Monstrous Regiment

Terry Pratchett

Dec 2004 · HarperAudio · Narrated by Stephen Briggs

About this audiobook

“Wickedly satirical . . . nothing short of brilliant.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett explores the inanity of war, sexual politics, and why the best man for the job is often a woman in this acerbically funny and poignant Discworld novel.

In the small country of Borogravia, there are strict rules citizens must follow. Women belong in the kitchen—not in offices, pubs, nor pants. And certainly not on the front lines when war comes to Discworld.

Polly Perks took over running her family’s humble inn when her brother, Paul, marched off to war. But it’s been more than two months since his last letter home, and the news from the front is bad. To find her missing brother, the resourceful Polly cuts off her hair and joins the army as a young man named Oliver.

As Polly closely guards her secret, she notices that her fellow recruits seem to be guarding secrets of their own. And before they’ve learned to properly march, Polly and her fellow raw recruits find themselves in the thick of a losing battle. All they have on their side is the most artful sergeant in the army and a vampire with a lust for coffee.

No matter, it’s time to make a stand. . . .

The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Monstrous Regiment is a standalone.

Ratings and reviews

Absolutely love Pratchett and this narrator. However, someone forgot to edit this audio book. There are several moments where sentences are restarted, or restated with different inflection. Doesn't take away much from the actual experience though

Classic Pratchett...great story, humorously told, with social commentary as a subtext. Ain't no one like Pratchett.

Great story, well reD.

About the author

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) is the acclaimed creator of the globally revered Discworld series. In all, he authored more than fifty bestselling books, which have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.

Stephen Briggs lives in Oxfordshire and has been involved in the world of amateur dramatics for many years. Oxford Studio Theatre Club staged his adaptations of Wyrd Sisters, Mort, Guards! Guards!, and many others. As well as compiling The Discworld Companion, The New Discworld Companion, and, now, Turtle Recall: The Discworld Companion... So Far, he has also co-authored the Discworld Diaries, the Mapps, and voices the UK and US Discworld audiobooks.