Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards! is the eighth novel in his popular Discworld series. It is a fantasy satire of detective and classic police procedural stories, as well as a commentary on power and rule.
The story takes place in the city-state of Ankh-Morpork, which is the hub of the Discworld - a flat world situated on the backs of four elephants, which are in turn standing on the back of the giant turtle the Great A'Tuin. The city is home to many species and characters, which can all be seen on the Discworld.
The main plot revolves around a group of dragon-like creatures called Luggage who mysteriously appear in the city of Ankh-Morpork and wreak havoc, along with their leader - a mysterious and unnaturally large black dragon who one-by-one destroys the city's unguarded monuments. In a fit of panic, the Patrician, Lord Vetinari, assigns the Night Watch to guard the city, but it soon becomes clear that this is a much bigger problem than first thought.
A series of mysterious events occur, and the Night Watch are led to a top-secret location which leads to their discovery of a powerful magical artifact - the Dragonpole, which is capable of controlling dragons. They realise that the dragon is being controlled by the Grand Wizard, who is using the Dragonpole to steal the wealth of Ankh-Morpork and sow revolt.
Carrot, a new addition to the Night Watch, gathers together a small group of citizens with the intent of using the Dragonpole to stop the Grand Wizard and save Ankh-Morpork. He encounters many obstacles, such as a giant trapdoor spider and a magical forest. Eventually, Carrot and his companions succeed in reaching the Grand Wizard's tower and destroying the Dragonpole.
The themes of the novel are power, bureaucracy, corruption and justice - with many shades and implications of good and evil evident as the characters suppress their own desires and bravely fight to protect the people of Ankh-Morpork. Pratchett sends a powerful message – that justice and freedom are worth fighting for.
Guards! Guards! is an original, humorous and inspirational story that is sure to be loved by fans of the Discworld series and fantasy fans alike. It is full of Pratchett's trademark wit, engaging characters, and vivid settings, and is a timeless story of justice, courage and the power of friendship.
