I always forget how knock-out amazing Sir Terry Pratchett’s books are until I’m 60% through reading one — now, that’s not to say that the first 60% is ever bad, it’s just that the final 40% is when you get whacked swiftly and repeatedly in the face with MORALS and ALLEGORIES and “HOLY SHIT” moments. The things this book had to say about who we allow to take power, what we as humans are willing to cheer on just to avoid thinking as individuals, was both potent and pertinent.
Aside from the crazy-insane-amazing allegories in this book, it’s just a well-written comedy. My favorite jokes were the face-palm stupid ones (e.g. the “Oblong Office” and “rathandled”). The building of characters’ comedic traits is done with such intelligence that I immediately knew what was going to happen when Vimes told Carrot to “throw the book at him.” 10/10 comedic payoff.
The last thing I’d like to talk about is the wonderful Lady Sybil Ramkin. Sybil, so far, is an extremely well-written female fantasy character, because she’s not a strong independent character in the way of “I’m not your damsel in distress” *kicks ass but prettily.* She’s just a character who’s written the same way as any other character — she exists outside of any consideration of standard tropes, not written just to prove some sort of stereotype wrong. And I love her. :)