Men at Arms

by Terry Pratchett · 1993

In Terry Pratchett’s wildly wacky Discworld novel *Men at Arms*, the City Watch of Ankh‑Morpork faces its biggest test yet. Newly promoted Corporal Carrot—an adopted dwarf with a nose for justice—must train a motley crew of recruits: the dwarf‑turned‑copper Cuddy, the hulking troll Detritus, the shape‑shifting woman Angua, and the chaotic Corporal Nobbs. As they patrol the bustling streets, a mysterious document hints at a hidden sovereign, and dangerous ideas about crowns and legendary swords begin to stir. Meanwhile, Captain Sam Vimes, the city’s most seasoned law‑breaker‑turned‑law‑enforcer, prepares to retire and marry, leaving the Watch without its most seasoned guide. With humor, satire, and a dash of destiny, *Men at Arms* follows Carrot’s unlikely heroes as they confront barbarian tribes, marauders, and unlicensed thieves, proving that even the most unlikely shoulders can bear the fate of a city.