Snuff

Of all the Discworld plot lines, I think Sam Vimes' is probably my favorite. Don't get me wrong, I love the Witches and Susan Death and Moist von Lipwig, but the saga of Vimes and the Watch always resonates with me. Most of the Vimes novels deal with prejudice and the many -isms that poison society, and I think it's sort of amazing and also sort of sad that after decades of Discworld, Sir Terry is still not out of material for this.

“Snuff” is not my favorite Discworld novel, but it does contain all the wonderful traits that make Discworld great. One of the reasons Vimes' storyline is my favorite is because while it always deals with relationships, it's not necessarily about relationships. Sam and Sybil are probably my favorite power couple in the history of literature. Their relationship is always a part of the story, but it never becomes a hackneyed plot point and Sybil is never, ever a damsel in distress. They are two bright, capable people who make the best decisions available to them.

Prejudice is certainly the over-riding theme here, but also the idea of humanity. It asks us to take a good, solid look at what makes living creatures “people” and asks us to treat everyone with those qualifications as such. As always, it does this with wit, humor, and regular surprises around the corner.

So while it isn't my favorite Discworld book, that's sort of like saying glazed isn't my favorite kind of doughnut. It's still a great read especially for Vimes fans.