This 27th Discworld novel has much of the energy and panache that been missing from some of the books of late. He finds living in the past hard, but as always he has a job to do: tracking down a murderer, teaching his younger self out to be a good policeman and incidentally altering the course of history. But at a stroke he finds himself back in the past, courtesy of an unfortunate flash of lightning. Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch had finally achieved all that he has aimed for in life. Īnd still they come - Terry Pratchett's prodigal invention shows not the slightest sign of flagging, and his wonderfully witty Discworld books make up for the occasional thin patch by a colourfully orchestrated succession of brilliant gags and sardonically bizarre plotting. He knows how it's going to end after all, he was there. But if he doesn't try, he wouldn't be Sam Vimes. For if he succeeds, he's got no wife, no child, no riches, no fame - all that will simply vanish. He will do it even if victory will mean giving up the only future he knows. And rather than let them die, Sam will do anything - turn traitor, burn buildings, take over a revolt, anything - to snatch them from the jaws of history.

Sam saw their names on old headstones just this morning - but tonight they're young men who think they have a future. Otherwise, a bloody revolution will start, and good men will die. Because Sam Vimes knows what's going to happen. He must whip the cowardly, despised Night Watch into a crack fighting force - fast. He must find his younger self and teach him everything he knows. He must get a new name and a job, and there's only one job he's good at: cop in the Watch. Flung back in time by a mysterious accident, Sam Vimes has to start all over again. This morning he thought longingly about the good old days. This morning, Commander Vimes of the City Watch had it all.

Terry pratchett night watch series