Of Monsters and Men

Recently, I've had the song Love Love Love by the the Indie Folk band Of Monsters and Men on replay. But the monsters and men I was talking about in my title is of an entirely different nature.

Recently I've read Terry Pratchett's Night Watch. Again, this is a friend's recommendation. I wasn't so sure what to expect when he said it was sci-fi/fantasy. I was thinking Star Wars meet Lord of the Rings, but the Night Watch didn't prove to be that epic. It was a lovely read nevertheless: slightly dark, but mostly comical.

I love how Duke Sam Vines always cringes when watching his younger self. And Pratchett successfully made me want to strangle Carcer. When I read the synopsis, I was afraid it was just going to be another cheesy, standard time travel story about love (and maybe some dragons versus cellphones gag) and heroism, but I'm glad I read this book. I feel like I've been converted into a comic fantasy fan, they sure are lovely to read.

Pratchett invites us to the Discworld, a world where law-enforcing officers are merely keeping safe appearances and where the single ruler is corrupt (and hegemony still exists). There, Sam Vines is part of the Night Watch, what he labels as decent men (too visually unappealing for the Day Watch) trying to make a living. Some want to join the infantry but can't. Some enjoy the free benefit of leeching off citizens for free meals. Some act like a gangster mob and demand payment for protection. And, miraculously, some genuinely want to protect the people.

Sounds familiar? These problems are pretty much ubiquitous in our own world.

The Night Watch makes us think, it criticizes the corruption that we ourselves face, but it also criticizes how most people in Ankh-Morpork (like those in our own countries), does nothing about it. Of course, a revolution occurs at the end of the book, though the revolution is more of a staged farce, with people like Reg Shoe claiming a Socialist stance but ending up with a Ruler who isn't must different from the fallen Lord Winder. Of course, this is what happens a lot of the times in our own countries as well.

Egypt, for example, practically ends up back in military hands even after a so-called democratic election is held after the fall of Mubarak. Funny how the world works.

Pratchett makes us cringe at the situation in Ankh-Morpork and makes us cringe at ourselves. He makes us laugh at the disorientation that the people of Ankh-Morpork face in their crisis, then makes us laugh at ourselves.

Lots of gags and comical scenes in Night Watch. In fact, you tend to read them in a serious tone, because the characters are facing trouble after trouble, but then you realize (a second to late), how funny the scenes are.

Duke Sam Vines is presented as the noble, near-incorruptible hero of Ankh-Morpork. After being thrown back in time, he leads his old Night Watch squad by replacing his former mentor, John Keel, who was murdered by a criminal that came to the past along with Vines. We watch as he takes control of the crowd, orders his man around and ultimately lead the revolution. See, those who know history are not bound to repeat it, and that's what Vines want to (and at the same time, doesn't want to) do.

The readers are whisked off to the fire of revolution, then to the incessant (slightly foolish) banter of the nobles, then to Sybil's intense childbirth, then to Carcer's murderous intents, to the Night Watch mourning their dead, to the cavalry deserters getting taunted by their grandmothers. The Night Watch is a melting pot of everything.

Definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone. Meanwhile, I'll be on the hunt for more Terry Pratchett books from now on.

See you soon, Discworld.