Rating: 
Summary: Pratchett scores again
Review: Of all the series-within-a-series that the Discworld books include (Death, Rincewind, Granny Weatherwax, etc.), my favorite has to be the tales of Captain Vimes and the Ankh-Morpork Watch. "Jingo" continues their tales with an adventure that begins with a lost island arising from the sea. This, naturally, edges the city of Ankh-Morpork to the brink of war with Klatch for no apparent reason.One of the things that made this book stand out, even from the other Watch books, is how Pratchett got to shine a spotlight on some lesser-used characters. Corporal Nobbs ("Nobby") gets a great, brilliantly funny subplot that starts with him wanting to find a nice girl and concludes someplace so wonderfully absurd I refuse to spoil it for you. Vimes is the level-headed leader of men we've come to expect. Even Lord Vetinari gets a chance to shine in this book like he hasn't in the earlier volumes. My personal favorite character, Captain Carrot, is pushed a bit to the background this time out, but he gets so much development in the other books it's hard to complain. Even here there are a few moments that show exactly how superhumanly rational Carrot is, rounding him out quite nicely. Pratchett can blend satire, comedy and adventure in a way no one else can. If the day ever comes where I tire of the Discworld, you'll have to roll me away under a tarp.
Rating:
Summary: The difference between soldiers and coppers is...
Review: This was the novel that got me hooked on the Discworld and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. It's very very funny and also wickedly intelligent. Someone here pointed out that Terry Pratchett is actually a philosopher masquerading as a funny man. Perhaps the reason why some people don't like "Jingo" is that the philosophy is a bit more overt here than in other Discworld offerings. Those of us who were around when Maggie (excuse me, Baroness Thatcher) launched her little homage to the 19th century in the Falklands/Malvinas will probably enjoy "Jingo" a little more than others I suspect, but the book itself rings true on so many different levels that it transcends such a particular interpretation. This is Pratchett on the subject of nationalism, militarism and racism with Sam Vimes as usual cast in the role of ironic observer and moral center. I actually liked seeing Vetinari out and about more, and it's clear that this novel marks the beginning of a more three-D presence in the Discworld universe for both Sergeant Colon and the ambiguously human Corporal Nobbs. Leonard of Quirm needs more work though. Once you got the initial conceit, he became tiresome quite quickly. Captain Carrot, Sergeant Angua and Corporal Detritus do their usual sterling service. I had hoped for more from Constable Visit-the-Infidel-With-Explanatory-Pamphlets given that the conflict between Klatch and Ankh-Morpork was partly a religious one, but you can't have everything. Perhaps my favorite things in the novel were the face-off between the city nobles and Vimes, the Demon Pocket Organizer, and Vimes' precise and beautifully-articulated exposition of the differences between soldiers and policemen. Vimes, I suspect is an old-fashioned copper who believes in justice, rather than merely protecting and serving the law. Too bad the LAPD doesn't read Terry Pratchett.
Rating:
Summary: Yay!
Review: Discworld is one of the few bookseries that seems to be improving as it goes along even after twenty something books, a real feat! It changed from random humor into parody into satire, and this is personally one of my favorite books, it's hilarious, while questioning the ideas of war. I won't bother describing the plot when everyone else has already done so.
Rating: 
Summary: War between Klatch and Ankh-Morpork!
Review: This is one of the best Discworld novels. City Watch is one of my favorite themes, so this book didn't disappoint. There are certainly so many differnt characters here: main ones like Vimes, Carrot, Vetinari the Patrician; other watch people like Angua, Detritus, Nobby, and Colon; and interesting minor characters like Leonard de Quirm and 71-hour Ahmed, Vimes' Klatchian counterpart. A new island (later we learn not so new) has risen to the surface, and both Klatch and Ankh-Morpork claim it, even though it in itself is hardly spectacular. It is funny to see the two groups of settlers fighting over wood and water as if it were gold. On the surface, it looks like no contest - Klatch has a real army; Ankh-Morpork has none. But Klatch doesn't have Vimes or Vetinari or Leonard de Quirm on their side to help them. On one hand, the rich leaders of the city under Lord Rust try to raise a real army and attack Klatch. This is funny, especially Vimes' butler Willikins as a soldier (better than I would think). On the other hand, Vimes smells a rat concerning an attempt on the Klatchian ambassador's life and travels to Klatch to confront his Klatchian counterpart, 71-hour Ahmed who basically seeks the same information from him. Further, Vetinari, together with Leonard de Quirm, Colon, and Nobby, seek their own answers - they go on a submarine mission to the island to see if they can solve the problem another way. The submarine mission is very funny, especially Nobby in disguise in Klatch - it has quite an effect on him in later books. Leonard de Quirm gets a large role here, more so than in Men at Arms. I always like reading about the discworld's answer to the Renaissance Man. (It gets even better in the later book "The Last Hero"). A good all-around book with plenty of interesting characters.
Rating:
Summary: Deft and Humorous Critique of Invasion as Diplomacy
Review: A mysterious island appearing in the sea is claimed by both Ankh-Morpork and Al-Khali, capital of Klatch. Features an assasination, investigation by Carrot and Angua, a really annoying Palm Pilot, and a parody of Leonardo da Vinci. Makes good use of the minor Watch characters like Nobby the troll, along with a lot of silliness, with deft touches of anti-war sentiment (this could easily have become heavy-handed and unpleasant to wade through). On the down side, there are too many simultaneous plot lines, and it will not work well if you haven't read at least one or two of the other books in this sequence.
Rating:
Summary: "Jingo" bingo!
Review: War with the Middle-East is about the unfunniest topic you can dredge up. Not just now in times of political turmoil, but anytime. Terry Pratchett gives it a comic spin in "Jingo," with a simple message (War is Stupid!) and plenty of hijinks from the Watch. A weathercock surfaces in the middle of the sea. Since weathercocks usually don't bob around by themselves, it turns out that it's attached to a new island that rises up out of the sea. Fishermen claim the island -- unfortunately, they are from two different lands: Ankh-Morpork and the desert land of Klatch. Soon both lands are at loggerheads over ownership of the new island, Leshp. (a sign in Ankh-Morpork: GREASY FORANE HANDS OFF LESHP) War is imminent, and unfortunately Vimes and his Watch are about to be dragged into it. Diplomacy takes a nasty turn when Vimes meets (in his official capacity as a duke) a Klatchian prince and the sinister-seeming 71-Hour Ahmed. Soon the prince is injured, and Klatch is furious. Now the war has gotten personal, and is no longer just about Leshp. Vimes and Co. have to enlist the help of the eccentric Leonard of Quirm, while the Patrician somehow ends up enlisting a pair of unlikely spies: Nobby and Colon. Any Discworld book that features the unattractive Nobby trying to do an exotic dance is worth checking out. But "Jingo" also has the advantage of lampooning just about everything connected with war: Racism, outdated ideas about how to make war, protests by stupid people, xenophobia foreign cultures (Vimes being offered the sheep's eyeball is a riot), politics, and those little time management computers (here called a "disorganizer"). Don't worry -- Pratchett's dryly goofy humor is quite intact despite the messages woven in. From the Prid of Ankh-Morpork to Nobby's deficient love life, he peppers the story with the strange and hilarious. However, at times it dips a little into slapstick (Nobby in drag, getting in touch with his feminine side), and some scenes are more sitcom than satire. His writing is, as always, spare and clear, not too descriptive, and Pratchett manages to avoid banging readers over the head with his messages. The crusty, hard-boiled Sam Vimes is back in full, here chafing at the idea of being a duke (especially if it means dressing up). Tough werewolf cop Angua gets to spread her wings a little, and supporting characters like 71-Hour Ahmed skim close to stereotypes, but just to make a point. Not to mention the hordes of weird recruits that the well-meaning, clueless Carrot manages to find. War satire is a hard thing to write. Usually it just displays a heavy hand and a big loud mouth. But Terry Pratchett dips into this with his usual deftness and humor. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: the so called war
Review: A not-so-new island coming up from the sea causes diplomatic tension between Ankh-Morpork and its powerful neighbor, Klath. The tensions soon lead to a military confrontation - and yes, there's a problem. Only one side of the conflict has an army. Moreover, the army in question is led by a competent general, Ashal. Ankh-Morpork armed "forces" do include surprisingly good soldiers (like Willikins), but it is more than clear that they have not even a single goodish officer. The only one that is not a complete idiot turns out to be... oh, read for yourselves.
Little wonder the Klathians consider the war as a huge joke arranged for their amusement.
There's only one way to stop the ultimate destruction of the biggest city on Disc - diplomacy. With some support of idiot actions taken by people who either never dreamed to be considered soldiers (Vimes) or those who thought it's their birthright to be called officers (Rust) the necessary steps are taken.
And it all leads to an ... interesting end!
I admit I personally tell the difference between an "interesting" and "potentially interesting" Discworld book by checking out how much space is given to Vetinari, and I find that "Jingo" is absolutely satisfying. Take the "donkey-minaret" thing.
For all those of you who don't like Carrot=Superman thing, read the book. Oh, he does turn out to be abnormally clever and nice, but at least it doesn't make a big difference. For the Vimes's fans - read it, too. The man never claimed to be a soldier, after all. Vetinari's supporters will find themselves overhelmed with pure joy and purring . And it is nice to meet the other old friends - Angua, Detritius, Dorfl.
I strongly recommend reading earlier Watch books before this one, you'll miss too many jokes if you start with Jingo.
A must-read. Pratchett at his best.
Rating:
Summary: one of his best!
Review: This is one of my favorite Pratchett books! If you've never read Terry Pratchett before: Welcome to a thinly veiled version of London in which social classes and races are represented by various fanatic creatures: gargoyles, humans, trolls, dwarves, etc.-all trying to live together and get along. Uberwald is Germany. Klatch is something like the near east. You'll recognize other places. Disc World is basically earth with London at the center and a few weird twists. For those who are familier with Pratchett: This is one of the books featuring the Night Watch, but it's a somewhat mixed media performance with a lot from the Patrician (who is my favorite) and Lenard of Querm, also a bit from the wizards. A mysteries island rises out of the sea and both Klatch and Ank-morpork claim ownership. Some people in each country are willing to go to war over the island...but do they have ulterior motives? In the confusion of a visit from the Klachian prince, Angua is kidnapped (want to know how to kidnap a werewolf? Read the book!) and the whole Watch sets off after her to Klatch, where they unravel a cunning conspiracy. The book has plenty of depth, makes a number of valid points about war, politics, racial prejudice (both prejudice against a minority race AND prejudice in favor of a minority race), and is just superior all-round storytelling. This is one of the few Pratchett's I've read twice.
Rating:
Summary: Pratchett Takes on Politics
Review: Terry Pratchett made it clear about a dozen books ago that when he is writing - no one is safe. Jingo focuses on the government control, or lack thereof, of Leshp - an island that has mysteriously surfaced between Ankh-Morpork (which is, of course, nothing like Britain) and Klatch (which is, of course, nothing like Northern Africa or the Middle East).
Making fun of politics both modern and medieval, Jingo showcases the City Watch from such books as Men At Arms and Feet of Clay. Commander Vimes, a constant adversary of the nobility, faces the daunting task of averting a war when the hilariously clueless noblemen of the city attempt to raise an army to fight the vastly superior forces of Klatch for control of Leshp.
This is one of the standout books of the series, especially if you have a disdain for politics in general. Pratchett is dead-on on his satirical commentary and even manages to squeeze in a plot among all the irony. Top notch!
Rating:
Summary: MOST RELEVANT DISCWORLD BOOK
Review: I took me a while to figure out why the book is Jingo, but my advice is look it up(AND, of course, read the book) While all Discworld novels are poignant, this one is especially so at a time like this. Not the most funny, but one of the more philisophical City Watch books. See President Bush, stereotypes, nationalism, and just about everything that leads to war not only parodied and ridiculed, but somewhat explained. Mr. Pratchett, as always, makes one laugh out loud at times and want to think deeply at others. Ofcourse, if you are a staunch American, you may not want to read this book.
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