Monstrous Regiment (Discworld Series)

Taking us from "Don't ask, don't tell," to "Speak deeply and carry a cod piece."

I get caught up in Terry Pratchett stories knowing full well he has a message. That's important because writers may let their message overpower their story (or their story is just a veneer to their message), but Terry Pratchett weaves a tale that traps me. I bought into the story of "Monstrous Regiment" sword, epaulet, and unmentionables. [I may be mistaken that Terry Pratchett has a message; it's possible he just sees situations, institutions, and the world differently, i.e. more clearly that others. In which case it's no wonder his stories come across as they do.]
"Monstrous Regiment" follows the military career of our heroine/hero driven to join the army, but not really out of patriotism. The story follows her during a war initiated out of national false pride and sustained by vilifying an enemy whose army is led by an old friend (to those who read the Discworld stories) from the Ankh-Morpork City Watchmen, Sir Samuel Vimes. While the story is told from our heroines perspective as a soldier following orders, we sense her growing understanding of war from the soldier's perspective as its contrasted with the politician's patriotism, but always there is the central problem faced by, yet hidden by, our heroine; she's a woman in a man's army isn't she?

Well written and humorous read!

Here is yet another well-written Terry Pratchett book. The humor and creative ideas always make me think beyond the topics in the book. A great conversation piece and one to share with others.

A very funny read

I put off reading this for a long time. I thought it sounded stupid, a girl trying to pass herself off as a boy in the army to find her lost brother? Boring. But then I ran out of terry pratchett books to read and said "what the heck, how bad could it be?" I was really glad I did and I was surprised at how much I laughed at what I thought was a stupid book. Polly joins a unit filled with other humans, a troll, an igor and a vampire who's addicted to coffee. It kept me guessing (and laughing) until the end.

monstrous good time

An entertaning read about unlikely heroes & how they grow & learn from each other and the circumstances they face.

Pratchett displays his witty knowledge of human pshycology once again!

Following the Young girl Polly 'Ozzer' Perks, Monstrous Regiment proves itself to be an excellent addition to Mr. Pratchett's reportoire. Polly cuts her golden hair short and heads off to join the In's-and-Out's, The Borogravian army's most recognized regiment. Other recruits with secrets of their own join up at the same time as her, including Carborundum, a troll, Maladict, a vampire who drinks coffee instead of blood, and Igor, an Igor. Led by Seargent Jackrum and his evil little corporal Strappi, the less than efficient troops are led off to be trained, or so they think. The excellent balance of not-so-specific details to activate the user's imagination and elaborated comparitive descriptions leave the reader feeling very satisfied. Humor is knitted into the very fabric of the plot, keeping a person entertained and still allowing seriousness when called for.

One of my favorites

As a teenage reader who adores Discworld, I'd have to say that next to Nightwatch, this is one of his bests. Pratchett displays that he can write other characters just as well as the old crowd, and as a comment to the last review--any adult who couldn't get through a Discworld book, or calls himself a reader that wouldn't finish a book, is a dunce and maybe should look for some easier titles to read. I suggest Winnie the Pooh. Enough plot in there?

Monstrous Misfire

I've read all of the Discworld books and have THUD on order. MONSTROUS REGIMENT is the poorest one next to SMALL GODS. Terry writes well but the story was stale and it's development hackneyed and predictable. I prayed I would be wrong about the ending but I wasn't. I'm surprised the feminists aren't upset. Aren't women suppose to put an end to war? Actually the title is the best bit about the book. It is taken from the title of John Knox's pamphlet against women rulers, especially the Catholic rulers, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary Tudor. He got into hot water when Elizabeth, a Protestant, came to power. None of these women were afraid to use the power of the sword. It is a shame that the book couldn't be as clever as the title. Fortunately Terry has few duds.

The Best One Yet

I have read all of the Discworld novels except for Thief of Time and Going Postal (but that one I have yet to read due to the fact it's not out yet), but I think this one may be my favorite. If you liked the other Discworld novels, you will love this one.

reviewing the reviews

Nancy K Wallace should read the books she's reviewing before she attempts to review them. As for the book, well written Pratchett as usual. Great socio-politcal commentary.

Gotta Love Pratchett!

An interesting story with engaging characters in a typically absurd (but sadly plausible) situation. I enjoyed the characters, particularly the 'black ribboner' vampire. By the way, the title refers to the document, 'The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women' by John Knox. It can be found on the internet, just look. It's an interesting read. I feel sorry for the fella who couldn't finish 'Monstrous Regiment'. Some of the best bits are at the end!

First Discworld novel I couldn't finish.

I have read and enjoyed the entire Discworld series but stopped reading this one 3/4 of the way though. Most of the book is simply attempted character developement, which gets repetetive fairly early on and stays that way, never reaching any real depth. The plot that actually existed, had it been in a well planned book, would have taken up no more than a few chapters. The book seems to be a long string of peeing, belching, sock-placement comments, targeted at a female audience, including a gratuitous lesbian couple and a girl looking for the father of her child born from a one-night-stand, and when I reached the point of the trip to a brothel follwed shortly by a scene where one of the main characters lifts up her skirt to expose her crotch to a military captain, I finally called it quits, thinking 'this is a Discworld novel?'. I get enough of this type of stuff from the rest of the media. The only things that really called Discworld to mind were the sparse cameo appearances by Vimes and his usual bunch, added in just so the reader doesn't get too homesick. The book has a little of the usual Pratchett wisdom and humor (though very little), but if it was an attempt to make some real commentary on war (he already did that in Jingo) or sexual roles in society, it fell flat there too. As an adult, I couldn't finish this book, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to my young family members either. Disappointing.

strong Discworld tale

Over the last three decades, the Duchy of Borogravia has declared war on all of its neighbors. Now more countries have formed the alliance whose goal is to destroy the duchy. The prince of Zlobenia is the heir to the Borogravian throne and hopes to prove the ruling family has died out so he can incorporate it into his country. Polly is not interested in issues of state but intends to find her brother and bring him home.

She disguises herself as a male and signs up to join the army. Her unit consists of other females masquerading as men, a vampire, a troll, an Igor as well as a heroic sergeant. When they capture some enemy soldiers, instead of taking them as POW¿s, they end up releasing them, not realizing one of the soldiers is the prince of Zlobenia. Their actions bring them to the attention of the Alliance who is inspired by the courage of the MONSTROUS REGIMENT and hesitates to invade their country. That hesitation gives Polly and the other members of the unit a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of the Alliance and a chance for Borogravia to retain its independence.

It¿s always a pleasure visiting Discworld where the magical and mundane exist side by side. MONSTROUS REGIMENT is one of the better novels in this long running series because the characters are zany and quirky yet somehow believable. Terry Pratchett seems to write a light-hearted comical fantasy but in reality he is using humor to provide a very deep condemnation of terrorists and nations that make war inevitable.

Harriet Klausner

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