Snuff

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

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

A good book.

Not exactly one of my favorite books in the series, but still has some good humor & action to it.

captivating

This story has amazing details, interwoven so cleverly that I easily visualized the village & people.

Delightful!

Words can't even begin to describe how much I enjoy spending time in the Discworld universe. I have such awe and respect for the brilliance of Terry Pratchett. How could one man have brought about the keen Sam Vimes and also complicated chickens?

One of the best

Would you listen to Snuff again? Why?

YES. I love Terry Pratchett's books, and this is one of the better ones.

What did you like best about this story?

Fabulous character development, excellent story, lots of philosophical conundra

Fantastic Vimes adventure

As a fan of the Discworld series Snuff is a great listen for fans of the the city watch. The story is much more Vimes centric than earlier stories with many references back to the story of Thud! Little is seen of the other watch members as the story mainly rotates around Vimes, Sybil and willikins. The listener will enjoy their antics as they solve a mystery on holiday.

Brilliant, of course...

What did you love best about Snuff?

Like Mr. Pratchett, Sam Vimes is my favorite Discworld character. I love to see Vimes out of his element. It's so interesting and real, the way he uses what he knows in alien situations.

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

Stephen Briggs absolutely "gets" all of the characters in the Discworld books. He comprehends them and then he shows them to you. He makes me feel like I could meet these people on the street.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could listen to this book in one sitting.

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.