We sometimes find ourselves wandering into the Good Ol' Days: going back to school, maybe reliving moments of a lost
love, or reminiscing memories that made us laugh. We look in hindsight at the bygone days and thought they were easier because we knew better now. Samuel Vimes looked back into his on occassion and thought that being a copper wasn't quite as good as it used to be. Things back then were simpler; patrolling beats on worn-out boots and having his feet think for him, and ringing the bell shouting "All is well", if it was indeed well. Back then, everything was simple. Now he is Duke and Commander of the Watch, a powerful man only second to the Patrician. He is rich and is married to his most beloved Sybil, an heiress of the richest family in town, and who is about to give birth to his first son. He could not ask for anything more. A great position and a great life has its price though, and he finds himself him visiting his Good Ol' Days. By accident, he steps into his Past - literally. All that he had was taken away and he have to act with whatever he has at the moment, if he's planning to have a Future (or
Present): he has to catch a criminal, be his younger self's mentor, set the Present (or Past) correctly, and lead a rebellion for "
Truth, Justice, Freedom, Reasonably-Priced Love and a Hard-Boiled Egg." Even with what he knew, the Good Ol' Days isn't any easier. In fact it became even more difficult. Night Watch is the 29th of 38 (and growing) novels depicting Discworld, a universe with its own set of beings, laws and Physics created by Sci/Fi writer Terry Pratchett. An intricate weaving of Realities much like our Roundworld, only that pretty much everything happens on a land atop a moving turtle. Night Watch takes place in the People's Republic of Treacle Mine Road, Land of Ankh-Morpork, at the time when the police force is starting to form as The Force that the present Ankh is depending so much on. It was up to Sam Vimes to whip the Watch into form and teach them fast in time to survive the revolution that changed everything. Despite being the 29th book in the series, it is very easy to catch the story's drift.
The story is brilliant and I stand in awe and wonder at Pratchett's power to create such. Whilst it provides humor and wonder it still involved the essentials: Politics, Ethics, Religion and Philosophy, played by no-nonsense characters that you can relate to. A dose of hard truth in an otherwise make-believe world. When I find myself seeking what a good leader should be, I think of Sam Vimes and his raggedy army. They aren't perfect; in truth they are a set simpletons and thugs defined as Watch men by their badges. But at the very least, ready or not, they do the job that is infront of them.
Other Titles in the Discworld Series written by Terry Pratchett: The Colour of Magic
the Light Fantastic
Equal Rites
Mort
Sourcery
Wyrd Sisters
Pyramids
Guards! Guards!
Eric (with Josh Kirby)
Moving Pictures
Reaper Man
Witches Abroad
Small Gods
Lords and Ladiesw
Men At Arms
Soul Music
Feet of Clay
Interesteing Times
Maskerade
Hogfather
Jingo
The Last Continent
Carpe Jugulum
the Fifth Elephant
The Truth
Thief of Time
the Last Hero
Mort: A Discworld Big Comic (with Graham Higgins)
The Streets of Ankh-Morpork (with Stephen Briggs)
The Discworld Companion (with Stephen Briggs)
The Discworld Mapp (with Stephen Briggs)
Other works by Terry Pratchett:
The Carpet People
The Dark Side of the Sun
Strata
Truckers . Diggers . Wings
Only You Can Save Mankind
Johnny and the Dead
Johnny and the Bomb
The Unadulterated )
Good omens (with Neil Gaiman)