Fantasy
Guards! Guards!
A secret order summons a dragon to Ankh-Morpork in order to install a puppet king, and the city's neglected, underpaid Night Watch is left to deal with it. Led by the weary Captain Vimes and a new recruit, they have to investigate.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1989
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 432
- Format
- Book 8 of 41 in Discworld
Read this if you want a funny, clever fantasy detective story with a loveable ragtag police force.
Skip this if you want a very serious fantasy, as it is full of puns, parody and footnotes.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Guards! Guards!
- What is Guards! Guards! about?
- A secret order summons a dragon to Ankh-Morpork in order to install a puppet king, and the city's neglected, underpaid Night Watch is left to deal with it. Led by the weary Captain Vimes and a new recruit, they have to investigate.
- Who should read Guards! Guards!?
- Read it if you want a funny, clever fantasy detective story with a loveable ragtag police force. Skip it if you want a very serious fantasy, as it is full of puns, parody and footnotes.
- How long and how fast is Guards! Guards!?
- It is a fast-paced, medium read of about 432 pages, first published in 1989.
- Does Guards! Guards! have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death.
- Can I borrow Guards! Guards! for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Guards! Guards!; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Guards! Guards!?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Good Omens, Mort, The Lies of Locke Lamora.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
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| Audiobook | ||
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| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Guards! Guards!
-
Good Omens Same co-author, a similarly witty and humane comedy about people muddling through a supernatural mess.
-
Mort Another Discworld novel that is gentler and more about growing up, with Death as a major character.
-
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Another fantasy set in a gritty city with sharp humour, though far more violent and adult.
Fantasy
