Dodger

A Printz Honor Winner

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

New York Times Bestseller!

Beloved and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett's Dodger, a Printz Honor Book, combines high comedy with deep wisdom in a tale of one remarkable boy's rise in a fantasy-infused Victorian London.

Seventeen-year-old Dodger is content as a sewer scavenger. But he enters a new world when he rescues a young girl from a beating, and her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

From Dodger's encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd, to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

Creator of the popular Discworld fantasy series, Sir Terry also received a prestigious Printz Honor from the American Library Association for his novel Nation.

Brilliant, as usual

With the writing of Terry Pratchett and the narration of Stephen Briggs, how can this audiobook be anything less than stellar? Not a Discworld novel, but those familiar with the world will spot old friends among the cast, among them a smell that nearly has its own sentience, a river that may or may not actually be _water_, and a copper that has more in his head than just muscle. It was fascinating to be let into this world of Victorian England, with such faithfuls among the protagonists as Queen Victoria, Charlie Dickens, and Sweeney Todd... I will admit, the book has struck up in me a desire to refamiliarize myself with Dickens' work, as so many of the names, characters, circumstances, and turns of phrase tugged at my memory. Pratchett's talent for satire is muted here, but nevertheless shines through in his homage to one of the greatest writers of them all. A truly brilliant book, and well worth the credit, or the cash if you haven't one to spare.

Classic Pratchett & Briggs

Would you consider the audio edition of Dodger to be better than the print version?

Yes.

What did you like best about this story?

It's Pratchett, in ye olde London, in the sewers. There's a woman in distress, a scoundrel, lots of rats, an assassin, and Charles Dickens, and Briggs is reading it... you want this book.

Which character – as performed by Stephen Briggs – was your favorite?

All of them. He's a killer narrator.

Any additional comments?

Buy it now.

Victorian treat

This book is a delight, and for anyone with even the slightest interest in Victorian England, it is even better. The narration is drippingly English, and Mr Pratchett is a very clever turner of words and phrases. The plot is a little farfeched, but who cares. It is just plain fun.

Detailed, great escape!

Wonderful story, love going into London in that historic period, really enjoyed the footnotes at the End by the author. I would enjoy reading more about Dodger!

Please sir, can I have some more.

What did you love best about Dodger?

He was a "player" but he also was so innocent. It was very cute. He was just trying to survive as a street urchin and perhaps his moral compass was a little off.

What did you like best about this story?

Terry Pratchett put historical characters into these situauations and you are like yes I can see how this incident may have made this person the historical figure he was. It was a coming of age story and a comedy of errors and a mystery thriller all rolled into one.

What does Stephen Briggs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He uses the different dialects of the time. We know that back then the different dialects also separated the classes so it was very informing.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't think I cried but I did laugh out loud a few times. Also there were times that I felt excited wanting to know "how is this going to turn out" Overal I felt good. It was exciting and funny.

Any additional comments?

This could be the fake true story if Oliver Twist. After all Dodger and Charles Dickens were friends. lol