you can nearly shake their hands (or paws or tentacles....).
Most of the book revolves around the Ankh-Morpork City Watch (police). While Commander Vimes,head of the watch, is trying to unravel the mystery of who's poisoning Lord Vetinari, Corporal Nobbs, a simple officer,has found out he is the Earl of Ankh-Morpork and Cheery Littlebottom, the watches dwarfish alchemist, is starting to show her feminine side. All these and many more plots weave together excellently to form a gripping climax.
However, it's not all fun and games.Like most books there are a few hidden meanings and themes. Most of the themes are religious issues and things like "what defines something as living" and " sould man have the power of life over others". I must point out that this book isn't meant to be full of moral issues and if you're looking for a deep and meaningful book you should look elsewhere.
Pratchett writes in a very 'bouncy'way, it's very lively and i find it very pleasant and refreshing. The speech in Feet of Clay way very natural and not always important to the plot. Lots of the humor in the book is in reading the characters chat( about things like dwarfish table- dancers and paying gargoyles in pigeons).
One thing I noticed is that the book has no chapters. I'm not sure if this is a good thing but it does make the book hard to put down because ther's not definite place to stop.
This is a must read for all fantasy lovers and anyone who wants something to tickle their funny bone. I will definitely read the rest fo the Discworld series now. Feet of Clay is an enthralling, fun novel that will grab you by the eyeballs and wont let go till you're finished it.

If pressed to choose a favourite Pratchett, it would likely be this book. Nearly every element is here, delivered with Pratchett's finest prose and wit. This a bit of a wonder, as it's a murder mystery, a genre I rarely delve into. Still, it's a Pratchett and goes from being worth a look to something to be cherished, its chief character a man to be admired.
Sam Vimes, who we first encountered in a sodden gutter, soddin' drunk, has risen to a knight's rank and is now Commander of the City Watch. He maintains a careful balance between being the Patrician's favourite and his nemesis. Vetanari knows he cannot truly control Vimes, yet for all Sam's resistance to the Patrician's deviousness, knows too that he cannot dispense with The Stoneface Policeman. Especially this time when its Vetanari himself who is the victim of a murder plot. An unsuccessful one, as it happens.
Sam's entered the realm of matrimony, a step which elevates him almost more than the
promotions the Patrician has granted. Lady Sybil, however, remains at the periphery of Sam's focus. He's still a copper and one of the biggest cases of all confronts him in this book. First, foremost and throughout this book, Sam Vimes is tasked with guarding his own back. Vimes is "a jumped-up copper to the nobs, and a nob to the rest", which gorges the ranks of his enemies. His thwarting of an Assassin is pure Pratchett; pure Vimes, for that matter. One can't help but wonder why Vetanari doesn't assign Vimes some bodyguards. Instead he gets a sedan chair - which he "drives" himself.
There are murders in this book, unusual in Pratchett. Two deaths arouse the City's ire against new Pratchett figures, the golems. Golems reach far into the depths of European history - mindless, man-like creatures from the soil who can be put to any task. Created only to obey, they are the perfect slave - rebellion isn't in their make-up. Except for their size, they are nearly defenseless. The perfect suspect, ultimately vulnerable, who can be destroyed without qualms of conscience. The situation is so clear-cut that Sam knows they can't be guilty. But who is?
In his quest for justice, Sam is supported both in the plot and in the characters of his Watch team. In this book, Angua reaches new levels of prominence, which brings Carrot forth in new ways, as well. Describing their situation as a "relationship" gives the term a whole new meaning. The Watch now has a forensic expert in the figure of a dwarf - Cheery Littlebottom. It's not possible to dwell further here on this unique Watch specialist. You must read this book to become acquainted with one of Pratchett's most engaging characters. Read further to discover one of his most devious creations.
As with most of Pratchett's recent books, there's a sub-theme running beneath all the hilarity and convoluted thinking. In this case, the issue is "freedom". This word has been bandied about by so many writers in so many circumstances, it's hard to believe that Pratchett could bring anything fresh to the discussion. As always, Pratchett is able to surprise and excel. His discussion freedom's worth and what it takes to be achieved adds lustre to an already superb story. Pratchett's ability to bring philosophical issues into what is still described as "humorous fantasy" is a unique talent. We must keep buying and touting this finest of purveyors of wisdom and values.

This starts out as a simple murder mystery. Almost simple - there is no victim, at least not yet. Someone is slowly poisoning Lord Vetinari, the local tyrant. Then, the murder occurs, but the wrong one. Rather, the wrong ones. First priest and a baker (of sorts), then two more. There are clues OK, but all the wrong ones. It's important to keep Vetinari alive. That's not because anyone actually likes the man, but because all the alternatives are worse.

Pratchett keeps the story moving, beginning to end, and manages to wrap a number of the familiar police watchmen into the story. There's Angua - when she has her monthlies, she'll bite your head off, vegetarian or not. There's Cheri, introducing the idea of women's lib to people who've barely got the idea of women. There are alots of other disparate sorts, too, under commander Vimes. The city is peopled by trolls, gnomes, dwarves, vampires, and seemingly endless other species, at each others' throats half the time (remember the Vampires?), and it's Vimes' job to maintain peace between them. The only solution he's found so far is to racially integrate at a level that surprises everyone, especially the people involved.

Although Pratchett uses lots of characters from earlier Discworld volumes, the new reader should feel right at home. It's a great break from a busy schedule, and a great intro to Discworld. Enjoy!

//wiredweird

Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is a mirror of our world, but it's a funhouse mirror, with our world reflected back in a distorted way. The distortions are both amusing - sometimes hysterically funny - and thought-provoking. Sometimes the reflection is barely recognizable, and sometimes it is so close to ours that it cuts like a knife. His logic is rigorous, but skewed, and the twists reveal a great deal about the assumptions we make every day.
This is a quintessential police procedural novel, as reflected by Pratchett's mirror, combined with a Frankenstein theme. Instead of detectives and police, we have the Night Watch. Commander Sam Vimes is a classic recovering drunk and Sergeant Colon is fat and lazy - recognizable as stock characters; but another cop is a female werewolf with pre-lunar tension, the captain is a six foot, six inch human who thinks he is a dwarf, a third is a troll and the forensics expert is an out of the closet dwarf trying to get in touch with her feminine side.
Someone has killed two old men, and someone is trying to poison the Patrician, the closest thing the city of Ankh-Morpork has to a ruler. The suspects appear to be golems, the artificial men of Hebrew mythology, but golems can't kill. Golems are the perfect slave, only able to do the things they are told, the "words in their head." And how is it that Corporal Nobby Nobbs, a constable who carries a certificate establishing he is probably human, can be the long-lost Earl of Ankh and the heir apparent to the throne?
All these plot threads and more come together in the finest Pratchett tradition, in one of his best and most satisfying conclusions. Women have their biggest roles yet in a Night Watch novel, and the complex relationship between the Patrician and Sam Vimes continues to evolve. It's only later, when you think about what happened to the golems, that you recognize the reflection of our world and the important messages Pratchett is conveying.
The humor and satire are present in abundance. The scene in which three thieves try to hold up the Night Watch's favorite bar and, worse still, try to use Constable Angua as a hostage, is simply delightful. Pratchett's skills with dialog and characterization are in fine form. But it's the messages that occur to you afterwards that make the novel truly memorable, and make this book, in Captain Carrot's phrase, "seriously prod buttock."
Great fun; highly recommended.

Feet of Clay is a perfect example of why I love Discworld. In Feet of Clay we are once again following the efforts of Commander Vimes of the Watch to develop something like the rule of Law in Anhk-Morpork, largest city on a Discworld. Once again, the Man Who Wouldn't Be King, Captain Carrot, is there to help. Once again the expression "Who watches the watchers?" takes on a whole new meaning.
These books are satires on human habits and mores, a wonderful compendium of the fatuous in human affairs. But there is so much more to them than that. They are great adventure stories, great character stories,and often, great mystery stories.
This book is, don't get me wrong, very funny. No human institution is left unscathed. And believe me, no one scaths like Pratchett. But, like Commander Vimes, Pratchett's apparent cynicism about people hides an abiding love for those who struggle through life, just trying to get along(whether they are human, trolls, dwarfs, werewolves or golems), and an abiding hatred of those who hurt them for fun and profit.
I have watched the development of Terry Pratchett for a number of years now. He just keeps getting better. There has to be a limit, somewhere, I suppose. He has not reached it yet.

Of late, I've really started enjoying the Pratchett books more and more. I think the City Watch stories are the best, combining Pratchett's wit with a wonderful ensemble of characters. This was a moderate page-turner and definitely got a few laughs out of me.

Pratchett tries something different here by presenting his usual mode of storytelling, but with a twist! This story is a bit of a whodunnit... more so than any other of Pratchett's works. However, I think I liked the core group of City Watchers best and I'm not sure what brought this a few pegs down from the rest. I would recommend this book to any Pratchett fan, those who like City Watch stories (big fan of Carrot myself) and readers of clever wit and humor.

Someone is poisoning the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, and Vimes must solve the mystery. This is the basic plot of _Feet of Clay_, and it is a serviceable plot; it gives this Discworld book more structure than many of them, ensuring that there is enough of a story to support all the digressions and subplots. These digressions, along with Pratchett's good use of the minor City Watch characters, are the tidbits that make this Discworld book so much fun. I enjoyed especially the College of Heraldry and the bad jokes and Latin puns found on the heraldic devices. This is the kind of comic detail that is hard work, but really fleshes out Pratchett's world. We meet Cheery Littlebottom, a dwarf who joins the city watch and is apprenticed to Angua and whose experience in alchemy makes her a natural as a kind of forensic crime-scene investigator, and we experience some of the details of life in the Patrician's castle. We also meet the golems of Discworld, and face the interesting moral dilemmas inherent in a labor uprising and civil rights movement among beings that are essentially animated pottery.

The early Discworld novels, to me, were lightweight, amusing stories with no staying power because there was nobody in them to like or admire. With the guards novels, he has provided several. Commander Vimes, commander of the Watch and reformed drunk (alcoholics have money). Lady Sybil, his loving and deceptively intelligent wife. Carrot, the 6-foot tall adopted dwarf,together with Angua, the vegetarian werewolf, and their growing love. How will it end? Will they have children or puppies? Will we ever know? On and on the list of good secondary characters continues to grow.
I rated this book at 4 stars upon my first reading, and increased it to 5 after my second. It is a thoroughly funny book, considering that it is, at least in its outlines, a murder mystery. The solution is obvious to some readers, not so to others, but that's irrelevant. It's the path to the solution that's so funny. This may be the most character-driven of his novels, and it ranks with the best of the Discworld series.
It's only after the laughter fades that you realize that Mr. Pratchett has slipped you a fast one. He has raised excellent questions about what it means to be alive and a moral free agent, and then leaves you to sort it out. Funny and thought-provoking at the same time - a rare achievement, indeed.

I've always had a particular affinity for the Discworld books featuring Sam Vimes and his Watch. Whether it's Vimes, with his dogged determination to see justice served or Carrot, a true believer in the good in all (Sometimes they just need some help finding it and Carrot is always there with a helping hand and a werewolf girlfriend.), these characters seem to bring out the best in Pratchett. This one introduces a dwarf named Littlebottom who has been asked to leave the Guild of Alchemists and who is now brought in by Vimes to discover what's behind the white substance at the scene of a few murders and what's killing Lord Vetinari. With Littlebottom hiding a secret as well, this proves to be a great mix of an interesting mystery, a discussion on the nature of religion and free will and...golems. Have fun.

The summary on the back of the book has very little to do with the actual story. So ignore it. And read an *accurate* synopsis instead.
On the more plot-driven side, two old men have been killed, one with a loaf of dwarf bread and one with an unknown blunt instrument. White clay was found at both scenes. Poison-laced grease was under the fingernails of one of the victims. Oh, and did I mention that the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork is being poisoned? Commander Vimes and the rest of the City Watch are going absolutely *crazy* trying to figure out how the poisoner's getting to him. It's not the food. It's not the drink. It's not the air or in fact anything else their new forensic alchemist (a dwarf) has tested. And they've tested practically everything. A golem, one of those odd men of clay who don't- can't- do anything but work and follow orders, has walked on into the Watch House to give itself up for the murders of the old men- but when asked what the weapon was, it completely failed to mention bread. And the other golems have started to destroy themselves.
On the more character-based end of things, we've got a watchwoman werewolf with pre-lunar tension, a female dwarfish alchemist with an identity crisis, and the first golem ever to discover what being free actually is.
You have got to read this book.

I liked this book. When I first picked it up, I knew pretty much what I wanted. I was looking for a nice Vimes episode, something to fill up the boring hours in between an otherwise pretty dull life(in otherwords, holiday time). The first couple of pages didn`t seem so engrossing, but as the story progresses, it becomes more and more addictive. On top of that cunning old Pratchett seems to have a dislike of chapters, and when you see only four small and insignifigant asterisks seperating you from the next scene, it`s like a heroine addict sitting and staring at a loaded syringe(no I have had no such experience). The plot is intriguing, with a murderer walking (or stomping) free on the streets of Ankh Morpork, Vetinari on the verge of death(amazing, huh?) and Commander Samuel Vimes on the loose, trying to find the questions to answers which he knows are floating around soomewhere. For Terry Pratchett(especially Vimes)fans, this book is a must.

Some of the other Pratchett books I've had to give only four stars - because of Feet of Clay. This, to me, was the most memorably enjoyable book in the Discworld series.
A series of brutal, yet inexplicable crimes once again lead Sam Vimes and the Watch down the alleys and backstreets of Ankh-Morpork ... well, not Nobby, because he's been appointed a lord by the Registrar of Heraldry!
For those who relish in the early Pratchett non-stop puns, Feet of Clay has it; like the plot twists? got you covered; like a little message about free will? No problem. You want fries with that?
Anyone who enjoys humor will enjoy Terry Pratchett - people who like a very engaging plot with a surprising ending will really enjoy Feet of Clay. Since you don't really have to read the Discworld books in order, this can be a great starting point - just on the strength of the read. I highly recommend it.

It started with two old men--a priest and a baker--both murdered. Then the Patrician Vetinari himself is poisoned, but the watch can find no evidence of how he is being poisoned. When a golem confesses, it appears that Commander Vimes and the city watch have solved the case--but the golem confesses to all the unsolved crimes in the city. There is something going on and Vimes can't find the connecting thread. His new forensics officer, Cheery Littlebottom (a dwarf who wants to be seen as female and feminine despite all dwarf traditions) finds evidence of arsenic, but nowhere near Vetinari. Instead, one of the murdered men has arsenic under his finger-nails--this despite the fact that he died because his head was bashed in.
Under Vetinari, the city of Ankh-Morpork has prospered. Vetinari has allowed all races into the city, making it wealthy. He has cut down on the inter-guild sniping, resulting in more of Ankh-Morpork's efforts going into production rather than into wasteful shootouts. As a result, he has scarcely any supporters. Desite history, the people and nobility yearn for a King. Vimes will do whatever he can to ensure that doesn't happen, but what can a watchman do against the power of the guilds?
Underlying the Ankh-Morpork economy are the golems. Golems work endlessly for no pay, taking all of the worst jobs without complaining. This ultimate proletariat isn't even considered alive. Because Vimes is equal opportunity in his contempt, he doesn't mind looking beneath the surface, but still, what possible motives would golems have in overthrowing Vetinari and installing a King?
Author Terry Pratchett keeps the laughter coming in this story. Although FEET OF CLAY lacks the character development and nuances of some of the other Discworld stories (see our review of the BooksForABuck.com 2002 SF Book of the Year NIGHT WATCH), it an enjoyable short read. Vetinari, Vimes, and Captain Carrot all show moments of brilliance and manage to do so in amusing ways. Carrot's bumbling affair with the were Agula continues as Agula continues to wonder what she should do and Carrot continues inviting her to Dwarf Bread exibits. Fans of the Discworld series will find FEET OF CLAY an important addition to the series. If you are new to the series, you might consider starting with one of the other novels (NIGHT WATCH or GUARDS! GUARDS! would be excellent places to start).

There's a murderer loose in Ankh-Morpork, and he's not part of the Assassin's Guild! Once again, the City Watch of Commander Vimes, Captain Carrot, Corporal Nobs and Sergeant Colon is called upon to solve a mystery. Complicating things are a mysterious illness to Lord Vetinari and bizarre behavior from several golems in the city. Toss in several new members of the Watch (trolls, dwarves, and a vegetarian werewolf), apply a healthy dose of Pratchett's excellent humor, shake things up with talk of a nobleman serving as a humble member of the Watch, and you have another fine book in the Discworld series.

There's a murderer loose in Ankh-Morpork it's up to the gumshoes to find him. This episode in the Discworld Saga concentrates on Commander Vimes, Carrot and various others in the Watch. Nobbs is promoted to nobility and of course gets as drunk as a Lord. We meet female dwarves, thwart assination attempts on the Patrician, get to solve a murder mystery and stop a riot involving the city's golems. Oh, yes and we get to meet many of the newest Watch members. My only disappointment in this one is that Pratchett's usual strange twists, weren't quite up to par. Perhaps he had recently read too many obvious mystery novels and wanted the reader to figure out the plots ahead of time muttering to themselves. He does effectively lampoon many mystery writers as well as create a marvolously convoluted plot that dovetails, if not mysteriously, at least with humourous consequences.

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.

Some of the other Pratchett books I've had to give only four stars - because of Feet of Clay. This, to me, was the most memorably enjoyable book in the Discworld series.
A series of brutal, yet inexplicable crimes once again lead Sam Vimes and the Watch down the alleys and backstreets of Ankh-Morpork ... well, not Nobby, because he's been appointed a lord by the Registrar of Heraldry!
For those who relish in the early Pratchett non-stop puns, Feet of Clay has it; like the plot twists? got you covered; like a little message about free will? No problem. You want fries with that?
Anyone who enjoys humor will enjoy Terry Pratchett - people who like a very engaging plot with a surprising ending will really enjoy Feet of Clay. Since you don't really have to read the Discworld books in order, this can be a great starting point - just on the strength of the read. I highly recommend it.

It started with two old men--a priest and a baker--both murdered. Then the Patrician Vetinari himself is poisoned, but the watch can find no evidence of how he is being poisoned. When a golem confesses, it appears that Commander Vimes and the city watch have solved the case--but the golem confesses to all the unsolved crimes in the city. There is something going on and Vimes can't find the connecting thread. His new forensics officer, Cheery Littlebottom (a dwarf who wants to be seen as female and feminine despite all dwarf traditions) finds evidence of arsenic, but nowhere near Vetinari. Instead, one of the murdered men has arsenic under his finger-nails--this despite the fact that he died because his head was bashed in.
Under Vetinari, the city of Ankh-Morpork has prospered. Vetinari has allowed all races into the city, making it wealthy. He has cut down on the inter-guild sniping, resulting in more of Ankh-Morpork's efforts going into production rather than into wasteful shootouts. As a result, he has scarcely any supporters. Desite history, the people and nobility yearn for a King. Vimes will do whatever he can to ensure that doesn't happen, but what can a watchman do against the power of the guilds?
Underlying the Ankh-Morpork economy are the golems. Golems work endlessly for no pay, taking all of the worst jobs without complaining. This ultimate proletariat isn't even considered alive. Because Vimes is equal opportunity in his contempt, he doesn't mind looking beneath the surface, but still, what possible motives would golems have in overthrowing Vetinari and installing a King?
Author Terry Pratchett keeps the laughter coming in this story. Although FEET OF CLAY lacks the character development and nuances of some of the other Discworld stories (see our review of the BooksForABuck.com 2002 SF Book of the Year NIGHT WATCH), it an enjoyable short read. Vetinari, Vimes, and Captain Carrot all show moments of brilliance and manage to do so in amusing ways. Carrot's bumbling affair with the were Agula continues as Agula continues to wonder what she should do and Carrot continues inviting her to Dwarf Bread exibits. Fans of the Discworld series will find FEET OF CLAY an important addition to the series. If you are new to the series, you might consider starting with one of the other novels (NIGHT WATCH or GUARDS! GUARDS! would be excellent places to start).

There's a murderer loose in Ankh-Morpork, and he's not part of the Assassin's Guild! Once again, the City Watch of Commander Vimes, Captain Carrot, Corporal Nobs and Sergeant Colon is called upon to solve a mystery. Complicating things are a mysterious illness to Lord Vetinari and bizarre behavior from several golems in the city. Toss in several new members of the Watch (trolls, dwarves, and a vegetarian werewolf), apply a healthy dose of Pratchett's excellent humor, shake things up with talk of a nobleman serving as a humble member of the Watch, and you have another fine book in the Discworld series.

There's a murderer loose in Ankh-Morpork it's up to the gumshoes to find him. This episode in the Discworld Saga concentrates on Commander Vimes, Carrot and various others in the Watch. Nobbs is promoted to nobility and of course gets as drunk as a Lord. We meet female dwarves, thwart assination attempts on the Patrician, get to solve a murder mystery and stop a riot involving the city's golems. Oh, yes and we get to meet many of the newest Watch members. My only disappointment in this one is that Pratchett's usual strange twists, weren't quite up to par. Perhaps he had recently read too many obvious mystery novels and wanted the reader to figure out the plots ahead of time muttering to themselves. He does effectively lampoon many mystery writers as well as create a marvolously convoluted plot that dovetails, if not mysteriously, at least with humourous consequences.

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.

Once again Terry Pratchett has written a master work. This story is a dual story. First: The antics of the city watch which consists of zany characters. Think of abbot and Costello meets Frankenstien. Two: the story of what happens when man tries to play god. The city watch must find a killer that is not part of the assasin's guild. This is not good for business allowing non-union members to freelance. Pratchett does a remarkeable job of exploring the Frankenstien myth with a bunch of loose screws. This is a very serious subject that is cut with biting humor. How bad things happen with the best of intentions. Commander Vimes has become one of my favorite characters in the discworld series. Any book he is the main character is on the more serious side in nature, but there is still plenty of humor. Well worth the read.

This book is a typical discworld in plot - insane, bizarre, silly, the works. But what I really like is how Pratchett is filling out his world and the characters. They are no longer quite is slick and one dimensional as in the earliest novels. You get a good understanding of how life is lived in Ankh-Morpork, how Carrot affects everyone around him, the subtlies of Vimes - all of it.
But don't worry, the fun is still there. Can you actually imagine a female dwarf daring to be female (make-up, clothes, et al)? Or the obtusely literal-minded citizens of Ankh-Morpork (crests must be designed from life)?

Enjoy this book, but be cautious. If you don't particularly like reflecting on the serious as well as the silliness, you won't enjoy this book as much as some of the other Discworld novels.

This wild, weird and whacky novel (17th in the Discworld series)features a collection of whimiscal (another "w" word) characters, including a dwarf, a werewolf, and a vampire dragon, along with several golems and humans. It begins as a murder investigation in a strange place called Ankh-Morpork. I would recommend starting with the Colo[u]r of Magic, instead of "jumping in" down the line, like I did. It might have helped me understand the characters better (thus, resulting in a fifth star). However, I look forward to reading The Light Fantastic and Guards! Guards! If one likes the late, great, Douglas Adams, or any of the other authors of this type, one might like Terry Pratchett.

[For context's sake, I have been reading the Discworld books in publication order. Feet of Clay is #19.]

Very intriguing, with great development of some core recurring characters. The interplay between characters led to some really interesting insights into subjects like racism, wealth and entitlement, the nature of life, morality, and projected morality. While it wasn't a book that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, it kept my mind engaged and pondering, and the characters and dialogue were brilliant, as always.

If you are a Pratchett fan then I am wasting my time telling you what a genius Terry is... if you're not yet a Pratchett fan, you need to find your introduction book to the master of Fantasy Satire.
Probably one of the finest mystery stories I've ever read. A Golem has commited murder, except that Golem's can't kill... A locked-door mystery unlike any other, Feet of Clay introduces a variety of exciting new characters to the Ankh-Morpork city watch and happily returns Sam Vimes, Nobby, Colon and Carrot in a story that will have you scratching your head in wonder while you are covering your mouth laughing...
A must have for any fan of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch.

This is the 17th in Pratchett's Discworld series. Alternatively, it's the 3rd book in the Watch subseries ("Guards! Guards," "Men at Arms," "Feet of Clay," "Jingo," "The Fifth Elephant," "Night Watch," and "Thud!"). In this book, Pratchett uses the continuing development of the Watch to produce more of a Mystery novel than usual (and poke fun at the genre at the same time). In the process, he introduces a new race of creatures, gives Carrot girl problems, increases the visibility of Nobby, and starts a bit of an upheaval in Dwarf circles with Corporal Littlebottom. An excellent book: 5 stars out of 5.

If you discovered the Discworld like I did (reading <Guards, Guards>) you will have this stuff as you read this, anyway.

If you are torn between Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Robert Sheckley, J. R. R. Tolkien and Robert Asprin, WHAT KEPT YOU SO LONG. This is definitely a MUST HAVE. What are you waiting for?

If you have been reading Discworlds novels before, don't waste your time with my opinion, just go get it!

This is definitely one of the best books P. ever did. It's shrewed, witty, ranges from slapstick to drama and back (often through misterious ways), in a nutshell, it's a Pratchett. I can't wait to see the movie (just kiddin', Terry;-))

"Feet of Clay" is not a book with which to begin your Discworld voyage. For that (especially since the "Watch" series is so damn good) I reccomend "Guards! Guards!". After reading that one you'd have to progress to "Men At Arms." Then you can get around to "Feet of Clay." I know it's unusual to be assigned homework before you read a book, but believe me, it'll be worth it. "Feet of Clay" is another highly enjoyable book in the City Watch series. You'll find yourself laughing out loudly with every footnote, one-liner, and inside joke. Get these three books right away!

First of all, let me get one thing clear: I like Terry Pratchett books. That said, this is my opinion.
This is quite a good book, make no mistake. Some things may have a little more meaning to those who have read earlier Pratchett offerings, but in general, quite good.
However, I do not really go for books that push the "racial tolerance" or "anti-industrial" lines. No anti-industrialisms in here, but racial tolerance coming out of the book's ears. Don't get me wrong- I'm not a neo-Nazi or something, but it does get annoying.
Anyway: Terry Pratchett's Feet of Clay- good book. By the way, golems rule.

Has anyone else noticed this? Thomas Pynchon and Terry Pratchett are the same guy! Their concerns are the same, their love of humanity, their understanding of the need for hope and compassion; their delicious word-play is the same. It's the same guy!
Pynchon took 11 years to write his masterpiece, "Against the Day." Why? Because he was ALSO writing a Discworld novel every year. Pynchon is notoriously reclusive, and now we know why! He's really Terry Pratchett.
This is a great novel: touching, hopeful, kind, funny, wise. One of Pratchett's very best, and that means one of the best novels of our time. But why would we expect any less of Pynchon?
I once wondered which of these two authors would win a Nobel prize first. And now I know: both of them, at the same time.

While Pratchett's Discworld series is surely a powerhouse of creativity and the imagination, this particular installment does little to rise above formula. This edition cannot stand on its own two feet (of clay) because Pratchett fails to add any satirical strength to his bizarre world of werewolves, golems, trolls, dragons, and cross-dressing dwarves. Instead, these strange characters do nothing but add a forced attempt at zaniness to a completely run-of-the-mill mystery story. Does the fanciful Discworld, with its weird creatures and zany goings-on, provide a satirical counterpart to our real world, giving us a way to earn insights into human nature in the way good comedic satire should? Maybe so in the other Discworld novels, but not this one. This volume is little more than textbook comedy that follows the rules of hilarity, but provides few real unexpected laughs. And the comedy is strictly from the Douglas Adams school of slapstick, weirdness for the sake of weirdness, with plot and characterization being neglected in favor of rapid bursts of zaniness. This is still a reasonably enjoyable read, but where's the satirical beef? [~doomsdayer520~]

I love Terry Pratchett's humor and his character development. He is an English author of fantasy novels. I find that people either love or hate his stories.
Commander Vimes is my favorite character in the Discworld series. This story took place during the time the Watch began hiring non-humans. I am a Terry Prachett fan, but in this story some of his writing rambled on; I found myself having to reread some parts more than once to understand it. Other than that, the book was great.
Commander Vimes first appears in the book Guards! Guards! followed by Men at Arms. Feet of Clay was the third book involving Commander Vimes. I believe there are 8 books involving Commander Vimes.
Want to know more, google Feet of Clay Terry Pratchett.

First, I'll give a brief synopsis, then what I liked and disliked about the book.
Okay, the great mystery is who killed two old men, and where is this mysterious clay found at the scene of the crime coming from. Vimes and the watch struggle to solve this, and suddenly, Nobby Nobbses royalty is brought to attention, Cherry Littlebottom joins the watch, and the Angua Carrot relationship is heightened a few more steps. In the midst of all this, Lord Vetinari (a FANTASTIC character) is being poisoned. All these come together in one of the most satisfying climaxes I've witnessed in a Pratchett Book yet.
There, that's out of the way.
The Guard are among the best characters Pratchett has introduced, standing next only to... Death. And even though you don't get to see the Grim Reaper, you'll have to settle for the Grim Squeaker (the death of rats). Anyways, Pratchett, as always, delights the reader with the two most vivid main characters. I'd be speaking of Sir Samuel Vimes, and Nobby Nobbs. Vimes has so much of a Dirty Harry-esque feel to him, and he... ahem... prods buttock so thoroughly that you have to cheer him on. The cigar smoking, teetotaling commander is best portrayed in the opening pages in which a VERY foolish assassin tries to end Vimes's life. Bad move.
Onto Nobbs. Nobbs is such a fantastic character, Pratchett gives him great scenes, the best in my mind being the scene in which a few Puppetmasters are trying to get Nobby to assume his royal position. Through most of this, he is saying, "Vimes would go spare! I can't do that! He'd go spare!"
Okay, here is what I disliked about the book.
Angua is a very weak POV, personally. I understand the need for a strong anchoring character to counterbalance the nuttiness of Nobbs, Vimes, and Carrot, but Angua comes off as too whiny, and her chapters take away from the irreverance that Pratchett infuses his book with. I also felt that Vetinari should have been giving a larger role in the scheme of things, particularly around the mystery involving him. He and Vimes have an excellent scene together at the end, but that is all that really stands out.
My biggest problem, would have to be with the Dragon character. I don't want to spoil any of the plot twists revolving around him, but he is too much of a cut out, with no real idiosyncracies other than his "Ah-ha" in every sentence.
There, thats the review.
On the whole, Feet of Clay really does a great job of keeping you occupied. Its 4 stars is definitely warranted.

I've read several of Pratchett's and this is one of the best. I especially like Vimes's character. I like the stories with the watch. They have great plots and great characters. The characters ARE the best part. I could identify with the main characters, but even the smaller parts were great. Characters like Wee Mad Arthur and Constable Downspout the gargoyle make the book hilarious and worth while to read. Also the little footnmotes were great. They were also funny in this and all his books. One of the best Discworld books.

I am, like so many, a Pratchett fanatic; I read everything he writes and have been a fan for years. 'Feel of Clay' is a great, fun read and the comic moments are hugely entertaining. Sir Terry can write physical comedy better than any other active writer (PG Wodehouse was a dab hand). In the end, though, I'm so spoiled by the fun of the plots and the beauty of his language that the bar keeps getting higher and higher. Sir Terry has no one to blame but himself and I love him for it. I read the books over and over, by the time I've cycled them once, they reread as fresh as the first time. I didn't give this one five stars because I think I'm missing an update on the total silliness of Rincewind who hasn't been heard from for many years now.

Terry Pratchett remains high lord of all fantasy humor with Feet of Clay. The golems are fresh and interesting characters and the city watch has always been my favorite storyline, but some meanderings into repetitive political discussions and continuity flaws tend to leave the reader high and dry at several areas in this otherwise brilliant novel. Could anyone please tell me what happened to Detritus' cooling helmet?

Many others have gone on about how funny Pratchett's work is. Certainly, this is true, his work is some of the best comedy in existence, and this book is no exception. But his humour should not overshadow the other aspect of pratchett's writing; his brilliance. This book isn't just great comedy, if you look close you'll also notice that he has created an excellent detective novel, in fact I'd put this on a level with any agatha christie or sherlock holmes book any day, if not higher, i think Pratchett does better work in areas like character developement and action.
The man is more that just a funny writer, he has range and depth. I believe that while he certainly has single, distinctive style, he is capable of excelling in any genre he should choose to write in, God help us all if he ever decides to write a strictly "serious" novel, although if you strip away the jokes from this or many of his other books, you'll see that he already has.

This was the first book of his I read and it got me hooked on the series. I actually laughed out loud while reading it and that's a rare thing. Granted, I've read other stuff by him that's funnier, but it's still great. The vampire constantly going to the watch about working conditions at places hazardous to a vampires health (a holy water bottling plant, a stake manufacturuer) were hilarious!

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.

You will read one book in his series and love it and you will read a second book and like it a lot but by the time you get to the third book weather it is "Feet of Clay" or some other book you will have trouble keeping the story lines separate in your mind.

Overall-What you will get in the end is a Chinese food feeling; a book that is and great funny but it is so great and funny that you will remember the humor and word play and not the actual story. Terry Pratchett is a great author and his current situation is a tragedy but that is the way I see it.

The Watch set of characters never disappoints, and this story is no different. Creative and engaging, among Pratchett's best, as all the Watch books are. Though Pratchett can't seem to help himself from being preachy about his atheism, at least this time it's a mere minor distraction. The themes and humor stand out well, and get tied together artfully in the end.

I love the discworld books. I also love a good mystery. Here I received both and Terry Pratchett dumps Vimes, Carrot and the rest of the watch into a good old fashion who dunit. The victims are a priest, a museum curator, an old woman, a small child, and the partition of the city (well almost). The watch is portrayed less like English bobbies and more like New York cops with a cynical attitude towards the clues and the higher up. There where times when if felt like Tarry was channeling the ghost of Dashal Hammet to write this book. Definitely a favorite.

Mr. Pratchett beats his own records with every new Watch book.
This one is no exception. It starts interesting and just gets better with every paragraph.
The book is almost too funny - with the scene of employing a dwarf applicant or another one when Carrot is stopping unlicensed thieves.
Pratchett achieved an impossible goal - he wrote a touching book about simple people's persistent lack of luck, about the idiocy of the so called higher classes, about death, nature of humanity, duty, watchmen solidarity - and he did make it screamingly funny.
Read it. You'll laugh your head off.

Having had a head start on the books, I have been reading pratchett for many years, and this is one of my favorites to date. It reaffirmed my faith in Terry after the only book to dissappoint me, Maskerade. His in context allusions are the most witty and intelligent thing I have read, comedy or otherwise.-TN

I have always liked the character of Vimes and the Guard stories and this is simply amazing it will make you laugh it will make you think but most of all it will leave you wanting more.I read it while visting London for a few days and completed very quickly it was so addictive!Just read it and you'll see.

Of all the multitude of Discworld Novels the ones about the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork are the funniest. The third book about our intrepid group of coppers filled with Pratchett's usual side splitting witticisms, hillarious footnotes, and deep satire and sarcasam. If you liked Douglas Adams but got confused by "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish" Try Discworld novels and enjoy!

sam vimes.
carrot.
anagua.
nobby nobs.
colon.
gaspod.
detritos.
and more new guards to join the fun. some of the most bizzare and funny moments in the series.the fantasy version of a robot revolution.
when i finishd this book, my face hurt from a constant loughter.
terry is a god.

Thoroughly enjoyable, laugh-out-loud funny. One of Pratchett's best novels. The CD audio version read by Nigel Planer is wonderful! Nigel Planer does an excellent job of giving zany voices to the zany characters. The reading is closer to acting.

You'd think after more than a dozen Discworld books, the quality would be slipping. But no, Terry Pratchett just keeps getting better. "Feet of Clay" may be humor, but it has wonderful characterization and a strong murder mystery plot.

I think this, along with Soul Music might be my favorite Discworld book. I liked how he portrayed the golems as being capable of life when everyone thougt of them as machines. I also happen to like everyone on the Watch, especially Vimes, Deitrus and Carrot

It is interesting to see how golems evolve from Pratchett's Discworld novel, "Feet of Clay" (1996), where they are speechless slaves of clay, to "Going Postal" (2004) where a well-educated but humorless golem serves as body guard and lecturer-in-morals to the new Post Master. This is where it all begins...

Commander Sir Samuel Vimes, of Ankh-Morpork's Night Watch pays a visit to the Dragon King of Arms at the urging of his new wife, who thinks Sam needs his own coat-of-arms now that he's been knighted. Unfortunately, one of Sam's ancestors was a regicide so his descendent is denied an armorial bearing by the College of Heralds. He does learn that one of his watchmen is actually the Earl of Ankh: the inimitable Corporal Nobbs, who is forced to carry around a piece of paper signed by Ankh-Morpork's Patrician certifying that he's really human.

Well, this is a bit of a come-down for Sir Sam, but he's got more important matters on his mind, including the murders of two harmless old men. One of them was beaten to death by a loaf of Dwarf bread. His body was discovered by Captain Carrot and Corporal Angua, the only werewolf in the Night Watch, when they visited the Dwarf Bread Museum on their day off.

The only link between the two corpses is a trace of white clay at both murder scenes.

Subplots zigzag every which-way through "Feet of Clay." Corporal 'Earl of Ankh' Nobbs is being courted by a group of well, nobs who haven't given up on the notion that Ankh-Morpork should be ruled by a king. Captain Carrot, hereditary king of Ankh-Morpork who wisely refused the crown in "Men at Arms," is busy tracking murderers and emancipating golems. Sargeant Colon is about to retire if he lives through a trip through the sewers with Wee Mad Arthur. Corporal Angua helps a new dwarf recruit come to terms with her yen to wear lipstick.

Death, who has at least a walk-on role in all the Discworld fantasies is still working on his sense of humor: "I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. I TURN UP ONLY ONCE."

If this sounds confusing, it isn't. It's brilliant. All of the story lines tie together according to character. I don't know how Pratchett digs through the sewers and stockyards of Ankh-Morpork, and rubs together a monarchist plot with a bit of animated clay to create such a gem.

I think he must use magic.

sam vimes.
carrot.
anagua.
nobby nobs.
colon.
gaspod.
detritos.
and more new guards to join the fun. some of the most bizzare and funny moments in the series.the fantasy version of a robot revolution.
when i finishd this book, my face hurt from a constant loughter.
terry is a god.

Thoroughly enjoyable, laugh-out-loud funny. One of Pratchett's best novels. The CD audio version read by Nigel Planer is wonderful! Nigel Planer does an excellent job of giving zany voices to the zany characters. The reading is closer to acting.

You'd think after more than a dozen Discworld books, the quality would be slipping. But no, Terry Pratchett just keeps getting better. "Feet of Clay" may be humor, but it has wonderful characterization and a strong murder mystery plot.

I think this, along with Soul Music might be my favorite Discworld book. I liked how he portrayed the golems as being capable of life when everyone thougt of them as machines. I also happen to like everyone on the Watch, especially Vimes, Deitrus and Carrot

even though this book was a easy read it packs a heavy issue of class supression. It is about golems and how they begin their journey to freedom. I really enjoyed this book and rooted for the golems all the way!

I have heard Terry Pratchett's writing described as less intelligent Douglas Adams. This is nonsense as 'Feet of Clay' proves. This is a marvellously humourous book that is positively crammed full of that particular blend of wit that only Pratchett can produce. The story is extremely well crafted and has an excellent plot, worthy of the title of a great mystery. Read it.

This is the best "Guards" book yet. Terry Pratchett just keeps on getting better. This is book number 19 in the disc-world series (yes it is count them). It amazes me that Terry Pratchett just keeps on pumping the books out with no decline in the quailty or laughs. a great book especially for readers of TP. If you are considering reading this book as your first Disc-World book STOP. start from the being (The colour of Magic)and enjoy the ride.

When people start to drop dead in the bustling town of Ankh-Morpork, in steps the Watch to maintain peace. But sometimes it is a challenge...
Commander Vimes is faced with golems, vampires, werewolves, dwarf artificers, dragons, and (worst of all) aristocracy in this rollicking blend of perfect murder-mystery and unassuming, universal humor that turns into a parody and a fresh, great book. You should love this book if you have a brain and a sense of humor.

THis is one of the funniest pieces of literature I have ever read. The charaters of Terry Prachett are pure genius and just a little unbelieveabal. Buy This book. It is very funny and Should Be Read By All. Any book of his set in Ankh-Morpork are wonderful and this is the best one. I don't want to give anything away but one of the best scenes involves a "loaded wolf" and another a hold up of a policemen's bar.

"Feet of clay" tops Terry Pratchett's series of Discworld. Although I would read "Men at Arms" by Terry Pratechett first to set the scene, it is well worth it to get to this one. The characters are enjoyable and humorous. The plot is very fun and interesting. There is even some suspense involved. There is no question this book gets five stars.

Terry Pratchett's humor is a little strained in this Discworld novel, but I found myself following these characters as though they were real -- not my usual experience in Discworld! Not that the setting is realistic, but the story, with golems and gender-confused dwarves, is underlaid with an exploration of autonomy and humanity that's surprisingly ripe with philosophy. I didn't love the book, but I liked it.

Pratchett delivered again. Feet of Clay is as entertaining as all the discworld books and deals with issues of racial and social equality in ways that only fantasy and humor are capable of achieving. My only regret concerning Terry Pratchett is how poorly he is marketed in the U.S. He deserves much more attention than he commonly gets. I always enjoyed Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and I put Pratchett head and shoulders above him.

Compared to some of pratchett's other novels this one is a little less funny and it can drag a little at times but overall it was a fun and interesting book. I gives some good insight on the nature of golems.

This book is a great book for Prachett fans. Its about murders and the mysterious golems. Unfortunatly the Commander of the watch has to take care of it... Samual Vimes and the watch! Which leads him on a chase againest the unknown killer. This book is a hillarious book, you'll get a barrel of laughs from it. It will make you sit down and keep on reading!

This is one of Pratchett's best works. As a Discworld fan, this is a must read. For a new reader, you might want to read "Men at Arms" first. Some new characters are introduced in this book, like Dorfl the golem, a lot will appear again in other books. In short, Feet of Clay will keep you laughing till the last page.

The third book in the "Nightwatch" miniseries, Feet of Clay is what I've been waiting for since "Men at Arms". In my opinion, Pratchett shows his more serious side in those books, as they tend to call for more reflection. Sam Vimes is a character to admire. I'm looking forward for the next Nightwatch novel.

Terry Pratchett is the best humourous fantasy writer of his time. If you like Adams and the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then you will love the DiscWorld series. Also check out Interesting Times!