Koom Valley holds important significance in the history of Discworld. So important that not only is it a place but its name can be used to infer a time and a sentiment that can be carried hundreds of miles across the Disc and used as a grudge, harboured for thousands of years. It was the place when a great and bloody battle took place when the trolls ambushed the dwarves.

Or the dwarves ambushed the trolls.

Or, perhaps they all ambushed each other.

Anyway, the real reason why Koom Valley happened has been lost in the mists of time but as far as Commander Sam Vines of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is concerned it's about to kick off again right on his streets. All because someone, somewhere isn't quite telling the truth about a murder of an important dwarf.

A murder investigation is never an easy one when Politics are involved and, of course, things aren't always what they seem. Pressure is applied to Vimes from all sides: there's the political urgency to find 'a' (not necessarily 'the') culprit; the need to keep the Watch in order to maintain the peace and the frictions caused by the new vampire lance corporal. But even more important than all of those is his personal pledge to ensure that he is at home by six o'clock every night - no matter what - to read to his son his favourite bedtime book, Where's My Cow?

Things could only be slightly worse if there was a millennia-old demon searching for a host to wreak its vengeance upon the waking World. Ah, wait … there it is.
 

There's not much a fan of Pratchett can say about the quality of a Discworld novel to entice a virgin reader to take that first step. There's probably less a reviewer can try to come up with that hasn't been said twenty-nine times before. Not until that moment when said author goes completely off the rails.

Yes, there has been whinging a-plenty about how, 'they're not the same as they used to be,' and other such prosaic critiques but surely half of the exhilarating freshness of the earlier novels were their originality? With Thud! being the 30th Discworld novel (and that does not include the three for younger readers, the numerous collaborations for the 'Science' books, almanacs and graphic novels) the flat-world-on-the-back-of-four-elephants-on-the-back-of-a-giant-turtle-swimming-through-space has become ensconced in our (sub)culture so that its own countries, cultures, species and characters have become a part of the norm. Immediately that takes away a huge chunk of the series' original appeal to avid readers.

But to this lowly fanboy, Pratchett's writing still captures the same intelligent wit as ever. His sublime references to our 'real' World weave through the narrative as seamless afterthoughts allowing the reader the luxury of not feeling alienated should a reference go over head-level.

Pratchett has touched upon so many contentious topics of today. How much you read into them is up to you and your level of knowledge but I saw comparisons to mirrors to the Middle East crises, immigration, culture subversion and acquiescence, media interference, The Da Vinci Code, and good parenting practices.

Previous knowledge of the characters is always an easier way to get into a story (and lack of, thereof, is always a good reason to stay away) yet Pratchett always makes a good effort in keeping the old favourites fresh enough to keep the regulars amused and detailed enough to not lose the interest of any new readers. Although they are set in a fantasy environment each character is set with real, believable values and emotions.

Pratchett's other little penchant for introducing new secondary characters still pertains. These always have a knack of stealing the limelight and, you know, are bound to resurface in later novels. There is the new lance constable - a vampire who has vowed herself off the blood but still can't help making everyone nervous. There's a meek government inspector who becomes a raging berserker. Perhaps more endearing is Vimes' personal disorganiser; an upgraded model who Vimes actually finds some practical uses for.

Pratchett is still on solid territory with his eclectic characters of the City Watch providing plenty of laughs on each page and moulding a tale that demands each page get turned until the utterly non-disappointing finale and a grand cameo from everyone's favourite reaper.