Snuff
Read by Stephen Briggs
By Terry Pratchett

Harper Audio
October 14, 2011 / ASIN: B005UJSC9M
Fantasy / Humor / Satire / Audiobook (Unabridged) / 11 hours and 29 minutes
Amazon

Reviewed by Carisa Farrington

The Patrician, Lord Vetinari, knows there is smuggling going on, which in normal cases, wouldn't be much of an issue. When it comes to his attention that the smuggling is being controlled by an already wealthy and powerful family, he decides it's a good time to pay attention.

Commander Vimes is desperate. As much as he loves his wife Cybil, his son, Young Sam, and their life together as a family, the last thing he wants is to give up his life as a "copper" - even if it is only for two weeks. With nothing (and no one since Cybil has infiltrated the ranks of the City Watch with her kind but commanding ways) to prevent the now inevitable vacation, Commander Vimes once again becomes Sir Samuel Vimes, Duke of Ankh. As he and his family settle into their country estate amid the other members of the aristocratic families who control the feudally run area, Vimes finds himself in the thick of a huge secret as well as a race of beings around which the secret centers - goblins. His ability to overcome physical restraints, social stigmas, and narrow-minded individuals will be tested to its fullest, placing him in a position of great danger -- as well as a position to create the biggest change in Discworld's history.

Captain Carrot and the crew are at a bit of a loss without the Commander around, but Carrot, in his (suspiciously) simple way, takes on the role of commanding officer and finds himself facing a very odd situation - a problem that starts with a cigar and escalates quickly into one of the most complex dilemmas Sergeant Fred Colon has ever stepped his well-worn boots into.

I have always been a huge fan of Terry Pratchett. His ability to continue the individual timelines for a group of characters as well as introduce new ones with seamless precision is an amazing feat - one that he accomplishes so easily it's downright envy-causing. The City Watch crew, to me, is one of the most fascinating groups of characters Pratchett has introduced into the Discworld series. They're also some of the most complex. Snuff brings all of the best and worst personality "quirks" of these beloved characters, creating a new level of awesome that only Pratchett himself could ever outdo. It's well worth a listen, as Stephen Briggs, a permanent member of Pratchett's crew, once again sinks his immense vocal talents into the world of Discworld in order to bring all that is amazing about that world straight to our imagination. I highly recommend it.