Alexis Rondeau

Guards! Guards!: (Discworld Novel 8) (Discworld series)

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Cover of Guards! Guards!: (Discworld Novel 8) (Discworld series)
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Terry Pratchett and Ben Aaranovitch

53 highlights · 4 notes · last read May 2025

Highlights I wrote a note on are shown in full. The other 49 are scrambled: the words are the author's, so here you only see where in the book I underlined something.

‘So it’d only work if it’s your actual million-to-one chance,’ said the sergeant. ‘I suppose that’s right,’ said Nobby. ‘So 999,943-to-one, for example—’ Colon began. Carrot shook his head. ‘Wouldn’t have a hope. No-one ever said, “It’s a 999,943-to-one chance but it might just work.”’ They stared out across the city in the silence of ferocious mental calculation. ‘We could have a real problem here,’ said Colon eventually. Carrot started to scribble furiously. When questioned, he explained at length about how you found the surface area of a dragon and then tried to estimate the chances of an arrow hitting any one spot. ‘Aimed, mind,’ said Sergeant Colon. ‘I aim.’ Nobby coughed. ‘In that case it’s got to be a lot less than a million-to-one chance,’ said Carrot. ‘It could be a hundred-to-one. If the dragon’s flying slowly and it’s a big spot, it could be practically a certainty.’ Colon’s lips shaped themselves around the phrase, It’s a certainty but it might just work. He shook his head. ‘Nah,’ he said. ‘So what we’ve got to do, then,’ said Nobby slowly, ‘is adjust the odds …’

Location 4,465

My note 1000000/1 chance better than 1000/1 ;)

The rank surveyed their handiwork. ‘Right,’ said Nobby. ‘Now, what are the chances of a man standing on one leg with his hat on backwards and a handkerchief in his mouth hitting a dragon’s voonerables?’ ‘Mmph,’ said Colon. ‘It’s pretty long odds,’ said Carrot. ‘I reckon the hanky is a bit over the top, though.’

Location 4,491

My note How to improve success by making it a 1000000/1 chance instead of 1000/1

‘It looks promising,’ he said critically. ‘We might be nearly there. I reckon the chances of a man with soot on his face, his tongue sticking out, standing on one leg and singing The Hedgehog Song ever hitting a dragon’s voonerables would be … what’d you say, Carrot?’ ‘A million to one, I reckon,’ said Carrot virtuously.

Location 4,542

My note A million-to-one

It was, of course, vitally important that there be a ceremony like this. Then the whole thing could be neat and settled. And forgotten.

Location 5,109

My note What if ceremonies, like doors, especially in groups, make us FORGET, not remember?

Related: Todo lists vs. Done lists

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