Snuff

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

For nearly three decades, Terry Pratchett has enthralled millions of fans worldwide with his irreverent, wonderfully funny satires set in the fabulously imaginative Discworld, a universe remarkably similar to our own. From sports to religion, politics to education, science to capitalism, and everything in between, Pratchett has skewered sacred cows with both laughter and wisdom, and exposed our warts, foibles, and eccentricities in a unique, entertaining, and ultimately serious way.

At long last, Lady Sybil has lured her husband, Sam Vimes, on a well-deserved holiday away from the crime and grime of Ankh-Morpork. But for the commander of the City Watch, a vacation in the country is anything but relaxing. The balls, the teas, the muck - not to mention all that fresh air and birdsong - are more than a bit taxing on a cynical city-born and -bred copper.

Yet a policeman will find a crime anywhere if he decides to look hard enough, and it’s not long before a body is discovered, and Sam - out of his jurisdiction, out of his element, and out of bacon sandwiches (thanks to his well-meaning wife) - must rely on his instincts, guile, and street smarts to see justice done. As he sets off on the chase, though, he must remember to watch where he steps... This is the countryside, after all, and the streets most definitely are not paved with gold.

Hailed as the “purely funniest English writer since Wodehouse” (Washington Post Book World), with a “satirist’s instinct for the absurd and a cartoonist’s eye for the telling detail” (Daily Telegraph, London), Terry Pratchett offers a novel of crime, class, prejudice, and punishment that shows this master at his dazzling best.

©2011 Terry and Lyn Pratchett (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

pTerry back in form

What did you love best about Snuff?

Snuff is the best outing from Pratchett in the last few years. It focuses primarily on Vimes, with cameos by the more important members of the Watch. It seemed to me that the book didn't really advance Vimes' character much; mostly we covered much the same ground we covered in Thud!, Vimes' self-doubt, his conflict between being a nob and a regular copper, with yet another dose of the Summoning Dark. Pratchett continues to retcon established characters---the Patrician is chatty, Wilikins has changed from Gentleman's Gentleman to a genteel thug posing as a GG; and sadly, one iconic characters NEVER APPEARS. For all that, Snuff was an engaging story, and held together much better than Unseen Academicals.The narration was not up to snuff. Briggs seemed rushed, as if he could wait to get all the words said and move on to other things. I found that a bit off-putting, as I have enjoyed his narration in the past. Overall, I recommend the book. If it isn't as good as some of the classics in this series, it's still a strong contender.

(And Audible---Filling out a form isn't writing a review, now is it? Please dump this idea RSN.)

Finally, a vacation for Commander Vimes

Would you consider the audio edition of Snuff to be better than the print version?

We listeners have been spoiled by the Discworld series on audio, which employs people who love the material and know (presumably from asking Mr. Pratchett) just how it was meant to be read, so yes. Pratchett's narrative voice is conversational, uses comedic timing, and employs the equivalent of muttered asides to the reader, all of which are perfect for reading aloud, or listening to someone else reading aloud.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Snuff?

Snuff isn't quite a Watch story, it's a Vimes story, and watching Vimes having to act on his own is a change of pace. There's a real humanness to his interactions with his family (and his butler) that gives them all an extra dimension. Without the banter, the outings with young Sam, and Vimes just generally being Vimes at people, the story might have felt a bit thin.

Have you listened to any of Stephen Briggs’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Stephen Briggs can do no wrong with Discworld. I have listened to most of his performances of Discworld material at one time or another, and have never found fault in any of them. Snuff is no exception.

If you could take any character from Snuff out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I suppose I'd take young Sam. I'd learn all I could ever have wanted to know about poo.

Any additional comments?

This is a bit more of a lightweight story than Night Watch, or Thud!, or most of the recent Watch stories. Listeners expecting high drama may be disappointed. Listeners expecting high adventure should do fine.

Light Fun with a bit more meat

This was my first experience with Terry Pratchett. The story was good fun and the narration excellent. Very enjoyable overall, with perhaps a bit more depth and poignancy in the end than I expected. Similar to some of Neil Gaiman's work, but perhaps not quite as moving or "literary" in some respects.

Increadible!!!

Absolutely fantastic all round! The kind of book that starts off well, and just gets better and better.

I Almost Skipped This One. I'm Glad I Didn't

Terry Pratchett wrote this in top form, Stephen Briggs performed it beautifully. Never has there been a better example of time marching forward on the face of Discworld. I was enthralled, swept away by the imagery and so taken by the humor that I had to stop several times just to find someone to share the really good parts with.

love Vimes

I love the story, the author Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs the narrator.. any Vimes fans will enjoy this book

Terry pratchett at his best

I loved this book and Stephen Briggs rocks as a Narrator, Terry will be missed

Not Sir Terry's best but still immensely enjoyable

I'm on my 3rd trip through the discworld and have even read a few books 4 or 5x. This isn't Pratchett's best work but it is still an excellent book. That's just it with Pratchett though, his less than stellar material is still leagues beyond most writers. No one can match his wit.

A Sam Vimes copper story

I really enjoyed this book. If you like the disc world then this story is like settling in with an old friend on a comfortable couch.

More Perfection

Yet more proof that you can never go wrong - never - with Pratchett as read by Briggs. I don't mind saying that it brought me close to tears several times, and had me laughing at the perfectly-timed and -voiced witticisms, just as nearly all the City Watch stories do. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.