Night Watch by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #29)

Time travel is a plot device appearing frequently in sci-fi books and movies, but it is not always implemented well. I used to rank Stephen King's 11/22/63, as my favorite book about time travel. This is no longer the case now that I have read Terry Pratchett's critically-acclaimed novel, Night Watch, the 29^th installment in Discworld series. This is also the 6^th book in the series that features Ankh-Morpork City Watch.

In fact, on Goodreads, Night Watch currently holds the highest rating of all Discworld novels. After I read this book, I am updating my list of top 5 Discworld novels, and Night Watch is taking the spot of NO.3, it is a really good book. Today, I will like to share my thoughts on this book, and talk about the reason(s) why I like this book so much.

Synopsis:

Have you ever used the phrase: “in the wrong place, at the wrong time”?

I bet a lot of us have used this phrase in the past. But if you think about it, a place is just a place, and the time is just the time, how can a place or the time itself be “wrong”?

At this point, you might to say to me: “ You are not supposed to interpret the phrase literally”.

Granted.

However, while terrestrial languages use a lot of metaphors, figures of speech, and allegories, but this may not be the case for the rest of the universe. In fact, let's journey to Discworld, where unfortunate souls can LITERALLY step into the wrong time, taking them to the wrong place.

The story began on a gloomy night in Ankh-Morpork. The air smelt of a coming storm. The City Watch was on hot pursuit for Carcer Dun, an infamous criminal. During the desperate chase, commander Samuel Vimes came very close to arresting Carcer, when a magical storm caught both Carcer and Vimes, transporting them back to 30 years in the past.

What was Ankh-Morpork like 30 years in the past?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of tyranny, it was the age of revolution. It was the epoch of corruption, it was the epoch of honor. It was the season of stagnation, it was the season of change. It was the spring of the future, it was the winter of the past. After the magical storm passed, Samuel Vimes woke up on the street of Ankh-Morpork, and realized while he had everything before him, but he also had nothing before him. 30 years in the past, Ankh-Morpork was on the brink of revolution. To survive his ordeal, Vimes must take up the identity of Sargent John Keel, and show his fellow watchmen what it means to be a member of the City Watch. 

Thus begins, Discworld's A Tale of One City.....

My thoughts on this book:

As I read more and more Discworld books, I noticed some changes in Terry Pratchett's writing style. That is, his books became more plot-driven than his earlier works. The story in this book is gripping, gathering momentum gradually until it cresendoed to an explosive end. Night Watch is perhaps, the greatest departure from the slapstick-comedy tradition of Discworld books. There are still moments that will make you chuckle, but this book mostly took on a dark and serious tone.

In Night Watch, Terry Pratchett wrote a compelling story about humanity, the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, then exploring their applications in real life. The real life where most things usually reside in shades of gray. Terry Pratchett tends to make points in Discworld novels. Yet, he doesn't preach about it, nor does he try to shove it down your throat. Instead, he lets you think about it for yourself while you are enjoying a good story. In Night Watch, Terry Pratchett subtly raised many points as food for thoughts. But even if you don't feel like thinking about these things, you can still enjoy his books for what they are - good and entertaining stories.

The story in Night Watch is centred on one of Discworld's most beloved Characters, Samuel Vimes, whose pragmatic view of life added layers of realism to the book. Vimes has a cynical outlook on other people and his fellow watchmen, but he also knows his own shortcomings, fully aware that he is no better than other people. However, he never gave up on doing his job and doing the right thing. In the City Watch sub-series, readers witness Vimes' journey of redemption, from a drunk, disillusioned policeman in Guards! Guards!, to a commander of the City Watch in the later books, where he found in his heart to do what he always wanted to do. Which is to uphold the law. The sky may come crashing down on Vimes, but his integrity is never for sale.

The villain in this book, Carcer Dun, is a memorable antagonist. In some way, Carcer has many of Vime's qualities. What separates these 2 characters, is Carcer used these qualities for negative purposes. In Night Watch, we also meet the younger versions of several characters from City Watch, notably Fred Colon, Nobby, Reg Shoes, and a young, inexperienced Samuel Vimes. These secondary characters played important roles in this book, expanding the horizon of the story. At this point, I wish to bring up an important note:

Before you read Night Watch, make sure you read at least 3 novels from Ankh-Morpork City Watch sub-series. I would recommend starting from Guards! Guards!, then Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, and The Fifth Elephant. The reason? Night Watch features several 'younger versions” of prominent City Watch characters. A reader may not fully grasp the impact of the story in Night Watch, unless he/she already read a few earlier installments of City Watch books.

Most Discworld novels made me laugh, feeling all good and jolly. Night Watch is different. When I finished this book, I felt both sad and happy. This is a moving tale! Night Watch comes with a high recommendation from me. Just don't forget to read the earlier City Watch novels before you read this one.