"Of all the cities in the world it could have flown into, it flew into mine." Some night-time prowler is turning the citizens of Ankh-Morpork, greatest city of the fantasy Discworld, into something resembling small charcoal biscuits. And that's a real problem for Captain Vimes of the City Watch, who must tramp the mean streets of the city searching for a seventy-foot-long fire-breathing dragon which, he believes, can help him with their enquiries. In a city thrown into turmoil by magic, charcoal biscuits, secret societies and mad lady dragon breeders ("Just tell him 'sit' if he'sothering you"), he's just looking for the facts.