Monstrous Regiment
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4.7 • 142 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
“Wickedly satirical . . . nothing short of brilliant.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett explores the inanity of war, sexual politics, and why the best man for the job is often a woman in this acerbically funny and poignant Discworld novel.
In the small country of Borogravia, there are strict rules citizens must follow. Women belong in the kitchen—not in offices, pubs, nor pants. And certainly not on the front lines when war comes to Discworld.
Polly Perks took over running her family’s humble inn when her brother, Paul, marched off to war. But it’s been more than two months since his last letter home, and the news from the front is bad. To find her missing brother, the resourceful Polly cuts off her hair and joins the army as a young man named Oliver.
As Polly closely guards her secret, she notices that her fellow recruits seem to be guarding secrets of their own. And before they’ve learned to properly march, Polly and her fellow raw recruits find themselves in the thick of a losing battle. All they have on their side is the most artful sergeant in the army and a vampire with a lust for coffee.
No matter, it’s time to make a stand. . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Monstrous Regiment is a standalone.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
War is hell anywhere but in Pratchett's latest hilarious fantasy, the 28th wickedly satirical Discworld installment (after 2002's Night Watch), which makes some astute comments on power, religious intolerance and sexual stereotyping. Polly Perks, an exuberantly determined Borogravian barmaid, decides to disguise herself as a man to infiltrate the Tenth Foot Light Infantry (aka the Ins-and-Outs) and find her missing soldier brother, Paul. Polly/Oliver/Ozzer kisses a portrait of Grand Duchess Annagovia and enlists under old war-horse Sergeant ("I look after my lads") Jackrum. Shockingly, she eventually discovers most of the ragtag recruits are also female, including some Bad Girls who've escaped from the Girls' Working School, a coffee-craving vampire sworn off blood, a troll and a medic, all under the command of the male but very green Lieutenant Blouse and all absurdly delightful. The touching portrait of Wazzer, an abused girl who becomes a religious fanatic/saint, as well as Pratchett's perceptive handling of a timely topic countries fighting over a quarrel that began 1,000 years ago and quibbling over borders may inspire some sighs as well as laughter. And the author's take on what it takes for Polly to become a man socks, strategically placed ("Just one pair, mark you. Don't get ambitious") is nothing short of brilliant.
