Snuff by Terry Pratchett

BunnyMaz · Nov 3, 2011

Anyone else lack the willpower to wait for it to come out in paperback?

I picked up the hardback yesterday and finished it last night... noticed a significant change in Pratchett's writing style. Enjoyed the book, what about you guys?

mirandashell · Nov 3, 2011

I enjoyed it too. But yeah, I agree there has been a change in style in this one. It's much more... repetitive. Not as tightly written as, say, Nightwatch. Still a good read, though. And still very funny.

pangalactic · Nov 3, 2011

Same. The way he physically writes has changed - he can't type any more, so he dictates everything now. I figure the transition from written word to spoken is responsible for the change in writing style. I saw the same thing with Unseen Academicals. I don't really like these last couple of books - they don't feel like Pratchett any more- but I'll still buy them, and I have complete and utter respect for him for managing to keep producing work in his situation.

mirandashell · Nov 3, 2011

Ah, I see. Yeah, that would definitely change the way he writes. Maybe he needs a harsher editor. But then, best-selling authors tend not to get edited.

Even his bad books are good stories so I'll keep buying them.

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 3, 2011

Have it, but haven't read it yet. Pratchett's books always come out at the perfect time for birthday gifts for my husband, so I get him the UK edition (whose covers have been SO much more fun than the US versions) and wrap it up and let him read it first.

areteus · Nov 3, 2011

Bought it and read it weeks ago... agree about the changes in style. Its a little jarring at times but not significantly.

JanDarby · Nov 3, 2011

For me, it wasn't so much a matter of style, but of thinking that Vimes didn't really have a character arc here. He's already been through the exact same testing he went through here -- the risk of stepping over the line into evil, and not giving his family enough priority -- and came through with flying colors, so there wasn't any real reason why he'd lose this time. I didn't feel the stakes. I love Vimes, but I'm not sure he was the best protagonist for this particular story. I'd like to see a new character introduced -- the way Moist was new in Going Postal -- rather than seeing Vimes go through a challenge he's already met.

OTOH, I so hope that Pratchett is going to write more about Vetinari and the puzzle lady. The one thing on Discworld that Vetinari can't control -- the puzzle lady -- is bound to give him a real character arc. I can't wait for their battle to begin (if, indeed, it's in the works; this is just speculation on my part)!

mirandashell · Nov 3, 2011

It was a rehash of Thud, really. I agree with you.

But I loved the puzzle lady as well!

BunnyMaz · Nov 3, 2011

I get the feeling this wasn't a development character arc as much as a saying goodbye. He's established that Vimes' son is developing well into an interesting person, that Vimes has a great and stable marriage with mutual understanding, that the butler provides Vimes with a close and understanding friendship, and that he can now pretty much handle any dangers that come his way. Look at the villain in the second half of the book - there was never any indication that Vimes or his son might be in any danger, it always felt like he was two steps ahead of the criminal.

It's like he's saying that Vimes is done now, he's got a good life that doesn't need further exploration.

Feels like a tying-up of loose ends, so readers won't feel they've missed out on anything vital in the character when Pratchett is no longer able to write. I felt the same way about the fourth Tiffany Aching book. The trilogy rounded her off nicely but left room for further growth, while the fourth book felt like a final happy ending.

mirandashell · Nov 3, 2011

You know what, Bunny, I think you're right. And that's really sad. I am so going to miss him when he's gone.

BunnyMaz · Nov 3, 2011

It's very sad, but I'm also grateful that Pratchett is using his writing time to do that, to finish his characters' stories for us.

Although Pratchett seems to be going strong for now, and if a cure for Alzheimer's is found within the next 5-10 years he may find himself in a pickle!

frimble3 · Nov 3, 2011

I'm sure he can find new characters when he needs them. In the meantime, I'm glad he's finishing-off loose ends.
It reduces the chances that some fool will come along and say, "People really want to know how the story ends, so glorious me will steal-sorry-license the characters and write some crapfest of my own."
And the way Terry Pratchett handled the Tiffany Aching books was perfect. BunnyMaz is right.

Filigree · Nov 3, 2011

I'm just finishing SNUFF tonight, and I haven't been too jarred by the style.
Quite enjoying it, so far.

The puzzle lady may be a red herring. I'm wondering who Vetinari will hand over the city to, when he finally takes off for Uberwald and a well-deserved retirement. Somehow I'm not certain that the Discworld is not ready for an Ankh-Morporkian democratic republic.

Here's to Pratchett, and the hopes of a cure.

BunnyMaz · Nov 3, 2011

frimble3 said:
I'm sure he can find new characters when he needs them. In the meantime, I'm glad he's finishing-off loose ends.
It reduces the chances that some fool will come along and say, "People really want to know how the story ends, so glorious me will steal-sorry-license the characters and write some crapfest of my own."
And the way Terry Pratchett handled the Tiffany Aching books was perfect. BunnyMaz is right.

Indeed. Would it be disrespectful-to-you-fellow-writer for me to casually mention the last two Dune series books?

pangalactic · Nov 4, 2011

Bunny, I think you hit the nail on the head there. I hadn't thought of it like that, but the book suddenly makes a lot more sense.

frimble3 · Nov 4, 2011

BunnyMaz said:
Indeed. Would it be disrespectful-to-you-fellow-writer for me to casually mention the last two Dune series books?

Or a few other series that continued after their respected, respectable, and respective authors died.
It's not even entirely on the usurping writer. The estate and publisher and whoever else owns the rights obviously went along with it.

mirandashell · Nov 5, 2011

If they do that travesty to TP, I shall not buy them. Shall not even consider buying them.

The man is doing what needs to be done. Leave his work alone, you vultures!

areteus · Nov 6, 2011

I think he is clever enough to have made sure his will is quite clear on the nature of his IP and whether anyone is allowed to use it... or write in his worlds again.

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 6, 2011

Pratchett is pretty unique. I don't think I'd wish to read someone else's fanfic, even pro fanfic.

(Although I'm looking forward with some hope and only a little trepidation to PD James' murder-mystery sequel to Pride and Prejudice.)

shaldna · Nov 18, 2011

BunnyMaz said:
Anyone else lack the willpower to wait for it to come out in paperback?

I booked a day off work for release day.

I picked up the hardback yesterday and finished it last night... noticed a significant change in Pratchett's writing style. Enjoyed the book, what about you guys?

There's a change in teh way he works now, dictating to Rob rather than typing himself, combined with the effects of his Alzheimers would explain the changes in style.

shaldna · Nov 18, 2011

JanDarby said:
For me, it wasn't so much a matter of style, but of thinking that Vimes didn't really have a character arc here. He's already been through the exact same testing he went through here -- the risk of stepping over the line into evil, and not giving his family enough priority -- and came through with flying colors, so there wasn't any real reason why he'd lose this time. I didn't feel the stakes. I love Vimes, but I'm not sure he was the best protagonist for this particular story. I'd like to see a new character introduced -- the way Moist was new in Going Postal -- rather than seeing Vimes go through a challenge he's already met.

When I was reading it I couldn't help but wonder how Carrot would have dealt with it. Very differently I think, but then Carrot is a strange one, and I like the way we never know what he is thinking or how he is going to react to stuff. And I don't think Angua would have been able to take the Sybil role, she's just not a people person and the smell alone would have sent her mad.

OTOH, I so hope that Pratchett is going to write more about Vetinari and the puzzle lady. The one thing on Discworld that Vetinari can't control -- the puzzle lady -- is bound to give him a real character arc. I can't wait for their battle to begin (if, indeed, it's in the works; this is just speculation on my part)!

In my head the puzzle lady is a sweet middle aged woman in a tweed skirt and a pink jumper with sensible shoes and her glasses on a chain.

My friend disagrees, he reckons she's about 16.

shaldna · Nov 18, 2011

areteus said:
I think he is clever enough to have made sure his will is quite clear on the nature of his IP and whether anyone is allowed to use it... or write in his worlds again.

If you look at the copyright page you'll see that pratchett shares his copyright with his wife Lyn

BunnyMaz · Nov 18, 2011

I can only hope - and I trust this is true - that Pratchett's wife Lyn has enough respect for his creation to let it end with him.

Given the sort of female characters Pratchett writes, I can only imagine he has excellent taste in women, so I'm keeping it on faith that she has a lot of Sybil in her!

areteus · Nov 18, 2011

I was actually very impressed by the way Sybill acts in this book. She does what any noble of her personality would do - write lots of letters and pull many influential strings in order to ensure that what she wants to happen happens.

I agree that this is Vime's swansong and I do wonder how many other characters are going to get one. Rincewind got his when he was appointed Professor of Cruel and Unusual Geography, Cohen got his in The Last Hero, Twoflower got it in Interesting Times. I think we are still waiting for a few characters...

BunnyMaz · Nov 18, 2011

Oh gods. I don't know if I want Granny Weatherwax' swansong. Or Nanny Ogg's.

Snuff by Terry Pratchett

Ruining your porn since 1984

Gargling blasters

Sophipygian

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Ruining your porn since 1984

Heckuva good sport

Mildly Disturbing

Ruining your porn since 1984

Gargling blasters

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Sophipygian

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Ruining your porn since 1984

Ruining your porn since 1984