SPOILERS Snuff *Warning Spoilers*
- Thread starter Tonyblack
- Start date
LilMaibe, I didn't create this topic but I would surmise that its purpose is to serve as a place where people who HAVE READ THE BOOK or are reading it now can make comments and discuss it.
Since your comments are adding absolutely nothing to this literary discussion, I would suggest you instead post your continuing criticisms in the general "Snuff" topic, which seems to cover a broader range of discussions of the book without going into a literary analysis. Or create your own topic, "Lilmaibe's Criticisms of Snuff and Those Who Give It Positive Reviews" and keep your comments there.
Since your comments are adding absolutely nothing to this literary discussion, I would suggest you instead post your continuing criticisms in the general "Snuff" topic, which seems to cover a broader range of discussions of the book without going into a literary analysis. Or create your own topic, "Lilmaibe's Criticisms of Snuff and Those Who Give It Positive Reviews" and keep your comments there.
I liked it entirely for the fact it was better than UA by miles and very funny, darkly in some cases. Whether or not it had Vimes in it was a mere by-product.
The writing was superb as usual and the story moves quickly, so much so that I kept picking it up to see what happened next.
One small tiny whinge: was it worth bringing Fred into the story or was it just to get his sense of human prospective back on line?
Secondly and more important (to me at least), IS Nobby going to get married to a Goblin? He could at last find happiness without Verity Pushpram!
And lastly, that final sentance is a doozy that had me laughing out loud. (I am a great fan of Jane Austen).
The writing was superb as usual and the story moves quickly, so much so that I kept picking it up to see what happened next.
One small tiny whinge: was it worth bringing Fred into the story or was it just to get his sense of human prospective back on line?
Secondly and more important (to me at least), IS Nobby going to get married to a Goblin? He could at last find happiness without Verity Pushpram!
And lastly, that final sentance is a doozy that had me laughing out loud. (I am a great fan of Jane Austen).
I don't think it was. Considering that it was over a hundred pages before anyone else from the Watch makes an appearance, the book could easily have worked without any of the Watch people. Without a doubt Snuff has the worst use of the "supporting" Watch characters since the terrible Fred-as-Captain-Queeg subplot of TFE. My guess is that Pterry felt that fans would throw a rod if none of the other Watch characters were featured. Plus I think he wanted to get a little mileage out of Wee Mad Arthur's Feegleness.
One does wonder. Considering how Glenda and Nutt connected in UA, you sort of wonder why there would be any huge objection to Nobby (who is barely human anyway) hooking up with a goblin.
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I have to totally admit that this one absolutely totally blew by me. I thought it simply as a pun and made absolutely no connection that Snuff was, in part, a parody of Austen and the 19th century English country novels.
One does wonder. Considering how Glenda and Nutt connected in UA, you sort of wonder why there would be any huge objection to Nobby (who is barely human anyway) hooking up with a goblin.
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I have to totally admit that this one absolutely totally blew by me. I thought it simply as a pun and made absolutely no connection that Snuff was, in part, a parody of Austen and the 19th century English country novels.
The other Watch members appeared for several reasons. Firstly, to throw a bone to people who aren't the most hardcore Vimes fans. Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, to write Fred and Nobby out of future Watch stories. Thirdly, as someone mentioned to further develop on Arthur's feeglness and Angua's promotion as people who didn't read Tiffany Aching would be unaware of the development. Finally, it was an opportunity to show how Goblins in the big city were doing and to give Vimes a way to know where the Goblins were being sent without him having to go to Howondaland.
Tonyblack said:
The other members are also there as a plot device. While Vimes is doing his bit, the others are essentially investigating the same crime. Using Wee Mad Arthur allows the reader to see what's going on in another part of the Disc altogether. 
I get this feeling that Pterry (or his publishers) felt that he needed to include a few more Watch characters to appease fans.
Seeing as I'm not the biggest Vimes fan but am a huge fan of the Watch, I'm quite happy that the other Watch members were included. Vimes going to Howondaland would have been nice because we'd see more of Howondaland rather than getting more Vimes.
Contrary to what DaveC says the idea of sending Sam Jr to UU is very much present in the book. When Willikins is discussing Jr's prospects he mentions UU to which Vimes reacts in such a way as to suggest he wouldn't approve but but he somewhat begrudgingly acknowledges that Jr probably won't be a Watch officer.
Contrary to what DaveC says the idea of sending Sam Jr to UU is very much present in the book. When Willikins is discussing Jr's prospects he mentions UU to which Vimes reacts in such a way as to suggest he wouldn't approve but but he somewhat begrudgingly acknowledges that Jr probably won't be a Watch officer.
A
Oh. Well, someone there basically said the same. (BTW: 8th's son 8th son on the disc, 7th's son 7th son is earth )
But what made me wonder: Even Ponder can do magic. Okay, we never see him do so, but we hear he can (see LC and even UA).
While it might be better suited for a different topic, this whole 'accepting non-wizards' thing Vetinari 'demanded' from the UU in the short story always struck me as odd.
Wouldn't that basically be suicide or at least a recipe for desaster?
)But what made me wonder: Even Ponder can do magic. Okay, we never see him do so, but we hear he can (see LC and even UA).
While it might be better suited for a different topic, this whole 'accepting non-wizards' thing Vetinari 'demanded' from the UU in the short story always struck me as odd.
Wouldn't that basically be suicide or at least a recipe for desaster?
A
No, i actually meant because of the residentual magic in the UU.
Not to mention what magic/technomancy can do in the wrong hands (AKA hands that only got their....err...hands on it because someone with no idea of magic demanded they'll be allowed to get their hands on it)
(Not to mention it's a bit unfair. I mean, Vetinari would never go and force the Assassins' Guild to accept people into their ranks that neither have the money nor are qualified)
It'd be a bit as if I'd give you a scalpel and tell you to do brain/heart/hand surgery and expect your patient to be alive afterwards.
(Apologies if you'd in fact BE a trained surgeon)
Not to mention what magic/technomancy can do in the wrong hands (AKA hands that only got their....err...hands on it because someone with no idea of magic demanded they'll be allowed to get their hands on it)
(Not to mention it's a bit unfair. I mean, Vetinari would never go and force the Assassins' Guild to accept people into their ranks that neither have the money nor are qualified)
It'd be a bit as if I'd give you a scalpel and tell you to do brain/heart/hand surgery and expect your patient to be alive afterwards.
(Apologies if you'd in fact BE a trained surgeon)
