Book Review: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

I’m revisiting my past love, Discworld books. I joined a book club which is reading the whole series. Last two weeks I have been reading the wonderful book of Guards! Guards!

I loved it. The review should stop here, but that is not how things go. I had forgotten so much of the book. Okay, I read it when I was still in high school, and that feels like an eternity ago both time- and personality-wise. Still, the love for the book remained. Pratchett’s writing skills are amazing. He can speak to people of all ages, background, and mindsets. The world lost a lot when he passed away. But at least we have his words and continue having them. The observations he made in Guards! Guards! about the law, rule and human nature will never growl old or irrelevant. With Vimes, Patrician, and the city’s mood he hit the nail what power, greed, frustration, futility, and low self-esteem can do to a person. The book was an introspection on how our minds are formed and how the world functions. That is what Pratchett does.

If I’m, to be honest, I can see the flaws of the book. There is no going past the swap of the protagonist, the sudden change of how things will end, half-finished characters, and going with the flow writing. But with Pratchett, I don’t seem to mind. The transitions he makes are natural and goes along even when you know they stray from the original idea. I’m sure this ability to ignore the flaws comes from the bias I have towards Discworld and its maker. There is something about Pratchett and Discworld that cuts to the core of what it is like to be human. His anger towards injustice, humanity, and love for cheekiness shines through the text. You know he is genuine, and I think that is why people and I love Discworld.