Review: Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8)

Snuff by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great book. Dynamic, witty, and as always, lots of fun!

In a lot of books I have read recently, it feels like it's mostly setup and then you have all the action at the end of the book; or the reader knows the answers to the mystery central to the plot from the beginning, and you're just waiting for the protagonist to catch up. This book is neither of these two cases: there is always something happening, the pacing is perfect, it's always moving the story forward. All of it is a good read, the journey is just as good as the destination; and the ending is just right!

If you know the Discworld canon and division of books, this is a "City Watch" story. However, it's more of a Sam Vimes story, not the whole City Watch, because it takes place during Vimes vacation trip to the country. In this story, Vimes has risen to the position of Duke, is incredibly well-regarded by all, recognized as a very important person not only in Ankh-Morpork but also by the dwarves and trolls. But then Vetinari somehow manipulates him (through his wife) into taking a vacation in the country, to go visit his wife's family manor, of which Vimes is now lord.

The main plot is a murder mystery, with Vimes trying to solve the murder and bring those responsible to justice. At times it feels like it is riffing on a Sherlock Holmes story, with Vimes standing for Sherlock and his gentleman's gentleman Willikins for Dr. Watson. The story is set on the countryside, and it's meant to be evoke (in a satirical way) stories in the English countryside from the 1800s - think Jane Austen, Emily Bronte. He actually has a minor character called Jane who is most definitely the local incarnation of Jane Austen. Thus following this theme, the book has a great exploration of the questions of class and elitism in Britain.

A big theme is racism, nominally about racism against goblins; but calling out all the ways a group of people can be racist against other groups of people. And how first it's racist towards one group; and once that group gains acceptance, racist against another group; and once that one is also acceptable, another, and so on. But surprisingly, it's not just about overt racism, but about not doing anything while others are being racist; about just sitting idling by, letting things be because that's how they always have been. The story literally says that everyone should take up arms if that's what is needed to combat racism. Vimes shames the good citizens of the village for failing to do that.

The book has many scenes and dialogues full of self-reflection, of digressions, of wonderings about life, morality, about what is right and wrong. It feels very introspective and retrospective, as if the author is reflecting on his own life. It doesn't shy away from exploring some quite dark themes, like racism mentioned above, but also violence, slavery, exploitation, the condition of misery of poor people. It is maybe as if the author thought as he was getting older and closer to being unable to write anymore, he better address some more serious topics while he had a chance, before he was unable to. I think this brings some maturity to the Discworld series as we near its end, and it is better for it.

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