Night's Watch is excellent, but has a major problem.
Werthead Send a noteboard - 18/10/2009 03:47:07 PM
Anyone can read SMALL GODS with no foreknowledge of the series. In fact, it apparently takes place 100-odd years before the rest of the series, so it has no links to the other books at all (although the presence of the Death of Rats is a possible continuity error but it's not that big a deal). It works well and is completely stand-alone.
NIGHT WATCH, on the other hand, requires context and familiarity with the character of Vimes (and knowing some stuff about the Patrician as well helps). The book is okay as a one-off, but to really 'get' it you need to have, ideally, read the previous five books featuring Vimes beforehand.
Also, NIGHT WATCH's main strength is its very thorough character study of Vimes himself which is brilliantly done, but the religious/reason theme of SMALL GODS is more universal and relevant to the times.
NIGHT WATCH, on the other hand, requires context and familiarity with the character of Vimes (and knowing some stuff about the Patrician as well helps). The book is okay as a one-off, but to really 'get' it you need to have, ideally, read the previous five books featuring Vimes beforehand.
Also, NIGHT WATCH's main strength is its very thorough character study of Vimes himself which is brilliantly done, but the religious/reason theme of SMALL GODS is more universal and relevant to the times.
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
- 16/10/2009 11:35:23 PM
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*NM*
It's in my top 5, but I prefer Night's Watch *NM*
- 17/10/2009 01:18:43 PM
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Night's Watch is excellent, but has a major problem.
- 18/10/2009 03:47:07 PM
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