I think the 25th of May was perfect fitting day to publish this review as it is Geek Pride Day, and if I’m geek of something is Terry Pratchett’s books! ??
Surprisingly my second Prattchett of the year wasn’t a re-read… I don’t like much war novels or stories so I always postponed this one.
However I was very happily surprised as this was a book about war with almost no war at all!
Well, if you haven’t read any books of Pratchett I won’t spoiler you much saying that you can expect anything that works or doesn’t work in Fantasy. ?
Take this one here for example: You find the action in Borogravia, a country that was always in a constant war with its neighbours and has a huge religious fanaticism with a most ridiculous but exigent God. Mix in a bunch of new recruits: A mixed band with a vampire who drinks coffee, a Troll, an Igor (like a Frankestein in the Discworld), some girls pretending to be boys, and some boys that well… I can’t say anything else.. ? And the outcome of the adventure, a fight that cannot be won, a war that cannot be fought and hope for our anti-heros…
For any Pratchett fans, this one also contains some of our beloved characters from the Night Watch (Vimes, Angua, etc), but not following any story, so it’s perfect as a standalone book.
In between the jokes and the funny situations, Pratchett manages to ask us again all his important questions: about religion, war vs peace, the role of women, traditions vs common sense, etc ?
“Do you think it’s possible for an entire nation to be insane?” .