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Thud!: A Novel Of Discworld.
 
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Thud!: A Novel Of Discworld. (Hardcover)

by Terry. Pratchett (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Ankh-Morpork's City Watch Commander, Sam Vimes, stars in the latest entry in Pratchett's popular Discworld series (Going Postal, etc.). "Thud" is the sound that commences the novel, as a dwarf is bludgeoned to death; it's also the name of a chesslike match that recreates the battle of Koom Valley, a long-ago fight between trolls and dwarfs. As the anniversary of the battle approaches, ancient politics and the present-day murder cause tensions between the trolls and dwarfs to boil. Though Koom Valley was a disaster for both sides, certain community leaders from each side have been spoiling for a rematch—something Vimes is duty-bound to prevent. In the midst of this, a push toward affirmative action forces Vimes to hire a vampire named Sally to the Watch. She's sworn off human blood, but that's cold comfort to the assortment of humans, dwarfs, trolls, werewolves and golems that make up the police force. Vimes and his motley crew of coppers are called upon to not only find the murderer and keep the peace but also, in a jab at The Da Vinci Code, solve the riddle of a painting that reputedly holds the secret to what really happened at Koom Valley. Pratchett's fantastic imagination and satirical wit are on full display.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist

Unwilling to get caught up in the fact that he is the duke of Ankh-Morpork, Commander Vimes still shaves himself and runs the Watch as well as he can. Lord Veternari forces him to get involved in politics, though, because the Watch is incurring serious expense as it grows, and because his multicultural efforts have forced him to hire a vampire as a member of the Watch. Vimes has a lot on his plate, anyway, what with the upcoming anniversary of Koom Valley (a battle between trolls and dwarves that is part of an age-old war), an unsolved murder that reveals the limitations of the Watch in dwarfish eyes, and the theft of a valuable painting from the Royal Art Museum. On top of everything he does as part of his job, he must make it home at six o'clock on the dot every day to read to his young son. Everything is connected, of course--even Sally, the vampire taken on by the Watch. Unsettling secrets are revealed about the true history of Koom Valley, and in a basement in the city, dwarves and trolls are playing the game Thud!, a miniature battle of Koom Valley, together. As always, Pratchett's latest Discworld yarn is funny, fast-paced, the kind of satire that explores serious issues while making readers love it. Regina Schroeder
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Guarding Dark, Nov 17 2007
By Craobh Rua "Craobh Rua" (N. Ireland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Thud! (Mass Market Paperback)
"Thud" is thirty-fourth novel in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series, was first published in 2005 and is the seventh to focus on Sam Vimes and Ankh-Morpork's City Watch.

Sam is the Commander of the City Guard, and - having married Lady Ramkin - a member of the nobility. He's also recently become a father and has made reading "Where's My Cow" to his son every evening at six o'clock his top priority. Despite being a devoted father, however, he mightn't necessarily be considered a typical hero : he doesn't like Assassins (they keep trying to kill him), Kings (it's an old family traditions : even in chess, he supports the pawns) and the Undead (particularly vampires).

For the most part, Ankh-Morpork's ethnic groupings are already well-represented in the Watch. Sam's most capable officer is Captain Carrot - who was born human, although raised as a dwarf. Carrot is an incredibly innocent and very honest character and is widely believed to be Ankh-Morpork's rightful King. (Sam has - to date - refrained from beheading him). Carrot's girlfriend, Angua, is also a member of the City Guard - though, being a werewolf, she also shares Sam's misgivings about vampires. Sergeant Detritus, a troll who deals roughly with troll drug-dealers, seems a natural - not to mention likable - cop, though Sergeant Colon and Corporal Nobbs (a confirmed slacker and probably human) are the most experienced officers. Cheery Littlebottom is an ex-alchemist dwarf, who more or less founded forensics department. (Cheery left the Guild of Alchemists after, accidentally, blowing up the Guild Council). However, for the first time, "Thud" sees a vampire apply to join the Watch. The vampire in question, Sally von Humpeding, is fortunately a Black Ribboner - meaning she abstains from drinking blood. However, her presence naturally makes a few people uncomfortable - most notably Sam and Angua.

The Battle of Koom Valley was fought many years ago between trolls and dwarves and is quite possibly unique - in that both sides were ambushed by the other. Although there is always a certain amount of tension between the two species throughout the year, things tend tend to become a little worse as the battle's anniversary comes around. Things have been even worse recently, though with the arrival of several Grags the previous month. A Grag is a deep-downer and a master of dwarfish lore - naturally, they are very influential in Ankhh-Morpork's dwarfish community. One of them - Grag Hamcrusher - has naturally been stirring up a great deal of trouble. Naturally, when Hamcrusher is murdered, Sam feels it's the City Watch's responsibility to investigate. The dwarves, who are quite happy to blame a troll, don't agree.

As is things weren't difficult enough, "The Battle of Koom Valley" by Methodia Rascal is also stolen from the Royal Art Museum. The (incredibly detailed) painting itself is priceless, despite the fact that Rascal was somewhat insane. (He believed he was being relentlessly pursued by a chicken). There are also rumours of a mysterious Mr Shine amongst the trolls - a diamond geezer, if the graffiti is to be believed. Worst of all, the Patrician has unleashed a government inspector - Mr A.E. Pessimal - on the Watch.

Another cracking book from Pratchett - as usual there's plenty of humour and with a great storyline `underneath' it all. Excellent stuff, highly recommended !
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5.0 out of 5 stars Thud! A no-brainer!, Sep 23 2007
This review is from: Thud! (Hardcover)
Always my favourite author, Terry Pratchett has outdone even himself with his latest reads. Thud! is one of the greatest mixtures of adventure, fantasy, moral and humour in literature.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner for Pratchett, Nov 16 2005
By Janelle Martin "member of RIO, Reviewers Inte... (Waterloo, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Thud! (Hardcover)
It started with a painting and a codex...or did it? Whisper the words Koom Valley and see the average Watch Officer pale as they recollect the bloody battle between trolls and dwarfs. Once again it is up to Sam Vimes and the City Watch to save Ankh-Morpork, but this time the threat comes from below.

One of the luminaries of fantasy fiction, Terry Pratchett is best known for cutting British wit, combined with liberal helpings of intelligence and imagination that infuse his Discworld series. To go back to the beginning, Discworld is what it sounds like, a disc-shaped world that is carried on the back of four giant elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle swimming through space. It's a place of magic, thriving cities, and all the usual races you'd expect to find in a fantasy novel - and many you wouldn't.

At the best of times it is difficult to describe a Pratchett novel. The Disc is a confusing place and characters from the various sub-series don't tend to remain in their places, popping up in other plot lines for a cameo before moving off until the next book calling for a walk-on. The easiest thing to say is that if you like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you'll like these books.

Thud! is the 8th book in the City Watch sub-series, about the adventures of the police force of Ankh-Morpork, the largest (and most lawless?) city on the Disc. For the uninitiated, there is enough here that it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone work of comedic fantasy. To truly savour Thud!, grab a copy of Guards! Guards! and experience the City Watch in their first adventure before sinking your teeth into this one.

Pratchett mocks everything so it is not surprising to see yesterday's headlines showing up in his latest work. Some of his best Discworld books come from his gentle mockery of organized religion (Small Gods), politics (Jingo) and Death (Mort). Put them together into one book and it's bound to make all true Pratchett fans stand up and cheer. Add shades of the Da Vinci Code, orthodox religious traditions á la the Taliban, mandatory readings of the preschooler bestseller Where's My Cow and you know Pratchett's turned in some of his best work.

Really, should any series still be this good with the 30th book?

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Dealing with Dwarfian fundamentalism
Ankh-Morpork, the Great City of Discworld, is proud of its "multiculturalism". Except here, it's "multi-speciesism". Read more
Published on Oct 18 2005 by Stephen A. Haines

5.0 out of 5 stars How Green was Koom Valley
On June 28, 1389 a combined army of Serbs, Bosnians, Albanians and Romanians waged a fierce battle against an Ottoman army on the Plains of Kosovo. Read more
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5.0 out of 5 stars Wachen graben tiefer!  Watchmen dig deeper!
Fans der Wache werden dieses Buch lieben (andere Scheibenweltleser bestimmt auch). Es geht nicht nur um die Hauptperson Samuel Vimes, sondern die gesamte Wache wird stark in die... Read more
Published on Sep 19 2005 by Rubby

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