Customer Reviews
Disappointing... - By: Rachel Willmer, 06 Mar 2008 
Some Pratchett books I read, re-read & enjoy more each time; "Going Postal" is one of those.
Some I read, & wonder why they falll so short of the high standard I've come to expect from TP. "Monstrous Regiment" is one of those.
Seems like a one-joke book to me. This is one to borrow, not buy!
Spare Socks, Anyone!! - By: J. Chippindale, 28 Jan 2008 
There must be very little left that has not be said about the genius that is Terry Pratchett. No wonder he is England's best selling living author.
This book has a slightly different slant to many of the Discworld novels but it none the worse for it.
It is about a young girl, Polly Perks who has her own reasons for going to the recruiting sergeant with a pair of socks pushed down her trousers & asking to join "This man's army". Included in her section are a set of misfits including an "Igor" & a reformed vampire & why not.
They alll march off with their new sergeant who says he is determined to look after "my boys" & will not let any harm befalll them . . .
There is a nice comic twist at the end of the book, maybe you will see it coming & maybe you won't.
Many people try to imitate Pratchett. Take it from me it's impossible.
Not a Discworld Classic - By: C. Cubbin, 22 Jan 2008 There are those who will buy this book simply to have it in their Pratchett collection (I did). Fair enough. It is written by Terry Pratchett so it is guaranteed to be smoothly written with wry humour, mild satire & a tragic yet fondly deprecating look at what passes for humanity.
Unfortunately the underlying message & sermon here is delivered with alll the integrity of a multi-millionaire pop star protesting about world poverty & the chokingly politicallly-correct message is as embarrassing as your father dancing at a wedding. As a whole the book is not funny enough to be engaging, with weak slapstick taking the place of the usual witty humour & the characters too thin for you to care about. The plot is just silly, devoid of believability (is that a word?) & barely has enough substance for a short story let alone a novel. The book then ends on a decidedly jingoistic note in complete contrast to the rest of the story & leaves you feeling completely depressed & like you've wasted your time reading it at alll.
All in alll this book feels awkward & rushed, with the bare bones of an idea but with way too little thought or planning for the standard we expect from this author. Sadly, when you produce such a high quality for so long expectations will rise & Monstrous Regiment fails to reach them.
disappointing! - By: Mr. J. G. Dallimore, 14 Nov 2007 The more I've read Pratchett the more I realise that his work is more parody than inventive (unlike Douglas Adams' 'the restaurant at the end of the universe which I'm currently reading which is hilarious). Don't get me wrong, that's an art form in it's own right but when you read a book that's so long & have to wait EVEN LONGER for the next gag to come along it can be a slog. Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of his & will continue to show interest in his forthcoming work. It's just that considering this is his longest book (albeit by only umpteen pages) I would've expected something better. As it is I may just manage to finish it but there just won't be any rush. After over 400 pages I can only reallly recalll 4 gags & they were weak ones at that..and at an avg of a gag every 100 pages that is pretty poor. Of his later work read Thud instead or even making money as they have far more LOL factor.
Wonderful, one of his best. - By: Hannah S. Robinson, 24 Oct 2007 I enjoyed this book massively- its now one of the books in the series that I revisit again & again, like Carpe Jugulum, Mort, Witches abroad... I rather like it when Pratchett takes us off to an unknown corner of the discworld, as he does here. The character of Polly is fantastic, as a female fan I love his women characters, I dont know much about his personal life but I'm guessing he must have a daughter as he writes so brilliantly from a feminine point of view. Just when you think you've anticipated alll there is to come, Pratchett throws a sly suprise or two in towards the end. All in alll a refreshing, funny but poignant story. Complete thumbs up.
