Plot Summary
When a mysterious island rises from the sea between Ank-Morpork and Klatch, both nations rise up to claim what's theirs… If anyone knew what was theirs and what all the murders in Ank-Morpork were about. The City Watch investigation moves from the city cobbles to the desert sands.
Characters
Samuel Vimes - Aging commander of the City Watch who misses the street-level action. Some people are cut out to lead, but not for all the paperwork involved.
Patrician Vetinari - Leader of the city of Ank-Morpork who wheels and deals and turns out can juggle
Carrot and Angua - Just two members of the Watch in love. He's probably the lost king and she's a werewolf. They make it work.
Nobby and Colon - More members of the watch. Nobby thinks about his future and possible romantic possibilities while Colon wants to retire, or so they both think.
71 Hour Ahmed - An agent of the Klatch people, kinda like a leader of the Watch but for a large desert instead of a city. Pretty bad dude.
Setting
Ank-Morpork - City of magical things and people that will steal those magical things and sell them back to the owner for twice the price
Klatch - Largely desert country with disparate tribes and cities that would be unified if a war were to happen.
Observances
The city is bankrupt but full of rich people - Kinda sums up most places, honestly.
Vimes struggling with his duty and paperwork while militias are formed - A man of action who has gotten older and found that by doing his job well, he made himself too important to do the part of the job he enjoyed. Well, had gotten used to doing. Telling at the end when a monument is made to his ancestor it isn't of a beheading but a simple man waiting out of the rain.
Nobby wanting a future - Interesting to give your most reactive character a want twenty books in and have it be general need for… Honestly I'm not sure. A partner or a companion or a general person who wants the same thing as Nobby, to lie and steal and all that.
Vimes has an army - It's good to be a lord. Comes with perks and all that.
Lawrence of Arabia - he follows you? The moments where someone leans on the king-like nature of Carrot might be my favorite. Pratchett created the perfect ruler; one who does not want to lead but to serve and is selfless without introspection. Carrot does good because Carrot is good. That he looks up to and follows Vimes makes Vimes a better person.
Vetinari as a street performer - Get it, cause he juggles a lot of things at once metaphorically so the literal thing is a walk in the streets.
Wilkinson attacks - Just funny.
Arrest an army for disturbing the peace - I mean, if this is how all warfare worked we might be a better society. At least if we arrested those that control the army, hold some kind of international court, and burned the bastards who started war alive… Fantasy, it raises all kinds of questions!
A dream of laws for countries, not just for people - just gonna leave this one here.
Discussion Questions
Do you feel that the people who want to be in charge should be thrown to the starving wolves that we keep for just such an occasion?
When was the last time you went to war over a stupid reason egged on by a stupid and greedy person?
In the novel, murders happen and the police investigate them. What do you think that would look like in real life?
The fantasy Watch includes all members of the community to police the populace fairly. If you can find commentary there, discuss.
What's two things you can think rich people who want war should be left when everything they have is taken?
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