Jingo (Discworld Novels) (original 1997; edition 2009)

Takes a bit to get going, the set up is a bit boring. This is one of the ones that feels a little unfinished or too full or something. Nobby continues to be a brilliant character. ( )

I sometimes wonder how well Pratchett's books translate into different languages and cultures. This one has Ankh Morpork going to war with Klatch over an island that sprung from the depths of the Circle Sea. The Klatchians are a desert people, who wear Lawrence of Arabia robes and towels on their heads, make curry, offer visitors eyeballs to see if they'll eat them, speak in a curiously curly font that is reminiscent of Arabic script and are very hot on hospitality. They are also reputed to run away at the first sight of cold steel. hmmm - sounds like they've been lumbered with just about every English stereotype of foreigners that you care to recal! Hence my musing as to how well this translates.



In the midst of escallating tension between the two communities, the Klatchian ambassador is the subject of an assassination attempt which the clues point to being a Klatchian plot - Vimes doesn't believe this is the case.



Anyway, war is declared and the leaders of society have deposed the patrician as not being sufficiently warlike enough. The gentlemen of society are raising their private regiments and Lord Rust (Ronnie) appears to be in overal charge, despite having a grasp of military tactics equivalent to a whelk. Vimes is less than happy about the situation, until he recieves a note that reminds him he is also a Knight and thus entitled to raise his own regiment. He does so, but it is a regiment of policemen who follow the trail of the assassination attempt to Klatch.



There is a saying that the first casualty of war is truth, but Vimes is not of that school of thought. He tracks down criminals, regardless of whether they commited big crimes or little crimes - a crime is a crime and he's a policeman. ( )

I think this is probably my favourite Discworld book, and I have read them all. I love Vimes, he is probably my favourite character, and I particularly enjoy him in this: struggling against what he wants to think, so he can do what is right. I like Carrot's ability to organise a football game between two armies as it also amuses me greatly. All in all, a lovely book, laugh out loud (NOT to be read on public transport). The only book I like more by this author is his collaboration with Neil Gaiman. There are about six core books I take everywhere I move (my job is kind of nomadic) and this is one: I know it will make me smile always. ( )

In this adventure, commander Vimes has to deal with quite a lot of things ranging from assassinations to arson and conspiracy. Smack in the middle of it all is a mysterious island discovered between Klatch and Ankh-Morpork. One thing leads to another and before long war is declared. ( )

[3 and 1/2 stars]
Entertaining as ever, but perhaps treading a little too clumsily on the really sensitive issues of race and ethnicity (the message really boils down to "war is bad, and prejudice is bad". Why yes, yes they are!). Nevertheless, it's full of Pratchett's trademark delightful character interactions and hilarious wordplay (Vimes' riffing on the saying "Veni, Vidi, Vici" is worth the price of admission alone), and it was therefore a quick and fun read. ( )

Veni, vidi, vici.

The island of Leshp, having been on the bottom of the Circle Sea for centuries, has risen to the surface exactly between Ankh-Morpork and the city of Al-Khali on the coast of Klatch. Although the island is small and of little value, both sides lay claim to the land. It is up to Commander Sam Vimes and the rest of the Watch to deal with the biggest crime of all: war.

Jingo is the 21st Discworld novel and the 4th with the City Watch theme. As always, Pratchett weaves a laugh out loud funny character comedy and successfully parodies our own culture and failings. This time around we have the war, politics, assassination, land disputes, science and weapons development, prejudice and racism. Some of the scenes with Corporal Nobs are priceless. ( )

Ankh-Morpork gets involved in a war with Klatch and the Discworld equivalent of Atlantis, Leshp, is about to rise. It is up to the Watch, Vimes, Colon, Carrot and all the rest to find a way to prevent it. In Jingo the Discworld looks into the dark heart of war, land disputes, assassination, science and weapons development, and prejudice. Of course, Terry Pratchett does it in his special way, sneaking it in here and there and occasionally hitting you head on with it. Of course, there is a lot more going on than just two nations setting out to wage war. Commander Vimes feels like he's out of touch and losing control of the Watch to Captain Carrot, who has been actively recruiting new guardsmen. Since Carrot joined the Watch, the number of guards has grown from three men to over forty men, or actually, creatures. Thanks to Carrot, the Watch now includes dwarfs, gargoyles, a golem, a troll, a gnome, a werewolf and a zombie. Carrot is, of course, totally oblivious to Vimes' concerns, as his only objective is to uphold the law and protect the citizens of Ankh-Morpork. He has the kind of charisma that lets him organize a football game between two armies poised at the brink of war, and make criminals beg to confess. ( )

Enjoyable comfort reading. Pratchett settles down in the middle of the Discworld series to a longish run of good books full of warm humour, comfortable morals, and familiar characters, and this is one of them. There is nothing outstanding about it, but it had me whizzing through it in only a couple of days. This is the one where the Watch have to stop a war over an island.

[It would be an interesting book as a set text for a 'How does this book both fight and yet re-establish racial stereotypes?' sort of essay question though] ( )

Veni, vici . . . Vetinari.

In which an island resurfaces halfway between Ankh-Morpork and Klatch, causing both sides to star preparations for war, Vimes has trouble with his Dis-Organiser Mk II, Nobby gets in touch with his feminine side, we find out what goes into a really good Ankh-Morpork curry. and best of all we meet the Curious Squid.

I love the City Watch books, and this book features my two favourite Discworld characters, Commander Vimes and Lord Vetinari, so it's no surprise that this book is up there as one of my favourite Discworld books. ( )

A story where Klatch and Ankh-Morepork fight over a there-again-gone-again island.

Wasn’t quite sure how it all tied in at first. I actually read the whole thing cover to cover, not once peeking at the back. Not an easy feat for me since there was the puzzling 71-hour Ahmed (I was most pleased on my assumption of him), the odd dis-organizer who gave predictions for Vimes (just not of his universe). And of course, I wanted to know who won, even if it is on penalties.
Along with the usual characters that I thoroughly enjoy, I got a chance to like a few others I’d misgivings about such as Poor, poor Nobby. Can’t believe I actually feel sorry for the er ... alleged human. I couldn’t get the image of him wearing harem pants outta my head for days. Hehe. ^_^
And there was Angua ... the catalyst of sorts ... I’ve a problem with fully immersing in her pov. But she’s pretty decent in this book, the best she’d been so far actually. Probably due to the lack of her thinking of fleeing. With that absent, I can finally enjoy all the Watchmen.

Finally, there’s the patrician. There’s only one thing I can say about him ...
Veni, Vici, Vetinari.

^_^ ( )

Wow, what to say? It's a Pratchett book definitely. It's about war as well. Still it's funny. There's a war, is there? We don't like war, do we? Then we stop it. But then funny. Up to the next one! ( )

Jingo is the fourth of the Discworld novels about the City Watch by Terry Pratchett [reviews of the others here].

Plot:
An island suddenly appears right between Ankh-Morpork and Klatch and triggers territorial disputes. When an attack on the Klatchian Prince happens in Ankh-Morpork, people prepare for war. Sam Vimes gets somehow stuck in the middle of all this and then has to go to Klatch himself because Angua has been kidnapped.

I just wrote that I didn’t love Jingo as much as the other novels about the Watch. Then I thought about everything I did like about it and I immediately got a bad conscience and had to delete what I had written. Maybe I didn’t like the overall story, but there was enough awesome in here to fill several books.

Read more about it at my blog: http://kalafudra.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/jingo-terry-pratchett/ ( )

Continuing my reread through Pratchett's City Watch series, this has always been my least favourite of the City Watch books; for some reason I don't think the satire in this one works quite as well as some of his other books.

It's a book about war and jingoism; starring the City Watch and Sam Vimes, it also has to be about crime and good and evil. I think ultimately what Pratchett might be trying to say is that if killing someone is a crime, then starting a war must also be a crime and sometimes doing the right thing means not following orders.

"But...history was full of the bones of good men who'd followed bad orders in the hope that they could soften the blow. Oh yes, there were worse things they could do, but most of them began right when they started following bad orders."

When Sam Vimes takes these themes to their natural conclusion, this leads to a very improbable but rather wonderful ending. There are also some brilliant comic scenes from Colon and Nobbs and you get to see more of Lord Vetinari and Leonard da Quirm which is always a good thing.

So still a very good read but perhaps Pratchett was just trying a little too hard to make his point with this book ( )

Yes it's the watchmen and yes they are very good characters. It's nice to get out of Ankh-Morpork for a while too. ALl I am going to say is that at times in this book the jokes tended to get more of the spotlight tha the actual storyline did. That's why it gets three and a half. Not the best watchmen novel. ( )

You just can't help but adore the grumpy Mr Vimes and his men. Loved it! ( )

When a new island pops up out of nowhere, the languishing lords of Ankh Morpork suddenly remember how jolly fun war is, depose the Patrician and prepare to battle Klatch for control of a useless hunk of rock that may as well sink back to the bottom of the sea at any minute. I mean, an island outpost of strategic importance. Vimes and his city watch head to Klatch where they meet up with Klatchian law enforcement while Vetinari, Sergeant Colon and Nobby Nobs investigate the island from inside Leonard of Quirm's latest invention, the "Going-Under-Water-Safely-Device," Discworld's first submarine. As usual, Vimes will discover the real truth by sheer force of will even if it means crossing continents, arresting the Patrician, and, horror of horrors, leading a parade in his traditional Duke regalia, fancy tights and all. ( )

Definitely one of my favorite [author: Terry Pratchett] books. I think especially now, when the United States is still in Iraq and Afghanistan, this book should be on a required reading list in schools. Full of humor and wit, the book also is rich in satire and simple down-to-earth adventure. It amazes me how Terry Pratchett manages to create such likable and three-dimensional characters in a ridiculously comical world.As a side note, I recently read one of the Judge Dee books by [author: Robert van Gulik], where a mention is made of an actual Beggars Guild in a Chinese city where the book is based.Another surprise came when watching Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America, a mention was made of a restaurant called Sarancen's Head in England (can't recall where exactly). It seems too similar to Klatchian's Head to be purely coincidental. ( )

A combination of JFK, Lawrence of Arabia, either of the Iraq invasions and the Falkland Islands war. Funny, as usual, with true to reality characters in 'another place and time'. A "Night Watch" book, it's good stuff. ( )

Carrot is as funny as always here =] ( )

Some interesting themes here. Let's face it, if it was possible for an island to pop up out of the sea, all the surrounding nations would be racing to plant their flags there, and that is what happens on Discworld. Some excellent humour, poking its toes a bit deeper into the water of multiculturalism than previously. The plot lost me by the end, though. Would probably need a second reading to fully appreciate it. ( )

The appearance of a new island smack dab between Ankh-Morpork and neighboring Al-Kahli might be just a simple matter of geography for some, but an uneasy ocean wind is blowing over the streets of Ankh-Morkpork spreading patriotism and martial fervor. Sam Vimes knows something's up - he can smell it. But what's a simple officer of the city watch to do in the face of determined aristocratic insanity? A policeman's job, of course.

With Pratchett, it's never a dull moment. ( )

A Watch book, but also a Leonard of Quirm book (think Da Vinci), which gave me great entertainment with the inventions & naming of them. As always, a funny & punny Discworld novel, but the satire skewering humans collectively, is fantastic, and reminds me a great deal of Kurt Vonnegut. ( )

The story is secondary to the characters. Love Nobby, Carrot, Angua, Vimes and Vetinari and this book is loaded with all of them. ( )

My husband and I now use the phrase "sheep eyeballs" as a code phrase.

And when I realized that Vetinari was so concerned that he actually let Leonard of Quirm out to play, I got a chill.

What will Vetinari do when he runs out of things to reward Vimes with?

Ankh-Morpork gets involved in a war with Klatch and the Discworld equivalent of Atlantis, Leshp, is about to rise. It is up to the Watch, Vimes, Colon, Carrot and all the rest to find a way to prevent it. In Jingo the Discworld looks into the dark heart of war, land disputes, assassination, science and weapons development, and prejudice. Of course, Terry Pratchett does it in his special way, sneaking it in here and there and occasionally hitting you head on with it. Of course, there is a lot more going on than just two nations setting out to wage war. Commander Vimes feels like he's out of touch and losing control of the Watch to Captain Carrot, who has been actively recruiting new guardsmen. Since Carrot joined the Watch, the number of guards has grown from three men to over forty men, or actually, creatures. Thanks to Carrot, the Watch now includes dwarfs, gargoyles, a golem, a troll, a gnome, a werewolf and a zombie. Carrot is, of course, totally oblivious to Vimes' concerns, as his only objective is to uphold the law and protect the citizens of Ankh-Morpork. He has the kind of charisma that lets him organize a football game between two armies poised at the brink of war, and make criminals beg to confess. ( )