Snuff

De: Terry Pratchett

Narrado por: Stephen Briggs

“A lively outing, complete with sly shout-outs to Jane Austen and gritty police procedurals.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In Terry Pratchett’s delightful New York Times bestselling tale of crime, class, prejudice, and punishment, Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is on vacation. But this is Discworld, where nothing goes as planned—and hilarious adventure ensues.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a policeman taking a holiday would barely have had time to open his suitcase before he finds his first corpse.

At long last, Lady Sybil has lured her husband, Sam Vimes, on a well-deserved and long-overdue holiday. 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.

The policeman is back on familiar ground when a body is found—the first of many, many corpses—and an ancient crime more terrible than murder is uncovered. Out of his jurisdiction, out of his element, and out of bacon sandwiches (thanks to his well-meaning wife)—Sam must rely on his copper’s instincts, guile, and Ankh-Morpork 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.

The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Snuff is the 8th book in the City Watch collection and the 39th Discworld book.

The City Watch series in order:

• Guards! Guards!
• Men at Arms
• Feet of Clay
• Jingo
• The Fifth Elephant
• Night Watch
• Thud!
• Snuff

Every visit to Discworld is a joy

39 books set in Discworld?! Quite a long trip from the original one that read so many years ago, about the carnivorous Luggage and the hapless Rincewald. But lord do I love this series.

Commander Vimes is a man in need of a vacation. Or at least, that is what everyone, in particular his wife, has decided for him. So via a strong conspiracy that goes all the way up to leader of Ankh-Morpork he is heading off for a vacation to the countryside estate of his wife. Accompanied by his wife, his child and his body servant he is forced out to an extended time of leisure. However, Sam is never off the clock. And then a Goblin is murdered in his area. Then, as things tend to do in Discworld, things get even more complicated.

I know the Discworld books aren't for everyone (there is just a bit too much tongue in cheek for "serious" fantasy fans) there is just something immensely enjoyable to escape to this fantastically weird and large world.

love all of these books. Pratchett is awesome!

so good. great performance. amazing stories as usual. I hope he can write for many more years.

Perfect!

Would you listen to Snuff again? Why?

I have, Several times. Actually the plot is a bit complex. Not one you can really listen to while trying to do other things. The second time I listened to it it made more sense and was just as enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

The humor. Terry Pratchett throws it in at the most random times.

The machinations of the characters are entertaining.

The author addresses humanitarian issues in a way that cannot offend because goblins do not exist that I am aware of. He can be gritty but not depressing. Something I enjoy very much.

What does Stephen Briggs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Oh he brings it alive. A treat especially for an American who gets to listen to a variety of accents. It would be easy for the wrong narrator to butcher this book but there are no dead or dull spots in this man's narration. The only other I can compare him to is Barbara Rosenblatt in the Peabody series.

A cerebral and auditory feast

Recently I've listened to a number of decent, good and very good books (including THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO). Listening to Stephen Briggs read SNUFF was like coming home after a long absence, like consuming a 5 course feast, like hearing the perfect lecture, like being reunited with my best friend. This Discworld novel has everything: well-developed characters, a great plot, a good moral, and some of Pratchett's best humor, puns and satire -- oh, the satire! It's still painful to think that the world will not be graced by any more of his works.

terry prachett is the best writer ever

I love this book so much and the narrator, Stephen Briggs, is my favorite reader of his books. He nails all the characters I wish he read all his books