![]() If I sound a little smitten with Vimes it’s just a mark of Pratchett’s magic. He is the hero of the book, in all senses of the word – a true star who lights up the page, as well as a man to admire and follow. As an approach to politics, that takes some beating. Or at least, the side of Vimes, the leader of the titular Night Watch, who always manages to find not only the most practical solution to a problem, but the solution that does the least harm. Which is to say, politicians – who are, of course, the very ones who deserve to suffer its cruel consequences.īut what I can say is that I’d want to be on Terry Pratchett’s side. The impression you get of politics from Night Watch is that it’s a nasty, brutish business best left to nasty, brutish people. He almost certainly wouldn’t want to be on any political podium. That’s not to say that politically I could co-opt Terry Pratchett to my side. Come the next election, one of the first things I’ll want to know from my candidate is how much Terry Pratchett he or she has read. ![]() At a time when I’ve felt pretty bleak about human nature, it’s been a ray of light. There’s fiery rage at the injustice of society – and yet also gentle delight in the way things keep on moving in spite of that injustice, and a determination that people can do the right thing. There is some wonderful, inspiring material in this novel about the rule of law and the benefits of simple decency. In spite - or because of - the anger, it sometimes feels as though he’s writing to make us better. “He is, of course, writing about us,” said AS Byatt of Terry Pratchett. Whichever view you incline towards, this last week has been a good time to read Night Watch. the bastards, the rich bullies, the wheelers and dealers in people’s fates, the leeches, the hangers-on, the brown-nosers and courtiers and smarmy plump devils in expensive clothes, all those people who didn’t know or care about the machine, but stole its grease.” Or maybe you blame the people at the top?
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