Last week I mentioned Guards Guards, the Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett that introduced the Watch to its eager readers. And from then on, everyone wanted to know all there was to know about the Watch. Or so I tell myself. This week I'll write about the follow up book to GG – Men At Arms.

Men At Arms is the 15th novel to be based in that quirky place we know as Discworld. It builds on the concept of the Watch where there is an attempt to expand its working base. A lot happens in this novel – Vimes retires, he gets married to the lovely Sybil and Carrot meets Angua. Trust me to bring up the mushy bits from all the possible aspects I could cover.

Alright, so maybe a summary of the story is in order. Pratchett highlights the need for a proper police force in Ankh-Morpork in this novel. A lot of folks are being killed in mysterious ways in this story. Did these poor souls become victims of crime, as it happens in a big city? Or is there something dodgy going on? That's what the Watch must find out. Luckily they have new folks joining into the force – a werewolf, a dwarf and a troll. Talk about recruiting folks with interesting skills! Unfortunately it looks like this bigger better Watch might not be enough. As it is, someone tries to kill the Patrician …

You can tell that Pratchett was having a lot of fun writing this novel. Take the way he fleshes out the Watch. It could have gone down a preachy, rather mundane routs (especially when the actions of the Watch is where he makes a lot of social commentary). He fixes this by throwing in different species as Watch members. And it works out too since the interaction between the various groups provides ample room for commentary as well.

Speaking of social commentary, that's one aspect you grow to love about Pratchett's novels. From what I gathered (not just from this book but other Watch-based ones), the author feels really strongly about the role of the police as a protector of the people. This is as opposed to it acting as the strong arm of whoever is in power. Pratchett always notes that folks in positions of power, like the Watch, are always at risk of succumbing to promise of greater power. And of course the bigwigs in power try their hardest to reel the Watch onto their side.

This particular novel once again explores the position of the Watch. It is especially relevant since the story talks about getting rid of the Patrician and reinstating the monarch. In a way, this would have implications for the Watch; whose interests should they safeguard in such an event? Vimes is the sounding board for these ideas where he steadfastly believes in standing for the rights of the ordinary man (well, he is a descendant of an anti-monarch called Stoneface Vimes so what did you expect?).