Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was an English author best known for the Discworld series, a sequence of forty-one comic fantasy novels set on a flat world carried through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. Across four decades, the Discworld grew from a parody of sword-and-sorcery fantasy into one of the most sustained works of social satire in English literature, examining politics, religion, science, gender, race, capitalism, and the nature of stories themselves. Pra...
Monstrous Regiment
Monstrous Regiment
Synopsis
Polly Perks cuts her hair and joins the army to find her brother — only to discover that many of her fellow recruits have done the same thing for different reasons, and that the war they are fighting for the tiny country of Borogravia may be less glorious and more complicated than anyone admits. A fiercely anti-war novel wrapped in a comedy of disguise, Monstrous Regiment is Pratchett at his most politically direct — about gender, nationalism, institutional religion, and what soldiers are actually used for.
Vibe
Genres
Characters
Polly PerksProtagonist
A young woman who disguises herself as a man to join the army searching for her brother — and discovers the army is full of people doing exactly the same thing.
Sergeant JackrumSupporting
The veteran sergeant who keeps the squad alive through a combination of terrifying competence and what turns out to be a very long personal history.
BlouseSupporting
The squad's idealistic and largely incompetent officer, who turns out to have unexpected depth when things get genuinely dangerous.
MaladictSupporting
A vampire who has reformed from blood-drinking by transferring the addiction to coffee — an increasingly desperate situation.
Subjects
Places
Edition
Monstrous Regiment: Discworld Novel 31Unknown, Nov
336 pages
Doubleday UKISBN: 97808575250555 editions available
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Frequently asked questions
Does Monstrous Regiment need to be read in order with other Discworld books?
This novel is a standalone story within the Discworld universe, meaning new readers can pick it up without needing prior knowledge of other books. While it features some recurring elements, its plot and character arcs are entirely self-contained.
Are there any adaptations of Monstrous Regiment?
A stage adaptation of Monstrous Regiment exists, which has been performed by various theatre groups. It brings the novel's characters and satirical themes to life on stage.