Book:Guards! Guards!

Guards! Guards!
Co-author(s)
Illustrator(s)	Josh Kirby
Publisher	Victor Gollancz
Publication date	August 1989
ISBN	0575046066
Pages	352
RRP
Main characters	Carrot Ironfoundersson, Samuel Vimes, Fred Colon, Nobby, Havelock Vetinari, The Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night
Series	Watch Series
Annotations	View
Notes	Book #08
All data relates to the first UK edition.

Blurb

This is where the dragons went.

They lie ... not dead, not asleep, but ... dormant. And although the space they occupy isn't like normal space, nevertheless they are packed in tightly. They could put you in mind of a can of sardines, if you thought sardines were huge and scaly. And presumably, somewhere, there's a key ...

Guards! Guards! is the eighth Discworld novel – and after this, dragons will never be the same again!

Plot

The Unique and Supreme Lodge of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night is a secret society who plot to take over Ankh-Morpork. They steal a magic book called The Summoning of Dragons from the Unseen University and use it to summon a noble dragon. Once the dragon has caused sufficient destruction and panic, their Supreme Grand Master will put forward a "hero" who will heroically slay the dragon and became the city's king, to act as a puppet ruler for the Elucidated Brethren.

The City Watch of Ankh-Morpork has fallen on hard times. This is due to Lord Vetinari's policy of making law enforcement the responsibility of the guilds. Even crime has become 'self-regulated' by the Thieves' Guild, who carry out a regulated number of robberies and discipline those who do it illegally. The Night Watch contains just three members - Captain Sam Vimes, a cynic with a drinking problem, the overweight and lazy Sergeant Fred Colon and Corporal Nobby Nobbs, a petty thief. A fourth member Herbert Gaskin has just been killed on duty. They do little at night other than wander the city ringing their bells and half-heartedly chasing criminals.

This changes when they are joined by Carrot Ironfoundersson, a powerfully-built young man who was raised by dwarfs. In contrast to the existing policemen, Carrot is idealistic, honest and literal-minded; he has read The Laws and Ordinances of the Cities Ankh and Morpork and is determined to uphold them at all costs. On his first day at work, he tries to arrest Urdo van Pew, the head of the Thieves' Guild. Though he seems out of place in Ankh-Morpork, Carrot's methods actually seem to work. The Night Watch begin investigating the dragon's appearances. Vimes meets his future love interest Sybil Ramkin, a noblewoman and a breeder of swamp dragons. She gives him information on dragons and a young swamp dragon called Errol as a pet. When the Watch House is burned down by the noble dragon, Sybil also donates the Pseudopolis Yard buildings to be new headquarters. Errol takes interest in the noble dragon and begins to eat odd things that cause his ears to produce smoke.

The Elucidated Brethren execute their plan; their hero comes forward and 'banishes' the dragon. The people of the city rejoice, overthrow Vetinari and prepare to have the hero crowned as the king. But the dragon returns, kills the hero and most of the Brethren, and declares itself to be the king of Ankh-Morpork. Using Vetinari's secretary Lupine Wonse as its interpreter, the dragon demands gold and a monthly virgin sacrifice, with Sybil being chosen to be the first victim. Vimes enters the palace and confronts Wonse, who is revealed to be the Supreme Grand Master. Wonse has Vimes imprisoned in the dungeons with Vetinari. He is rescued by the Librarian and runs to Sybil's aid. Carrot, Colon and Nobbs try to shoot the dragon with a single 'lucky arrow' but miss. Errol then fights the dragon; it is revealed that his eating habits have allowed him to produce a backwards-launched jet engine flame. Errol flies into the sky at a supersonic speed, causing a sonic boom that knocks the king dragon out of the sky.

The city people move in to kill the king dragon, but Sybil pleads for it to be spared. Carrot tries to arrest the dragon, but Errol helps it escape. Sybil explains that the king dragon is actually female and the 'fight' with Errol was a courtship ritual. Vimes and the Watch return to the palace and together with Vetinari, they confront Wonse. Wonse tries to summon another dragon, but Carrot accidentally kills him; he is told by Vimes to "throw the book at him", so Carrot throws a copy of The Laws and Ordinances with such force that it knocks Wonse through a hole. Vetinari is reinstated as the leader of the city and offers the Night Watch a reward. They only demand a modest pay rise, a new kettle and a dartboard.

Cover

The cover, once again painted by Josh Kirby, features Carrot (with sword), Vimes (with bottle), Nobby (with small dragon) and Colon (with bow and arrow). They are all attempting to fight the Dragon.

Characters

• Carrot Ironfoundersson
• Samuel Vimes
• Fred Colon
• Nobby
• Havelock Vetinari
• Lupine Wonse
• The Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night
• Sybil Ramkin

Other Characters

• Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler
• The Librarian
• Reet
• Detritus
• Brother Fingers
• Brother Dunnikin
• Brother Doorkeeper
• Brother Watchtower
• Brother Plasterer

Cameos and other Mentions

• Brenda Rodley
• Skully Multoon of the Palace Guard
• Varneshi
• Magrat Garlick
• Herbert Gaskin
• Minty Rocksmacker
• Mort and Ysabell (mentioned by Sybil as "the duke and duchess of Sto Helit, a nice young couple"

Locations

• Ankh-Morpork
  • Treacle Mine Road
    • Treacle Mine Road Watch House
  • Pseudopolis Yard
  • Sunshine Sanctuary for Sick Dragons
  • The Mended Drum
  • Temple of Small Gods
  • Jimkin Bearhugger's Whiskey Distillery
  • Thieves' Guild
  • Easy Street
    • Bunch of Grapes
  • Scoone Avenue
    • The Ramkin House
  • Patrician's Palace
  • Unseen University
    • The Library
    • Tower of Art
  • The Shades
    • Mrs Palm's House
  • Harga's House of Ribs
• The Place Where the Dragons Lie
• Copperhead
• Enlightenment country(where the monks make jars of dragon resistant cream and ship to a Mr CMOT Dibbler AM)
• L-space

Sentient Species

• Dwarfs
• Humans
• Trolls

Supernatural Entities

• Death
• The Gods (mentioned)

Things and Concepts

• The Summoning of Dragons
• The Laws and Ordinances of the Cities Ankh and Morpork
• Swamp dragon
• Noble dragon
• Figgins
• The Dictionary of Eye-Watering Words
• Critters
• L-space
• Swear-Words
• Cripple Mister Onion
• A Wizard's Staff Has A Knob On The End
• Monkey
• Thieves' Guild

Annotations

• "the Public Order Act of 1457" - one of the frequent 57 references in TP's work

Adaptations

Radio Play

Adapted into a radio play in 1992 by BBC Radio 4. Adapted by Michael Butt, directed by John Taylor.

Cast:

• Martin Jarvis: Narrator
• John Wood: Samuel Vimes
• Melvyn Hayes: Nobby Nobbs
• Stephen Thorne: Fred Colon
• Robert Gwilym: Carrot Ironfoundersson
• Helen Atkinson-Wood: Sybil Ramkin
• Crawford Logan: Landlord, Havelock Vetinari
• Brett Usher: Supreme GrandMaster
• Jeff Nuttall: Brother Doorkeeper, First Guard
• Michael Roberts: Brother Fingers, Joint First Guard
• Death: Death

Guards! Guards! was adapted again in 2001 by the Atlanta Theatre Radio Company for an hour long live performance at Dragon*Con.

Theatre

Adapted into a stage-play by Stephen Briggs in 1997.

Murder in Ankh-Morpork is an adaptation consisting mainly of the plot of Men at Arms combining additional plot elements from Guards! Guards! and Feet of Clay. Dramatised by Stephen Briggs 2020.

Graphic Novel

Adapted into a comic Guards! Guards! A Discworld Graphic Novel by Stephen Briggs and Graham Higgins, 2000.

Illustrated Edition

A new edition of the novel featuring illustrations by Paul Kidby.

Gallery

First Edition Cover by Josh Kirby

Book Proof

'Letterbox' Hardback

Cover by Doug Anderson

Paperback 2004

Audio Cassette

Audio CD

Paperback ROC Publishing

US Cover

Paperback 2012

Unseen Library Edition

Collectors Library Edition

Cover by Richard Ogle 2019

Illustrated Edition 2020

Paperback 2023

External Links

Guards! Guards! Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File

Previous book Pyramids	Discworld Series	Next book Eric

Previous book First book	Watch Series	Next book Men at Arms