Monstrous Regiment – Terry Pratchett

“The enemy isn’t men or women, it’s bloody stupid people and no one has the right to be stupid.”

     In the country of Borogravia, nearly everything is an Abomination of their god Nuggan, including the color blue and red haired people. Pretty much the only three things that haven’t been outlawed are Men in manly roles, Women in womanly roles, and trying to kill anyone who doesn’t follow Nuggan. As the book opens, Polly Perks is in the process of becoming Oliver Perks. Polly’s brother joined the army the spring before and now he’s gone missing in action. Polly has always protected her older brother so stupid rules aren’t going to stop her from protecting him this time. “Oliver” joins the army recruiting party and learns that the situation of their country isn’t as good as the government has been claiming. There are almost no whole men left. Everyone who has returned from the battles has been injured in some way and that’s if they returned at all. The country is on the brink of starvation. Her fellow recruits are almost all girls who have decided to disguise themselves for their own reasons. Their capital has been captured by forces from Zlobenian and Ankh Morpork trying to end the eternal war between Borogravia and everyone else. Polly decides to see if the girls of the country can’t succeed where the men have failed and attempt to free the capital and save her brother at the same time.


     Technically this book belongs in the City Watch series of the Discworld novels. While Polly is the main character, Commander Vimes and some of his officers have been called in to help stop the fighting because it’s disrupting trade in Ankh Morpork. This is one of my favorite Discworld books. It is so much better than Equal Rites, that the comparison is almost unfair. Instead of the women can’t do that, let’s find a man to teach you vibe, everyone in charge of Polly’s unit just sits back and lets her to do as she wishes. This book doesn’t set out to prove that women can be as good as men, it points out that women have already proven that even if the idiots in charge wouldn’t admit it. It also points out that gender shouldn’t be an issue but the abilities of the person. I know there’s almost 20 years between his writing Equal Rites and Monstrous Regiment, but the sentiments behind this one are what I wish Equal Rites had used.