Today’s essay is the final Tansy Rayner Roberts essay examining the Terry Pratchett novels revolving around Sam Vimes. From his beginnings as a morose drunkard barely keeping the Night Watch functioning, to happily wedded with a beloved son and a City Watch that can basically function without him - it’s a remarkable series of books, and a rather poignant suggestion of how (external) optimism and love can combine with (internal) sheer bloody-mindedness might make changes in a grumpy don't-want-to-be-a-hero.