For many years this was my favourite Discworld book - even over all the ones with Granny Weatherwax. It still may be; I've yet to read The Shepherd's Crown. In fact, the whole reason I'm doing this Discworld reread at the moment is so I can put off reading the last book of Discworld for just a little longer... because it is the last, and because I suspect it may dethrone even Men at Arms as my favourite Discworld novel and I like to stretch out the potential a little longer.

But this book? I adore Carrot. I adore Detritus the troll. I adore Vimes' economic theory of poverty, of personal isn't important, of the meaning of politician - and of policeman. There's very little about it that I don't love, but I think what I love most is how Pratchett's humanism shines through, the belief that hard work and compassion can make a difference almost despite themselves. He was such an idealist writer, I think, though it reads like an idealism that was hard won against a lot of odds.