Book:Guards! Guards!

From Discworld & Terry Pratchett Wiki
Revision as of 08:20, 3 August 2016 by AgProv (talk | contribs) (editing to remove misdirected redlink and getting it right this time)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Guards! Guards!
Co-author(s) {{{coauthors}}}
Illustrator(s) Josh Kirby
Publisher Victor Gollancz
Publication date August 1989
ISBN 0575046066
Pages
RRP {{{rrp}}}
Main characters Carrot Ironfoundersson
Samuel Vimes
Fred Colon
Nobby
Havelock Vetinari
The Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night
Series Watch Series
Annotations View
Notes Book #08
All data relates to the first UK edition.

Blurb

This is where the dragons went.

They lie ... not dead, not asleep, but ... dormant. And although the space they occupy isn't like normal space, nevertheless they are packed in tightly. They could put you in mind of a can of sardines, if you thought sardines were huge and scaly. And presumably, somewhere, there's a key ...

Guards! Guards! is the eighth Discworld novel – and after this, dragons will never be the same again!

Plot

The City Watch of Ankh Morpork was once a respected force for peacekeeping and policing, but has fallen on hard times. This is due to Lord Vetinari's policy of making law enforcement the responsibility of the guilds. Even crime has become 'self-regulated' by the Thieves' Guild, who are permitted to carry out a limited number of robberies and discipline those who do it illegally. The Night Watch contains just three members - Captain Sam Vimes, a hardened cynic with a drinking problem, the overweight and lazy Sergeant Fred Colon and Corporal Nobby Nobbs, a petty thief. Like the Day Watch, they are regarded by the city as being incompetent fools who carry out their job of patrolling the city while making little effort to catch criminals.

This changes when they are joined by Carrot Ironfoundersson, a strong and powerfully-built man who was raised by dwarfs. In contrast to the existing policemen, Carrot is idealistic and honest; he has read The Laws and Ordinances of the Cities Ankh and Morpork and is determined to uphold them at all costs. On his first day at work, he makes the mistake of trying to arrest Mr. Josiah Boggis, the head of the Thieves' Guild. Vimes initially sees Carrot as being naïve, but gradually comes to respect him.

The Unique and Supreme Lodge of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night is a fraternal organization who plot to take over Ankh Morpork. They steal a magic book called The Summoning of Dragons from the Unseen University and use it to summon a noble dragon. Once the dragon has caused sufficient destruction and panic, their Supreme Grand Master (who is actually Lupine Wonse, Vetinari's secretary) will put forward a "hero" who will heroically slay the dragon and became the city's king, to act as a puppet ruler for the Elucidated Brethren. Vimes investigates the reports of the dragon's appearances. He meets Sybil Ramkin, a breeder of swamp dragons, who gives him a young dragon called Errol as a pet. When Errol sees the noble dragon, he begins to eat odd things that cause his ears to produce smoke.

The Elucidated Brethren execute their plan; their hero comes forward and banishes the dragon. The people of the city are ready to accept him as the king when the dragon returns, kills the hero and declares itself to be the king of Ankh Morpork. He demands gold and a monthly virgin sacrifice, with Sybil being chosen to be the first victim. Vimes is imprisoned in the same cell as Vetinari. He is rescued by the Librarian and runs to Sybil's aid. Carrot, Colon and Nobbs try to shoot the dragon with a single 'lucky arrow' but miss. It is revealed that Errol's eating habits have allowed him to produce a extra-powerful flame that launches him into the sky at a supersonic speed, causing a sonic boom that knocks the king dragon out of the sky.

The city people move in to kill the king dragon, but Sybil pleads for them not to do it. Carrot tries to arrest the dragon, but Errol helps it escape. Sybil explains that the king dragon was actually female and the 'fight' with Errol was actually a courtship ritual. Wonse attempts to summon another dragon at the palace. Vimes and Carrot arrive to arrest him but accidentally kill him; Vimes tells Carrot to "throw the book at him", so Carrot throws a copy of The Laws and Ordinances with such force that it knocks Wonse through a hole in the floor. Vetinari is reinstated as the leader of the city and offers the Night Watch a reward. Their demands are only modest, including more pay, a new kettle and a dartboard. As the existing Treacle Mine Road Watch House was burnt down by the dragon, Sybil donates the Pseudopolis Yard buildings as their new headquarters. She also begins a relationship with Vimes.

Cover

The cover, once again painted by Josh Kirby, features Carrot (with sword), Vimes (with bottle), Nobby (with small dragon) and Colon (with bow and arrow). They are all attempting to fight the Dragon.

Characters

Other Characters

Cameos and other Mentions

Locations

Sentient Species

Supernatural Entities

Things and Concepts

Annotations

  • "the Public Order Act of 1457" - one of the frequent 57 references in TP's work


External links

Guards! Guards! Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File


Previous book

Pyramids

Discworld Series Next book

Eric

Previous book

First book

Watch Series Next book

Men at Arms

Retrieved from "http://wiki.osiris-web.com/index.php?title=Book:Guards!_Guards!&oldid=25375"