'Guards! Guards!' - Book Review

The eighth Discworld novel, Pratchett introduces the Night Watch, Carrot, Captain Vimes, Sergeant Colon, and Corporal "Nobby" Nobbs. The Night Watch has been beaten into complete insignificance by the crime in the city, and Captain Vimes of the Watch has slowly slid into alcoholism (although Pratchett would never use that word, seeing it as merely heavy drinking in the face of an obstacle and easily solved ...). Things begin to change when a dragon starts attacking the city and Carrot joins the watch. Carrot Ironfoundersson isn't a dwarf, although he's having trouble adjusting to that fact. He grew up as a dwarf after his parents found him as a baby. By the time he got to be 6'6", his parents found it necessary to admit to him that he was, in fact, an adopted human. And so he ventured to the city (Ankh-Morpork, of course) with his unbending morality, durable sword, and not terribly swift brain to make his way in the world.

The Watch are one of Pratchett's more memorable crews, particularly Carrot. I prefer my heroes reasonably intelligent, but I'm willing to make an exception for one as charming, literal-minded, and funny as Carrot.