Watch (novel)

"Watch" is the 29th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, published in 2008. It is a part of the City Watch subseries, focusing on the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, and more specifically, on Commander Samuel Vimes.

The novel deals with themes of time travel, moral responsibility, and the nature of authority. Vimes is thrust into the past, specifically to his own younger self's time as a raw recruit on a vastly different, and arguably more corrupt, City Watch. He must ensure that history, particularly the events that shaped him into the man he is, remains on its proper course while wrestling with the ethical implications of interfering with his past self.

Key characters include a younger Samuel Vimes, Reg Shoe, and Carcer Dun, a sociopathic criminal whose actions trigger the time-travel incident. The narrative explores the formative experiences that molded Vimes' character and the challenges of preserving both his own timeline and the potential for his younger self's moral development.

The book is notable for its complex plot, exploring paradoxes inherent in time travel, and for offering insights into the history of Ankh-Morpork and the evolution of its City Watch from a small, ineffective group into a more professional and respected force.