Unlike most other Discworld novels, this is not a funny book. It’s exploratory and philosophical and delves deep into the natures of leadership and decency, courage and tolerance. By accident, Sam Vimes, the Watch Commander of Ankh-Morpork and a Duke, is transported 30 years into the past, when the young Sam Vimes was just starting his work in the city police. The streets are boiling with unrest on the eve of a bloody rebellion, and it’s up to the older and much more experienced Vimes to preserve as many lives as he could, even if he can’t prevent the senseless revolution.
The older Sam Vimes is pessimistic and grim, with 30 years of experience as a policeman behind him. He doesn’t have any illusions left, neither about the common citizens nor about his fellow policemen, but he values lives and above all, he respects the Law. His integrity is never for sale, no matter the price. When the need arises, he puts his skills and his life on the line, and the Night Watch rallies around him. Like any good leader, he makes heroes out of the average men, inspires them by his irreverence towards authority and his acceptance of human follies. He makes sensible decisions, disregards cruel or ignorant orders of his superiors, and always leads by example.“Don't put your trust in revolutions. They always come round again. That's why they're called revolutions. People die, and nothing changes.”
The story is seemingly slow, rooting for a wide panorama and deep understanding instead of a lighter mockery, as in many of Pratchett’s earlier novels. Nothing is galloping or hurtling ahead. The events are gradually expanding, rolling forward like an unstoppable avalanche. When the plot gathers momentum, nothing can stop it.
Of all the City Watch books I’ve read so far, this one made the best and most profound psychological portrait of Sam Vimes. Finally, after several earlier volumes, I could see the man in all his complexity, and my respect for him, high already, soared. I wish our city police was led by such a guy.
The other characters are less distinctive, but there are many of them: good and bad, funny and whiny, clever and stupid. The entire crowd congregates and pivots around one human focus – Sam Vimes, the embodiment of a Leader.
A great read.
