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Sam Vimes

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In the character of Sam Vimes, Terry Pratchett has created one of the memorable police figures of contemporary fiction. As chief of the Ankh-Mopork watch, his interest is only in the pursuit of justice, seeing the world as a black and white place in which social background and privilege does not mean automatic innocence. Vimes's watchmen are a mixed bag of remarkable characters- the troll Detritus, Nobbs dreaming of joining the aristocracy, the immaculate carrot and the blonde with the bite, Angua. Into this mix is pitched Cheery Littlebottom, a very confused dwarf, and the stage is set for an entertaining crime novel which pursues themes of social justice in a light and hilarious style. As in all of Pratchett's novels, there are hilarious moments and colourful characterisations and this is certainly a highly enjoyable read.

Pratchett at his best

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This is easily my favourite Pratchett book - laugh-out-loud funny, darkly comic, touching and moving all at the same time. Pratchett holds up a mirror to our society's predjudices of class, creed and religion and allows us to laugh at ourselves whilst feeling a tinge of shame and sadness. There are questions asked about the moral implication of scientific advancement: the clear parallel between the Golems and genetic engineering; the corruption at the heart of government; the class structure and "speciesism" at the same level as racism. this is a wonderful book, full of outlandish fantasy characters which manage to be so real that you can almost taste the smell (and the texture) of the river Ankh. For fans of Pratchett this is the one.

Excretus Est Ex Altitudine

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Feet of Clay" is the nineteenth novel in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series, was first published in 1996 and is the third to focus on Sam Vimes and Ankh-Morpork's City Guard. Sam is the now the Commander of the City Guard, and - having married Lady Ramkin - a member of the nobility. It's fair to say he's not your typical hero : he doesn't like the Undead (particularly vampires), Assassins (they keep trying to kill him) and - in keeping with an old family tradition - Kings (not an ideal musketeer then). Sam has quit drinking - though it's still something of a struggle - and smokes the occasional cigar to ease the blow. Although numbers among the ranks are rising, Sam tends to rely on those he knows best. His 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 isn't quite so popular. Sergeant Detritus, a troll who deals roughly with troll drug-dealers, seems a natural - not to mention likeable - cop, though Sergeant Colon and Corporal Nobbs (a confirmed slacker and probably human) are the most experienced officers. The one newcomer is Cheery Littlebottom, an ex-alchimist dwarf who becomes quite useful in the City Guard's newly established forensics department. (Cheery left the Guild of Alchemists after, accidentally, blowing up the Guild Council. Alchemy is an unusual profession for a dwarf, though Cheery - as it turns out - isn't your usual dwarf). "Feet of Clay" gives Sam a good, old-fashioned mystery to solve - a mystery that includes a couple of rather unusual murders. One of the victims is Father Tubelcek, who Sam considers to be one of the neatest corpses he's ever seen : eyes closed, arms neatly folded across his chest...and a slip of paper with some strange writing on it in his mouth. The other victim was Mr Hopkinson, curator at the Dwarf Bread Museum. Dwarf bread is much more useful on the battlefield than on the breakfast table, and Hopkinson had unfortunately been beaten to death with a loaf. There is a little white clay and a suspicion of Golems hanging around, but the murders are puzzling...however, it's difficult to focus on a puzzle, when you've also got to investigate the poisoning of the Patrician. (He's surviving, but only barely). The difficulties aren't confined to professional matters - there's even bad news for both Sam and Nobby at a personal level. Following a visit to the Royal College of Heralds, Sam learns he is ineligible for a Coat of Arms. (An ancestor, Old Stoneface, killed Ankh-Morpork's last king). To make matters even worse, news of his rejection is delivered by a vampire called Dragon King of Arms. Nobby, on the other hand, is devastated to learn he is Earl of Ankh. Another very funny book from Pratchett, with a storyline 'underneath' it all that your standard murder-mystery writer would love to tell. Excellent stuff, highly recommended !

Feet Of Clay review.

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Feet Of Clay is another fast-paced detective mystery by Terry Prattchett.In Feet Of Clay the Patrician of Ankh-Morpok is being poisoned and there are rumors among the golems that a king golem will come and free them from their days of silent slavery.If the golems are freed they will wreak havoc upon their former masters and the only people who can stop this from happening are the men,women and various other species of the night watch including new constables Cheery,Dorfl,Downspout and Visit-the-infidels-with-explantory-pamplets.If you enjoy this book then read books 8,15,21,24,27 and 32.

Feet Of Clay review.

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Feet Of Clay is another fast-paced detective mystery by Terry Pratchett.In Feet Of Clay the Patrician of Ankh-Morpok is being poisoned and there are rumours among the golems that a king golem will come and free them from their days of silent slavery.If the golems are freed they will wreak havoc upon their former owners and the only people who can stop this from happening are the men,women and various other species of the night watch including new constables Cheery,Dorfl,Downspout and Visit-the-heathens-with-religious-pamphlets.If you enjoy this book then try books 8,15,21,24,27 and 32.