Monstrous Regiment

Terry Pratchett never ceases to amaze me. Serious philosophical points, political and religious dogma, current affairs, social commentary on what affects our lives today. He wraps it all up in a fantasy world which is sailing through the universe on the back of four giant elephants carried on the back of a gigantic turtle. Oh and there are jokes and satire too. Lots of jokes.

To the surprise of nobody who knows me (and my relationship with gender) today, my favorite fairytales were Fantaghiro the Beautiful and Mulan—two stories of women who donned men’s armor and male pronouns in order to go to war. So, it’s no surprise that I’d be a fan of Polly Perks and her regiment.

I had so much fun trying to figure out which of her brothers-in-arms were actually sisters, especially with the way Pratchett deals with those nuances of gender in the midst of classic fantasy races like trolls, vampires, and igor(ina)s. Normally, I’m wary of older writers like… show more.

Oh God, how I love Terry Pratchett. Lots of people think they can write comedy. Very few actually manage, much less manage to write it well.

I came to Pratchett only very recently, and I am reading his books very slowly, because he is no longer with us, and once I read the last one, there will be no more new books by him for me, and I will cry. The book takes its name from a horribly misogynistic tract by the religious leader John Knox, The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, and pretty… show more.

Monstrous Regiment was definitely the most fun I’ve had with a Terry Pratchett book, not to mention my absolute favorite read of this year.

It is a war story, a comedy, and a political study of gender roles, all rolled into one. Reminiscent of the plot of Mulan, we follow Polly Perks, a young woman who decides, against the laws of her land, to dress up as a man in order to enlist in the Borogravian army.

Her intention is to find her brother Paul, who has been missing in action. Due to a shortage of troops, her fellow… show more.

Monstrous Regiment is a work of anti-war propaganda and, despite being set in a whimsical fantasy world, outlines a compelling argument.

Men go to war to die, with or without honor, it doesn't matter, they die fighting someone else's war. In this book, however, it's the lives of a group of women that are put at risk as they enlist disguised as men.

This book isn't just about the brutality of war, but also equality, the women in this book do great things, yet the men are reluctant to recognise them for it, even after they learn that they are… show more.

I read this book two years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. It is a book about a woman who joins a failing army in order to rescue her family. Along the way, she finds unexpected love, unexpected companions (including a vampire and an Igor), and a way to win a war against a far superior foe. As ever with the brilliant and biting Sir Terry Pratchett, there is so much humor, warmth, and craft poured through every inch of his magnificent prose. There are so many moments that brought actual guffaws from me, including a particularly… show more.

Nearly any Terry Pratchett book will tickle your funny bone. He writes with that dry British wit that can be both understated and so over the top that you will be bowled over with laughter. And at the bottom of this particular story is rich characterization and a warm heart. Polly’s brother Paul is missing while at war. She dresses as a boy and joins the Monstrous Regiment, in the hope of finding her brother. But this isn’t any regiment, it truly is monstrous: including a vampire, a troll, and an Igor (named Igor!). Pratchett has the rare gift of… show more.

I have long admired Terry Pratchett’s merging of multiple storylines and this stand-alone novel employs this in a funny take with his usual political sarcasm. Polly’s brother enters the army and has gone missing. Unless he returns, she can’t keep running their family’s bar—since women can’t inherit property—which will leave her penniless. There’s nothing else to do but enter the army herself—disguised as a man. While trying to keep her own secret, Polly hilariously stumbles on the secret reasons each of her fellow new recruits has joining up. The ensuing camaraderie is a wonderful tribute to… show more.