Summary
Night Watch is the 29th novel in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and the sixth book focusing on the City Watch. The story follows Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch as he is accidentally transported 30 years into the past while pursuing a dangerous criminal named Carcer. Vimes finds himself in a younger, more volatile Ankh-Morpork on the eve of the Glorious Revolution of the Twenty-Fifth of May.
Forced to assume the identity of his deceased mentor, John Keel, Vimes must navigate the treacherous political landscape of the past while trying to maintain the timeline and ensure his own existence. He takes charge of a group of inexperienced watchmen, including his younger self, and begins to teach them the lessons that will shape the future of the Watch.
As tensions in the city rise, Vimes finds himself caught between the corrupt government forces, including the secret police known as the Unmentionables, and the revolutionary elements seeking to overthrow the paranoid and unstable Patrician, Lord Winder. Vimes must use all his experience and cunning to keep his part of the city relatively peaceful amidst the growing unrest.
The story culminates in the Revolution itself, with Vimes leading his makeshift force to create a safe haven dubbed “The Glorious People’s Republic of Treacle Mine Road”. He must also confront Carcer, who has joined the Unmentionables and threatens to alter history.
Throughout the novel, Vimes grapples with the moral implications of his actions in the past and their potential impact on the future. He must also reconcile his memories of John Keel with the reality of his own actions while assuming Keel’s identity.
The novel explores themes of justice, the nature of law enforcement, the impact of mentorship, and the complexities of political revolution. It also delves into the personal growth of Sam Vimes as he reflects on his own past and the events that shaped him into the man he became.
Key themes:
- Time travel and its consequences
- The nature of law and justice
- Political corruption and revolution
- Personal growth and self-reflection
- The impact of mentorship and education
- The cyclical nature of history
Character Details
Sir Samuel Vimes
Sir Samuel Vimes is the protagonist of Night Watch and the commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. A complex and principled man, Vimes is known for his unwavering sense of justice and his deep-seated distrust of authority. In this novel, we see Vimes at his most vulnerable and introspective as he is forced to confront his own past and the events that shaped him.
Vimes is a skilled policeman with a keen understanding of human nature and the streets of Ankh-Morpork. His journey through time forces him to adapt quickly, using his experience and wit to navigate the dangerous political landscape of the past. Throughout the story, Vimes struggles with the moral implications of his actions, knowing that any change to the past could have drastic consequences for the future.
As he assumes the role of his mentor, John Keel, Vimes gains a new perspective on his own development as a watchman and a leader. This experience allows him to appreciate the impact that good mentorship can have on shaping a person’s character and career.
Carcer
Carcer is the primary antagonist of Night Watch, a dangerous and cunning criminal who is transported to the past along with Vimes. Unlike Vimes, Carcer sees the time travel as an opportunity to reshape history to his advantage. He quickly ingratiates himself with the corrupt authorities of the past, joining the feared secret police known as the Unmentionables.
Carcer is a psychopath with a cheerful demeanour that masks his violent and unpredictable nature. He serves as a dark reflection of Vimes, representing the path that Vimes could have taken if he had succumbed to the corruption and violence that surrounded him in his youth. Carcer’s presence in the past threatens not only Vimes’ mission but the entire timeline of Ankh-Morpork’s history.
Young Sam Vimes
The younger version of Sam Vimes appears as a naive and impressionable recruit in the Night Watch. Through his interactions with his older self (disguised as John Keel), we see the foundations of the man Vimes will become. Young Sam is eager to learn and has a strong sense of right and wrong, but he is also susceptible to the corruption and cynicism that pervades the Watch at this time.
Watching his younger self, Vimes gains new insights into his own character and the events that shaped him. The relationship between Vimes and his younger self forms a crucial part of the novel’s exploration of personal growth and the impact of mentorship.
Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs
Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs are long-standing members of the Watch who appear in both the past and present timelines. In the past, we see them as young recruits, already displaying the characteristics that will define them in the future.
Fred Colon is a simple but generally good-natured man who tends to follow the path of least resistance. Nobby Nobbs is a small, weaselly character of questionable species who has a knack for self-preservation. Their presence provides both comic relief and a sense of continuity between the past and present versions of the Watch.
Lord Vetinari
While not a central character in the novel, the young Havelock Vetinari plays a crucial role in the events of the Revolution. As a student at the Assassins’ Guild, Vetinari is involved in the “removal” of Lord Winder, the paranoid and unstable Patrician of Ankh-Morpork.
This younger version of Vetinari already displays the cunning and political acumen that will eventually lead him to become the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork in Vimes’ present. His actions during the Revolution provide insight into the complex relationship between Vetinari and Vimes in the future.
Reader Fit
Night Watch is an excellent choice for fans of the Discworld series, particularly those who enjoy the City Watch storylines. It offers a deeper exploration of Sam Vimes’ character and the history of Ankh-Morpork, making it especially appealing to readers who have followed Vimes’ development throughout the series.
The novel’s blend of humour, social commentary and philosophical musings on the nature of law and justice will appeal to readers who enjoy thought-provoking fantasy. Its exploration of time travel and its consequences will also attract science fiction fans.
Those interested in political intrigue, revolutions and the complexities of maintaining order in chaotic times will find much to appreciate in Night Watch. The book’s themes of personal growth, mentorship, and the cyclical nature of history make it a compelling read for anyone interested in character-driven narratives.
Quick Facts
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Science Fiction
Publication Year: 2002
Reading Time Estimate: 10-12 hours
Notable Awards: Placed second in the annual Locus Poll for best fantasy novel
Related Books
- “Thud!” by Terry Pratchett – Another Discworld novel featuring Sam Vimes and the City Watch.
- “Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman – A comedic fantasy novel that shares Pratchett’s wit and style.
- “The Eyre Affair” by Jasper Fforde – A genre-bending novel that combines elements of fantasy, crime fiction, and classic literature.
