Are you a Vimes or Carrot (Wo)man?

Welcome to the Sir Terry Pratchett Forums
Register here for the Sir Terry Pratchett forum and message boards.
Sign up

raisindot

Sergeant-at-Arms
Oct 1, 2009
5,344
2,450
Boston, MA USA
Dotsie said:
But the disc is full of muscley heroes, without much in the way of charisma. I remember reading somewhere that part of the reason Carrot is so popular is also because of a "punch that even trolls had learned to respect". He's the Captain Kirk of Discworld.
He's so popular he's even been made into an action figure toy sold at Hogswatch.

(Not such a good post, but the count for this tpoic has been hovering at 99 for a week and I just HAD to move it up to 100. )

:laugh:
 

One Man Bucket

Lance-Corporal
Oct 8, 2010
157
2,275
I like both equally but I find Vimes to be the more fully realised character. After reading this thread I have to agree that Carrot was really out of character in the 5th Elephant but he's since gone back to form so I think I can forgive Terry for one OoC appearance. My problem with Vimes is that of late he seems to be dominating the Watch books to the extent that they might as well be called the Sam Vimes series. As for Rincewind I've never had a problem with him and if a new Rincewind novel appeared I'd buy it in a snap
 

One Man Bucket

Lance-Corporal
Oct 8, 2010
157
2,275
Tonyblack said:
I wouldn't say Carrot had gone back to form after 5th Elephant. I think it's more a case that he's become a much more secondary character now. :)
He can't really be a main character any more since his relationship with Angua is now stable and he's been very clear about his desire not to be king. These are the only 2 things that could be used as a basis for story with him as a main character. I suppose there's also his dwarfishness but since even the most traditional dwarfs accept him as a dwarf that doesn't spark me as ever being an issue.
 

Maeve

Lance-Constable
Oct 12, 2010
29
2,150
London/Lancaster
I like them both equally for different reasons- I know that's a totally cruddy kind of answer but its true! I guess their characters developed naturally over time and Vimes came out on top, as the more powerful complex character. One of the problems having Carrot as a main character is its kinda impossible to get fully inside his head.... or those are my opinions, anyway!
 

james.a.vivian

Lance-Corporal
Dec 26, 2010
105
2,275
Sydney
Vimes hands down. Feet of clay was my first Watch novel so my picture of Vimes was formed from my impressions laid down in that book. While reading GG and MAA I never realised that Vimes wasn't as prominent a character as of Carrot. Reading as Vimes progressed through the ranks of the watch to his dismay, and leaving his drunk and lonely existence behind and becoming a loving husband and father has been great. I thought Night watch was awesome.
 

Thordoc

Lance-Constable
Nov 1, 2010
50
1,650
Australia
+1 to the above

Vimes has grown so much more as a character, having followed him from GG all the way through. He is starting to become a little more predictable after Jingo but still a great character.

Carrot on the other hand hasn't really progressed in my mind since MAA, I do get a feeling that carrot and angua are due to have a book mostly focused on them soon (that's just a gut feeling)
 

Tonyblack

Super Moderator
City Watch
Jul 25, 2008
31,024
3,650
Cardiff, Wales
That's the thing - if a character has flaws, like Vimes, they can grow. If they are perfect then they can't.

It's like Superman - if he didn't have Kryponite as a flaw then he'd be too perfect and cease to be interesting.
 

raisindot

Sergeant-at-Arms
Oct 1, 2009
5,344
2,450
Boston, MA USA
Thordoc said:
+1 to the above

Vimes has grown so much more as a character, having followed him from GG all the way through. He is starting to become a little more predictable after Jingo but still a great character.

Carrot on the other hand hasn't really progressed in my mind since MAA, I do get a feeling that carrot and angua are due to have a book mostly focused on them soon (that's just a gut feeling)
Well, Pterry tried to add other shades to Carrot in TFE, when he acted totally irresponsibly and essentially betrayed his own ideals, all in the name of personal game, contrary to his own philosophy of "Personal is not the same as important." He's a deeper character here, but not necessarily likeable. And he contributes nothing to the resolution of the story.

J-I-B
 

Thordoc

Lance-Constable
Nov 1, 2010
50
1,650
Australia
Batman is far superior to superman....but that is a discussion for a different time :laugh:

fair point about TFE raisindot. but even then I felt that it was too far out of character for carrot, and I struggle to think of a reason that he is in the story other then a way to show where angua is in her progression to Uberwald. (don't know how to put the umlaut on the U)

even carrot in books like MM shows that at best he can only be a straightman to bounce jokes off. ;)
 
Jan 12, 2011
1,093
2,600
Alas,Germany
Definitly Vimes.
I used to think I would be more of a Carrot girl,but being married to one (a Carrot) for ten years changed my viewpoint considerably....
All this moral integrity gets at you after a while and I think the way Vimes is actually aware of his failings makes him so much more likeable,more real,as it were.
He knows he´s "not the sharpest knife in the drawer"but uses his abilities to get to grips with the situation before him anyway.
He doesn´t mind playing dirty and he´s aware of his demons all the time but manages to stay on top.
He´s been a reallife inspiration for me at times,I got into trouble once and actually found myself thinking:What would Vimes do?
I totally admire the way Pterry has made this character grow from the gutter to the ducal crown and he still stays the same person inside,the money and power doesn´t corrupt him.
He also loves Sybil for being Sybil,not for being Lady Ramkin,which I think appealing.
I don´t mind Carrot,he has his moments and the story definitly needs him.I also think that he doesn´t develop much in the books as Vimes does, he obviously did all his development in the first book,all in one go,and that was it.
I like him with Angua,although sometimes I think she could do with a different sort of guy to make her come out more.The way she´s aware of him being the master and she the dog gives me the creeps,good he doesnt really use it.
Plus his limited outlook on things makes me impatient at times,as with his reaction to Cheery/Cheri,I was disappointed then because I hadnt expected him to be so prejudiced.
But then I guess someone always has to be the guy with all the muscles...
And:there are plenty of Carrots in Roundworld,but,alas,not so many Vimes´..... ;) :p
 
Jan 12, 2011
1,093
2,600
Alas,Germany
Actually,the Bumper sticker IS a good idea! :laugh:
I´ll see if I can have that Sticker custom made for me somewhere.
I´m still looking for the one I once saw on a car here in Germany saying:"I brake for Elves,Fairies,Dragons and other magical creatures only I can see".I always thought that would make my erratic behaviour in traffic appear somehow more loveable as opposed to a downright Pain In The Neck.
On the other hand,combine that with a WwVd sticker and I might be back in trouble,as any Pratchettlovers behind me might feel moved to get out of their car,come up front and seriously prod buttock....
Plus I´d be in trouble every blue Sunday because the original WwJd people might feel I was taking the mickey.Hmmm..
No,I think it´s worth it anyway! :)
 

User Menu

Newsletter