Thud!

Synopsis

'Some people would be asking: whose side are you on? If you're not for us, you're against us. Huh. If you're not an apple, you're a banana'

Koom Valley, where the trolls ambushed the dwarfs, or the dwarfs ambushed the trolls, was a long time ago.

But if he doesn't solve the murder of just one dwarf, Commander Sam Vimes of Ankh-Morpork City Watch is going to see it fought again, right outside his office.

With his beloved Watch crumbling around him and war-drums sounding, he must unravel every clue, outwit every assassin and brave any darkness to find the solution. And darkness is following him.

Oh . . . and at six o'clock every day, without fail, with no excuses, he must go home to read 'Where's My Cow?', with all the right farmyard noises, to his little boy.

There are some things you have to do.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Watchmen's Academy

* Samuel Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, receives a message from the King inviting him to send a Watchman to the Watchmen's Academy in Quirm.
* Vimes chooses Constable Carrot Ironfoundersson, a six-foot-tall dwarf, to attend the Academy.
* Carrot is a skilled and idealistic young officer, but he is also naive and unworldly.

Example: Vimes' office is filled with maps and rotting fruit, reflecting his chaotic and pragmatic nature.

Chapter 2: Quirm

* Carrot travels to Quirm, a bustling city known for its sausages and its ruthless thieves.
* He arrives at the Watchmen's Academy and meets his fellow students, including Angua von Überwald, a female werewolf, and Gaspode the talking dog.
* The Academy is run by a stern and enigmatic Commandant, Lord Rust.

Example: Carrot's naivety is apparent when he believes a street urchin's claim that a "Big Dog" is terrorizing the city, only to discover it is actually Gaspode.

Chapter 3: The Exam

* The students are subjected to a series of rigorous exams designed to test their skills and character.
* Carrot excels in physical and practical exercises, but struggles with academic subjects.
* Angua and Gaspode prove to be formidable allies, helping Carrot overcome challenges.

Example: Carrot's ability to negotiate with the troll under the bridge demonstrates his practical intelligence.

Chapter 4: The Watchmen's Oath

* Carrot faces a moral dilemma when he discovers that Lord Rust is involved in a plot to assassinate the King.
* He must choose between loyalty to the Academy and loyalty to the Crown.
* With Angua and Gaspode's help, Carrot exposes Rust's treachery and saves the King's life.

Example: Carrot's decision to uncover Rust's plot reflects his unwavering commitment to justice, even when it puts him in danger.

Chapter 5: Return to Ankh-Morpork

* Carrot returns to Ankh-Morpork as a graduate of the Watchmen's Academy.
* He is now a highly skilled and respected officer, and his idealism has been tempered by experience.
* Carrot's return helps to professionalize the City Watch and inspires his fellow Watchmen to uphold the highest standards of conduct.

Example: Carrot's influence on the Watch is evident when they respond to a disturbance with calm efficiency, much to the surprise of the local residents.