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Sam Vines is one of the greatest examples of leadership that can be found amongst any of the SF/F protagonists in the past 50 years.

Pratchett’s main character of his City Watch sub-series, Commander of the Watch Sam Vines, Duke of Ankh-Morpork, who arose from the captain of the night watch, who used to give part of his monthly check to the widows and orphans of fallen watchmen, is again at center stage in this the 34th Discworld novel first published in 2006 and good enough to get a nomination for the Locus Award in the same year.

Now happily married and wrapped around the little finger of his baby boy, little Sam, Vimes has quit drinking but is still very much the low pretense, practical man of the watch, more at home walking the streets of his city than in the Patrician’s office or gussied up for a court appearance. Pratchett has drawn Vimes as an everyman of leadership, a copper’s copper, able to knock some heads together and also fill out a overtime sheet for a shift.

In this episode of Pratchett’s wildly successful Discworld universe, Vimes finds himself trying to solve the murder of an influential and controversial Dwarf leader. The murder comes on the eve of the Koom Valley battle anniversary, the epic and legendary struggle between Dwarves and Trolls. The Dwarf and Troll communities in Ankh-Morpork are bristling for a fight, as ancient animosities seethe and boil to the surface. Vimes’s leadership is put to the test mightily but Pratchett has drawn him from tougher stuff and this is one of Pratchett's best Discworld novels.

Using the Troll-Dwarf vendetta as an allegory for racism, ethnic strife and real life feuds, Pratchett also explores themes of loyalty, leadership, and extremism. Not just for Discworld fans, this is a good book period.

*** 2024 reread -

One of his most serious while at the same time one of his funniest.

There were two or three scenes where I laughed out loud. Really. Threw my head back and had to just laugh and laugh.

Here’s a phrase to explain and Discworld fans will instantly appreciate where I’m coming from:

Fred and Nobby.

Sir Terry’s 34th Discworld novel and this one is about a lot of things, and honestly I thought this was one of the more complicated stories, although he tied things up fairly well at the end.

Dwarves and Trolls don’t like each other, they have been fighting and keeping alive an ancient animosity for centuries. But why? When did this hostility begin and why is the vendetta continuing?

We get into this and lots more as the ancient and misunderstood Battle of Koom Valley is revisited for our edification and entertainment.

Prejudice.

Dwarves and trolls have disliked each other for generations and Mr. Vimes does not like vampires. But all dwarves and trolls are not the same and not all bad. Neither are all vampires. Pratchett makes the point that prejudice’s exist, but it’s up to each of us to decide of what importance they are.

Pratchett also explores the idea that there are some factions that have a vested interest in keeping a feud going and we get into propaganda and political / theological dogma.

While the author has spent several books delving (pun!) into Dwarf culture (The Fifth Elephant is the most notable) we have here some time spent with Troll culture and it was fun. We get to meet Mr. Shine and I’m not going to spoil it because discovering this character was fun.

Good times and I’m off to read another one of these outrageously inventive and entertaining novels.