PTerryness.

[nny]

I slept last night. Which, for those of you that might hang around on street corners YM! will know, was a novelty. Mmmm, sleep. I'm pretty sure I had good dreams, too, and they were probably surreal, but I have no idea what they were other than happy.

Had my test on Pronunciation of English yesterday, and I think I did pretty well- at least on the translation and transcribing. This is due, in part, to copperbadge, whose Snupin I was transcribing phonetically all morning. Cheers Sam. Though I was giggling quite a lot when I was translating...

Just finished reading Monstrous Regiment.


I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it yet. I should probably read it again before making judgements... but, y'know, screw it.

Over all, I did enjoy the book. It had a good story, some genuinely chilling, thrilling parts, and a few bits that made me shove a hand in my mouth to prevent myself exploding with laughter at 4am. (The ornithology footnote, anyone?)

I cheered when Otto appeared. I loved the Truth, and I was genuinely excited that they were in the book. And, naturally, any Vimes completely makes my day. I was disappointed that there wasn't *more* Vimes- the Watch books are my favourites as a set, and Night Watch would probably be my overall favourite book. Initially I was a major fan of all of the Vetinari/Vimes interaction, but over the books Vimes has been become more and more fleshed out... I just adore his character. Even though he was only briefly in MR, the scenes he had counted.

But... there was something a little empty about it, for me. I may change my mind over further readings, but... it didn't have the immediate emotional impact of other books by PTerry. Possibly it's because I was having a little trouble keeping everyone's names straight at the beginning. As they were being referred to by first names, surnames and nicknames by turns, I got slightly confused. It'll make more sense on another reading.

It also doesn't help that I haven't seen Platoon, Apocalypse Now, or whatever else PTerry happened to be referencing. I've never been a major war film fan.

It rang a little hollow. I wanted to be amazingly moved by the part where Polly finds Paul, and he's drawing. I felt like it should be a moment where I teared up. There *was* a feeling of vague happiness, but largely I was just feeling... meh. It seems a shame, because other Discworld books- "In this time, and in this place..." for instance- I was biting my lip, pain in my chest, as I tried not to well up. I wish I had cared more about the characters, but I really didn't.

So all round, I remain unconvinced. It's a genuinely good book, and I will read it again, of course. But it won't be one of my favourites.

Oh, and I thought Maladict should've been a boy.


I'd be interested in hearing what anyone else has to say about it, because I've never had anyone to discuss Discworld with just after I've finished a book, before. *g*

Comments

[villainny.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'd really like to see that happen. Vetinari would probably do it just to piss people off, because he does so like that, and Vimes is so very good at it.

I half-formulated a V/V at one point, which involved Vetinari getting very, *very* angry when Vimes died, because Vimes was no longer there to do it for him. Because the way I see it, Vimes is like his stress relief. (No, not like that. Not that I'm arguing against the V/V, obviously. Bear with me here. *g*) He uses Vimes because he's not in a position where he *can* get angry with people. He's constrained by his position, and is unable to make a difference. So he subtly directs Vimes, and watches the carnage with a raised eyebrow and the slightest suggestion of a smirk.

I'm not saying anything new here, I realise. I can't remember what my point was, either. Bollocks. Hang on. =) Uuuum... yeah, basically I was saying that that'd make a good story. *g* I just happened to do it in a particularly long-winded way.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'd really like to see that happen.

Oh, so would I - and since Vetinari getting impeached is a staple of the Watch books, I'm really hoping it will happen. Vetinari lets Vimes in on a lot of his trade secrets, and Vimes sure does learn from them. The Sam Vimes of Guards!Guards! is definitely not the same Vimes of Night Watch - and it's not just Sybil's influence what's done it ;-) If they weren't the same age, it would almost appear that Vetinari was grooming Vimes as a successor.

I agree entirely regarding the "stress relief." Is it in Feet of Clay where Drumknott remarks something like, "It occurs to me that if Commander Vimes didn't exist, you would have had to invent him," and Vetinari replies, "You know, Drumknott, I rather think I did." Vimes is truly Vetinari's terrier all the way, and Vetinari obviously finds Vimes' directness and low tolerance for politics very refreshing.

They've got an...interesting relationship. Followed closely by that of Vetinari and Leonard, and Vetinari and Drumknott. I've got a Vetinari/Drumknott/Leonard story outlined on my harddrive that I haven't touched in over a year, but that I hope will have magically finished itself by the next time I check ;-)

[villainny.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'd be interested in the V/D/L story if you ever get it done. Or if you wanna cookie me. *g*

copperbadge wrote a good Vetinari/Drumknott called "Mentor" which I liked.

Also... I'm intrigued by the character mentioned oh-so-briefly in Night Watch- Winder's assistant, who went on to work for Snapcase. Seemed terribly familiar, though I'm not entirely sure who it was he reminded me of.

Since I see Drumknott as being very much younger than Vetinari, perhaps it was his father as a reasonably young man? I like to speculate. *g*

I also have a bizarre urge to slash Drumknott/Andre, and have been trying to think of a way to do it. Very sketchy outlin filed away in the back of my mind, which I bring out to play with occasionally.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

*lol* We're all off-kilter with our posts. Every time I finish writing one, there's a response to my last in my inbox!

Ooh, I'd be interested in the V/D/L story if you ever get it done.

I suppose I just might have to, after the Buggering Bee's done. It's one of those plotbunnies that just won't die, you know. It takes the idea that Leonard is like his double in our world, and was rather fond of the lads. When the latest Achemists' Guild building blows up, an old portfolio is found among the rubble. And who would these nude sketches be of? Vetinari of course :-) The pictures make the rounds of Ankh-Morpork, with the Times, the Watch, and Drumknott hot on the trail. *grin*

Drumknott/Andre, I would definitely read. I became quite fond of Drumknott in The Truth. Reminds me of Percy Weasley, but with a much better employer ;-)

[villainny.livejournal.com]

Wow. That story sounds brilliant. PLease, please, PLEASE! *g*

I think Drumknott's too wise to be as ambitious as Percy- at least outwardly. Vetinari wouldn't trust someone with too much ambition, so Drumknott would be careful to be quiet, efficient, and invisible. Which, I suppose, is why I immediately connect him with the clerk in Night Watch.

But I find Drumknott intriguing, and I'd definitely like to hear more about him.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Mm...yes, I agree he's definitely not as ambitious as Percy. Vetinari doesn't want another Lupine Wonse on his hands, and Drumknott strikes me more as the type of person who just likes to do his assigned job anal-retentively well. But when he's defending Vetinari in The Truth, it made me think of the Percy-Crouch parallels. Of course, Drumknott has the better reason to be loyal - and the cooler boss ;-)