Flipping Through Pages #29 - Guards! Guards! (A Book Review)

God save the Dragon.

They used to say of the old crusading times – when the kingdom is in peril, the true king will arise and claim the throne by killing a…ermm…dragon, I guess?

After Pyramids’ outlook on the need for control as an individual, this took a darker turn of the need for control as a society. From the first few pages where we learn how organized everything has become leaving the policing as an appendix to the last where the Patrician brands the people of Ankh-Morpork as complacent enough to accept any rule, control is key here.

And this makes the book unique in its pessimism of human nature. From my discussions with friends who have read Pratchett, I know that this is an examination the author is continuously giving in every Discworld novel he writes – but never has it been more raw or cruel than this one.

Comedic beats are more nervous and welcome than ever before.

There are two stories that converge to bring the big event of the book as a secret order tries to summon a dragon to lure the kingdom into their control, while the new ‘volunteer’ recruit Carrot the Human Dwarf becomes a member of the Watch and proceeds to upend the structure of the kingdom.

The contrast is interesting as both are trying for change but in different ways. The Supreme Master believes the current system by the Patrician is unbearable and tries to use a classical legend to get the throne and a system in place than he can manipulate, but it only leads to problems as the Dragon itself takes over the kingdom. While Carrot is able to inspire his fellow officers of the Watch, especially Vimes who goes through a wonderful evolution from a deadbeat cynical cop to a heroic brawler.

But beyond all these wonderful characters is the true Queen of Dragons, Sybil of House Ramkin. Initially a suspect, she becomes the conscience of the book understanding that the Dragon was never the true terror and provides not just the rescue in the form of Errol the jet engine swamp dragon (I guess they mated? Yup. It’s not a King. It’s a Queen) – but also in the clear and dark understanding of how the Dragon just showed the true face of a society that doesn’t understand how to be democratic.

Pratchett makes this into a wonderful political satire of what action and inaction can bred if left unchecked, and the end results are not all pleasant to see. Among all the characters good or bad, it’s one person who wins – Lord Vetinari the Patrician. For he was correct. People need structure, and they will accept it from anyone who gives it to them, man or dragon.

And things go back to the way they were. As it sadly should be.

Viva La Revolution?

So, I give this 9 out of 10.

+One of the best political satires mixed with fantasy I have read

+The characters were richly crafted

+A fittingly bleak yet hopeful ending

+The comedic beats were wonderful, especially involving Carrot

+The final ‘fight’ was brilliantly crafted

-The ending was a bit bereft of closure on certain areas