Rating: 
Summary: Crown Jewel of Discworld
Review: To me Night Watch is one of Terry Pratchett's best works yet. While a little darker then his previous ventures Pratchett demonstrates his remarkable talent of combining humor and poignancy into one incredible mix. His grasp of his characters is to be commended. He knows what he's doing with them and he does it well. One warning though, to those not familiar with the Ankh-Morpork crew(ie.Dibbler,Nobby,Reg Shoe,etc.)should probably read other "City Watch" novels before this one. It is definetley more enjoyable this way. Trust me.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: This is mainly a book for the die hard fans of Discworld. As one reader commented here, the cameos and some briefly seen characters are mostly enjoyed by those who have already met them.
I personally love Vimes, even back when he was portayed as a drunk (Guards! Guards!), I feel he is a very human hero (and cynical, disgruntled, rumpled, etc.).
In this book Pratchett delves into destiny, fate and the individual, something he had not done since "Small Gods" and carries it out succesfully. I look forward to his next book.
I agree this might not be the best book to start the series with but there are plently of others to chose from. Just pick one.
For new readers I say: "What are you waiting for?! Get yourself into gear and visit Discworld"
For the die hards: "Aren't we lucky? Pratchett continues writing for us."
Rating:
Summary: Best Discworld I've Read
Review: This book is a riot. I have not read all of the Pratchett books, but I am steadily making my way through them, and besides the collaborative "good omens" this is my absolute favorite. For a work of comic fiction, there is a masterful portrayal of a psychotic French Revolution which has all the charm and sentiment of Les Miserables, which I appreciated all the more since I was having trouble keeping my car on the road (The audible.com version in my CD player, laughing so hard my eyes were watering.) Immensely amusing, and enjoyable in the deeper way than many of his other books, this makes a fantastic read
Rating:
Summary: Funny yet thoughtful
Review: I love a funny book that really examines what it means to make difficult choices. Even though this book is set in a fictional world, which is usually not my thing, the dialogue and situations make me feel completely at home. Pratchett's dialogue is great. the characters really come alive. Just a really funny and moving book. I'm picking up the others in the series!
Rating:
Summary: Definitely not one to miss...
Review: I've heard (read) many people say that Night Watch isn't one of Terry's better novels. I, however, feel that this is blatantly untrue.
Night Watch is the book in which we learn all about how the characters of Sam Vimes, Vetinari and various other people developed. It is filled with humour, with classic lines such as, when discussing whether or not anybody has been to inform the parents' of a recent death; "Anyone been to tell them?" he asked. "And don't say it was Nobby. We don't want any repeat of that "bet you a dollar you're the widow Jackson" nonsense." Night Watch is very emotional, though, as we read about the bloody rebellion that Vimes has been sent back to re-witness. Since I read my first Discworld book, I knew that Terry Pratchett was a wonderfully humourous writer, but I didn't know that he also wrote books that can invoke such a large amount of emotion as Night Watch does.
And of course, it is practically Paradise for all Sam Vimes fanatics; two Sams in one book!
Rating: 
Summary: Change of style that doesn't come off
Review: I'm sure there are many, many people who will love this book. After two reads, I don't think it likely my opinion - that this is one of Pratchett's lesser efforts - will change.
The central idea of "Night Watch" is that the individual matters; that an individual and the actions their character leads them to commit can be central to history's progression. Fine. However, my feeling was that "Night Watch" did not illuminate Vimes' character - as opposed to his personal history - beyond what had been established in previous books, notably "The Fifth Elephant". What is the point if we already know just what Vimes is like and can predict what he will do in every situation? And despite the continuous reminder that, yes, he has his dark side, Vimes never steps over that particular line. Not once. Again, what is the point? Whatever Pratchett may have thought he was doing with this book, what I found it to be was a slightly tedious tale re-treading the familiar territory of Sam Vimes the slightly-grimy-but-honest copper. There's too much baggage for the new reader; all the cameos have no resonance unless you're already familiar with the characters, and the lack of humour in "Night Watch" somehow leaves the Ankh-Morpork of this book adrift from the city as it appears in Pratchett's previous books.
This is a well-written, well-crafted story with some interesting issues to think about, if that's your cup of tea. But for me, Pratchett's real talent is for comedy, and I think that's where he should stay.
Rating:
Summary: Good old times are back. Unfortunately
Review: Sam Vimes has quite a lot of problems - his wife is delivering their first-born and a maniac killer attacks his watchman. And it is *the* anniversary. Small wonder the man wishes to be back in those beautiful old days of his youth, when everything was simplier.
But it's Discworld. Such thoughts are dangerous - they may too easily turn true. And they do.
Cast thirty years back, without money, weapons, friends and with the maniac killer wanting his blood, Vimes is forced to fight against everything - time, history and rapidly multiplying enemies. And it turns out that the anniversary he was hoping to celebrate might be the one of his own death.This book is much darker than the previous ones. We learn how Ankh-Morpork did look like without Vetinari in charge, and it is an ugly sight.
The city is about to change one mad Patrician for another. People are moving, revolution rises its head, decent folks place all their hopes in an unworthy man. Only Vimes knows better. It is an absolute must-read for all the Watch series fans. Just don't expect as many jokes as usual, though the book *is* funny at times.
It offers an unique insight into many characters' youth. You'll meet quite a lot of old acquantainces - young Vimes (promising lad), Dibbler, Colon and Nobby (check for character development here!), Mrs Palm without the Seamstresses Guild, Lord Downey (a bit of a surprise), Lord Rust (no surprise whatsoever). And, of course, Vetinari - the lad does deserve a solid kick for the "boo". A must-read. Repeat - a must-read. Just read all the Watch books earlier, you'll get too much confused if you don't.
Rating:
Summary: Great plotting as always, with bonuses!
Review: Terry Pratchett doesn't seem to be able to write a less than wonderful book. Night Watch is another installment in the popular Discworld series and is a perfectly plotted adventure for Sam Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork Night Watch. The plot starts simply enough, with Vimes having a conversation with a hapless assassin. Thereafter however, the we follow Vimes back in time to the day that he joined the Watch.
This is one of the more moving books Pratchett has written. It fleshes out even more the characters we are growing to love and gives us some peeks into some of the origins of these quirky folks. Pratchett is a master satirist and plotter. If you want some entertaining reading that will still move you and make you think, here it is.
Rating:
Summary: tripping over the past
Review: Once again Terry Pratchett has written a masterpiece. This time it is about the commander of the watch going back in time trying to catch a killer and running into himself as a young copper. Because he has gone back into time, Vimes has to set the past right again or risk damaging the future. The reader gets to meet many of the beloved cast of characters that have emerged from the diskworld series over the last twenty years. The reader meets everyone from Nobby to the Patrician as a young man. The book is as funny as always although it does have that serious undertone that Pratchett has developed over the last couple of years. He explains the reasons to be honest when everyone else is crooked and some of the bad guys get their comeuppance in the usual ways. This is a great book for the Pratchett fanatic, but not for the new reader because there is too much to miss by not knowing the characters from the earlier books. Read the older ones first and you will love the action in this new one. Highly reccommended.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best, but not the funniest
Review: There is a difference. This book was not your usual laugh out loud Discworld novels, but it is probably one of my favorites (though admittedly, I haven't read em all in order...shame on me...). This book digs deeper into the personality of Sam Vimes (yay!, and also goes a little bit into the young life of the Patrician (yay for Vetinari!), and includes cameos of other characters.
Admittedly, I would have liked to see a bit more about young Sam then just "Fetch the crossbow", etc. but nevertheless, a really good book, one that I would buy, because it is something that can be reread over and over (okay, well I buy all the books anyhow, but that's cause my stupid library doesn't have any of the Discworld novels! I hate you library!)
If you're looking for laughs, this isn't for you. If Sam Vimes is a favorite character of yours, or you don't mind the occasional serious books, then buy...*drum roll* NIGHT WATCH!!!
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