Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
HarperCollins
Description
Arch-swindler Moist Van Lipwig never believed his confidence crimes were hanging offenses-until he found himself with a noose tightly around his neck, dropping through a trapdoor, and falling into-a government job? By all rights, Moist should have met his maker. Instead, it's Lord Vetinari, supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork, who promptly offers him a job as Postmaster. Since his only other option is a nonliving one, Moist accepts the position-and the hulking golem watchdog who comes along with it, just in case Moist was considering abandoning his responsibilities prematurely. Getting the moribund Postal Service up and running again, however, may be a near-impossible task, what with literally mountains of decades-old undelivered mail clogging every nook and cranny of the broken-down post office building; and with only a few creaky old postmen and one rather unstable, pin-obsessed youth available to deliver it. Worse still, Moist could swear the mail is talking to him.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member kevinashley
An avid science fiction reader, and an enthusiast for satire and humour in science fiction, I've put off reading anything by Terry Pratchett for some years. This was the first of his novels that I've read; I think that vague sense of reluctance I had was well-founded.
That's not to say that the
Many, though not all, of his books are set in a fantasy world called Discworld. The physical properties of this world are intentionally ridiculous, carried as it is on the backs of turtles, but it's the society that his writing concentrates on. Centred on the capital city of Ankh-Morpork, it's a typical fantasy mixture of magic, humans, goblins and a variety of other races and an organisation and bureaucracy reminiscent of Fritz Leiber, although realised in more detail. The government is corrupt, everyone knows it, and everyone more or less deals with it. Thieves are bound by union rules in medieval guilds just like anyone else, and the satire and humour often arises from ingenious ways of getting around those very rules.
In this particular story, our hero - a typical lovable rogue - is snatched from almost certain death by corrupt government honchos to carry out the almost impossible task of reviving the Post Office. This is in order to outwit some even more corrupt corporations whose interests, for once, aren't entirely aligned with the government's. There's a love interest, and of course our lovable rogue must outwit the evil corporations, stay true to his own nature, do Good Deeds, outwit the evil government honchos whilst somehow doing their bidding, and win his love. You know from the outset that this will come about, and one way or another it mostly does.
And in parts it is very funny and the satire finds its target. There's also some good ideas, particularly the Golems who play a prominent role. They're governed by rules not unlike Asimov's 3 laws of robotics, except that theirs are a little more creative, because without that their wouldn't be the humour - or would there? But Pratchett has fun with their laws and creative ways to get round them much as Asimov did with his.
But overall this wasn't as satisfying for me as Sheckley or Adams, even though it had its moments. I might try another, but I'll leave it some time before I do.
I'm left with the sense that reading a book by Terry Pratchett is akin to being trapped in the corner of a pub by someone who, whilst entertaining, has now drunk a bit too much, is talking a bit too loudly and is convinced of their own hilarity. You enjoyed their anecdotes, and should you meet again you may warily enjoy a few more, but right now you just want to escape somewhere quieter.
Which is not to be thought of as a description of the author. From what I've seen of him, he's erudite, self-effacing and an all-round decent bloke. But there's just this something about his writing...
That's not to say that the
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novel is bad, or that it's difficult reading (it certainly isn't.) Those of you who are Pratchett fans have probably already stopped reading in disgust - if you haven't, there's a lot more coming later that will probably have you baying for my blood. For the rest of you, a bit of an explanation of Pratchett's settings is warranted.Many, though not all, of his books are set in a fantasy world called Discworld. The physical properties of this world are intentionally ridiculous, carried as it is on the backs of turtles, but it's the society that his writing concentrates on. Centred on the capital city of Ankh-Morpork, it's a typical fantasy mixture of magic, humans, goblins and a variety of other races and an organisation and bureaucracy reminiscent of Fritz Leiber, although realised in more detail. The government is corrupt, everyone knows it, and everyone more or less deals with it. Thieves are bound by union rules in medieval guilds just like anyone else, and the satire and humour often arises from ingenious ways of getting around those very rules.
In this particular story, our hero - a typical lovable rogue - is snatched from almost certain death by corrupt government honchos to carry out the almost impossible task of reviving the Post Office. This is in order to outwit some even more corrupt corporations whose interests, for once, aren't entirely aligned with the government's. There's a love interest, and of course our lovable rogue must outwit the evil corporations, stay true to his own nature, do Good Deeds, outwit the evil government honchos whilst somehow doing their bidding, and win his love. You know from the outset that this will come about, and one way or another it mostly does.
And in parts it is very funny and the satire finds its target. There's also some good ideas, particularly the Golems who play a prominent role. They're governed by rules not unlike Asimov's 3 laws of robotics, except that theirs are a little more creative, because without that their wouldn't be the humour - or would there? But Pratchett has fun with their laws and creative ways to get round them much as Asimov did with his.
But overall this wasn't as satisfying for me as Sheckley or Adams, even though it had its moments. I might try another, but I'll leave it some time before I do.
I'm left with the sense that reading a book by Terry Pratchett is akin to being trapped in the corner of a pub by someone who, whilst entertaining, has now drunk a bit too much, is talking a bit too loudly and is convinced of their own hilarity. You enjoyed their anecdotes, and should you meet again you may warily enjoy a few more, but right now you just want to escape somewhere quieter.
Which is not to be thought of as a description of the author. From what I've seen of him, he's erudite, self-effacing and an all-round decent bloke. But there's just this something about his writing...
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LibraryThing member 391
Going Postal is brilliant. It's immensely engaging - you're always on the verge of finding out what happens, which makes it extremely difficult to put the book down! The characters are amazing - Moist von Lipwig, the conniving criminal who's really not all that bad despite his best efforts; Adora
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Belle Dearheart, the chain-smoking ass-kicking woman in charge; the team of postal crazies, Ankh-Morpork crazies, government crazies, criminal crazies, and the man in charge of it all - Lord Havelock Vetinari. DEFINITELY a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ignolopi
I've been reading Discworld books for years and have always enjoyed them -- even if I don't always get all the jokes (do I lead a sheltered life? Or maybe I'm just not reading enough into it.). I find the stories fun and creative, and Going Postal, like a good Discworld book should, had me laughing
Moist Von Lipwig (can you not laugh?), aside from his past as a devious criminal, is actually a decent and intelligent man. Whether or not he is suited to reviving the dead Post Office is under debate, but someone certainly thought he could do it, enough to keep him from a hanging he probably deserved.
His help:
A somewhat crazy old man who has worked at the Post Office all his life and -- darn it -- will work there forever and remembers the days when the building shone and the Postal Workers stood in uniformed lines etc.
A definitely eccentric lad who is obsessed with collecting pins and knows all the kinds and the shops and is on a look-out for the really rare ones.
A golem assigned to keep a never-sleeping eye on Lipwig, strong and mostly indestructible, he takes orders as long as they don't conflict with his previous ones, and is ruled by a set of golem laws that are just a bit wacky.
As Lipwig plans his next escape, he's working on cleaning the building, replacing the sign, finding new chandeliers, putting together price sheets, inventing stamps and their collectable potential, running horses to the end of the world so he can say he can deliver mail faster than the Clack towers (like telegrams, they are the reason the Post Office is out of commission), learning the harm his previous frauds caused, figuring out why the previous Post Masters mysteriously died, delivering old letters, being intrigued by a woman interested in golem rights, wondering what Lord Vetinari has planned for him next, and -- don't forget -- trying to figure out why the letters talk to him and make him experience hallucinations.
He's a talented guy, he can deal with it.
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aloud (not a common thing). Moist Von Lipwig (can you not laugh?), aside from his past as a devious criminal, is actually a decent and intelligent man. Whether or not he is suited to reviving the dead Post Office is under debate, but someone certainly thought he could do it, enough to keep him from a hanging he probably deserved.
His help:
A somewhat crazy old man who has worked at the Post Office all his life and -- darn it -- will work there forever and remembers the days when the building shone and the Postal Workers stood in uniformed lines etc.
A definitely eccentric lad who is obsessed with collecting pins and knows all the kinds and the shops and is on a look-out for the really rare ones.
A golem assigned to keep a never-sleeping eye on Lipwig, strong and mostly indestructible, he takes orders as long as they don't conflict with his previous ones, and is ruled by a set of golem laws that are just a bit wacky.
As Lipwig plans his next escape, he's working on cleaning the building, replacing the sign, finding new chandeliers, putting together price sheets, inventing stamps and their collectable potential, running horses to the end of the world so he can say he can deliver mail faster than the Clack towers (like telegrams, they are the reason the Post Office is out of commission), learning the harm his previous frauds caused, figuring out why the previous Post Masters mysteriously died, delivering old letters, being intrigued by a woman interested in golem rights, wondering what Lord Vetinari has planned for him next, and -- don't forget -- trying to figure out why the letters talk to him and make him experience hallucinations.
He's a talented guy, he can deal with it.
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LibraryThing member gilroy
Political Satire is one of the most difficult to write of about anything that you could decide to write. I belive that Terry Pratchett has definitely got the satire part well in hand for his writing. It bit with enough substance to be a slap to those he wished to slap, yet just gentle enough that
Beyond the satircal element of the book, the storyline feels weak, the characters' third dimension feels rather thin and flimsy. The love interest is forced. The golems... I'm still undecided on the golems. Perhaps when I read the second book of this set I will be better suited to make a comment. Perhaps it will offer more insite into what I find wrong here and allow a rewrite of this review.
I'm glad this wasn't a science fiction book. Fantasy made of plausible science is good enough for this series.
Still a decent book for wasting time and lose yourself away from the world.
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they could laugh at themselves as they read the book. Beyond the satircal element of the book, the storyline feels weak, the characters' third dimension feels rather thin and flimsy. The love interest is forced. The golems... I'm still undecided on the golems. Perhaps when I read the second book of this set I will be better suited to make a comment. Perhaps it will offer more insite into what I find wrong here and allow a rewrite of this review.
I'm glad this wasn't a science fiction book. Fantasy made of plausible science is good enough for this series.
Still a decent book for wasting time and lose yourself away from the world.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Moist von Lipwig, con man extraordinaire who unfortunately got caught, narrowly avoids dying...only to be practically forced into becoming Postmaster at the long-defunct Post Office of Anhk-Morpork. The task is, well, impossible - he has only two employees and a golem for a parole officer to make
Though the 30th in the Discworld series, you don't need to have read any of the others to enjoy the story. I enjoyed the humor and liked the characters, and Stephen Briggs did an excellent job narrating.
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sure he stays in line. Maybe it's a perfect job for a con man, after all.Though the 30th in the Discworld series, you don't need to have read any of the others to enjoy the story. I enjoyed the humor and liked the characters, and Stephen Briggs did an excellent job narrating.
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LibraryThing member SandiLee
I usually prefer Discworld books with familiar characters like Esme Weatherwax, but I'm glad to have met Moist Von Lipwig. A life of cons, theft and deception seems to have finally caught up with Moist. He's used to getting out of any spot no matter how tight, but there aren't a lot of ways out of
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a noose at a public hanging. Much to Moist's surprise, instead of waking up dead, he wakes up with a sore neck and a job offer from the Patrician - overhaul the totally defunct Ankh Morpork post office or die, for real this time. Moist chooses a life of letters, and Mr. Pump, his own personal golem body guard, makes sure he sticks to it. Moist is a man of action who thinks on his feet, leaps before he looks and constantly raises the stakes. His spontaneity contrasts nicely with the controlled, corrupt corporate machinery of the clacks company, the only working message service in Ankh Morpork until Moist gets the post office moving again. The clacks company may be huge and profitable, but the men at the top are too focused on their own embezzlement to notice when Moist, being one of the few living experts on the subject, gives them just enough rope to hang themselves by. Show Less
LibraryThing member Narilka
What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.
Moist von Lipwig's life of crime has finally caught up with him. With his neck in the noose, Moist watches the hangman pull the lever and wakes up... not dead and offered a job?
Going Postal is the 33rd book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. This is the first book to feature Moist von Lipwig and the fourth in the Industrial Revolution sub-series. It's interesting that for a 33rd book in the series you can almost use it as an entry point without missing out on much more than a couple character cameos.
For a character that should have been despicable, I found Moist to be quite likable and sympathetic. Pratchett does a great job of letting us see that Moist has a underlying decency when dealing with most people at an individual level even though technically he's a con man. Moist also has some of the most wonderful conversations with Vetinari, which highlights just how brilliant a character Vetinari is. I'm glad he's given more page time in this installment. The supporting cast we're introduced to is enjoyable and quirky and human, even the golem Mr. Pump.
As with most Discworld novels my favorite part is how Pratchett deftly works in deeper themes into his books while still keeping them funny. This time he plays with the idea of Hope and its opposite, fear, corporate greed, collecting mania, doing the impossible, pokes fun at professional wrestling in the most highly organized bar brawl ever and more. Pratchett was a genius. His creativity is sorely missed.
Moist von Lipwig's life of crime has finally caught up with him. With his neck in the noose, Moist watches the hangman pull the lever and wakes up... not dead and offered a job?
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Lord Vetinari offers Moist the chance at redemption by being named Postmaster and getting the old Postal Service back up and running again. The mail must be delivered.Going Postal is the 33rd book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. This is the first book to feature Moist von Lipwig and the fourth in the Industrial Revolution sub-series. It's interesting that for a 33rd book in the series you can almost use it as an entry point without missing out on much more than a couple character cameos.
For a character that should have been despicable, I found Moist to be quite likable and sympathetic. Pratchett does a great job of letting us see that Moist has a underlying decency when dealing with most people at an individual level even though technically he's a con man. Moist also has some of the most wonderful conversations with Vetinari, which highlights just how brilliant a character Vetinari is. I'm glad he's given more page time in this installment. The supporting cast we're introduced to is enjoyable and quirky and human, even the golem Mr. Pump.
As with most Discworld novels my favorite part is how Pratchett deftly works in deeper themes into his books while still keeping them funny. This time he plays with the idea of Hope and its opposite, fear, corporate greed, collecting mania, doing the impossible, pokes fun at professional wrestling in the most highly organized bar brawl ever and more. Pratchett was a genius. His creativity is sorely missed.
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LibraryThing member IAmAndyPieters
The movie made from this book is an absolute favourite of mine with the wonderful Claire Foy and Richard Coyle in the lead, and this book has been an absolute delight to get to know more about the back stories and everything else that could not make it into the movie. Lifelong swindler Moist van
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Lipwig is given quite literally a second life by the Patrician of Ank Morpork in exchange for reopening the post office. The competition, the Clax, however, are not so pleased with this move and will resort to everything to get Moist to fail. Tricking a master con artist however is not quite in their skill set and Moist, if anything, enjoys the chase almost more than the catch. If you only read 1 Pratchett book, I recommend this one wholeheartedly Show Less
LibraryThing member dvf1976
A fantasy implentation of a mass communication system is what alot of this book turns on.
That's like a triple-word score in Geek Scrabble.
That's like a triple-word score in Geek Scrabble.
LibraryThing member abdhakim
It is a story on how a con man escaped the noose and was given second chance to redeem himself by becoming the currently defunct Ankh Morpork Post Office’s Postmaster. Being the-fastest-man-to-get-out-of-town-in-the-fist-sign-of-trouble kind of man, Moist von Lipwig tried to run away from the
Going Postal is very entertaining and I enjoyed it immensely. As usual, TP thrown in a lot of jokes, satire and parodies which are so blend in with the story that there is not a page gone by without me laughing out loud. I really enjoy the jokes that TP did on collectibles items such as pins (collected by true ‘pinheads’), stamps (latest fad in collectibles) and even the noose (in which the hangman mentioned to be more valuable if it signed by the victim himself) . Despite laughing and enjoying recurring characters, hat off to TP for enriching discworld by creating new and interesting characters such as Stanley and Mr Tiddles, to name a few.
All and all, Going Postal is a great book.
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responsibility but alas, was caught by his parole officer, a golem by the named of Mr. Pump (Who kindly remind him that he has an appointment with the Patrician tomorrow morning and the post office will be open an hour after). Moist doesn’t like the prospect and believe it is not his true nature to be working civilly as a government officer. After being a con man for so long with so many façade, it will take the true Moist von Lipwig (with the assistance of other colourful characters, of course) to change the dysfunctional Post Office into a thriving establishment and thus a journey of a condemned to die-by-hanging man to Ankh Morpork most outstanding citizen.Going Postal is very entertaining and I enjoyed it immensely. As usual, TP thrown in a lot of jokes, satire and parodies which are so blend in with the story that there is not a page gone by without me laughing out loud. I really enjoy the jokes that TP did on collectibles items such as pins (collected by true ‘pinheads’), stamps (latest fad in collectibles) and even the noose (in which the hangman mentioned to be more valuable if it signed by the victim himself) . Despite laughing and enjoying recurring characters, hat off to TP for enriching discworld by creating new and interesting characters such as Stanley and Mr Tiddles, to name a few.
All and all, Going Postal is a great book.
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LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Moist Lipwig is a conman. After being caught, he is assigned a golem parole officer, and put in charge of the derelict, completely non-functioning Ankh Morpork post office. Using his considerable people skills, he reanimates the post office and attempts to make a variety of wrongs right.
LibraryThing member Zathras86
This book was an excellent surprise; I love the Discworld series but was getting tired of seeing the same characters again and again in every book. Going Postal introduces an entirely new and refreshing cast; I particularly liked the main character and felt he was very well-developed.
Pratchett's
Highly recommended, especially to Pratchett fans who think Discworld has gotten a little stale.
Pratchett's
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books are funny precisely because he has a very firm grasp of human nature. His best work feels surprisingly profound even though you're also laughing so hard you're afraid you might break a rib. In some of the later novels I was getting more of a reused-joke feeling, and while it was still pretty funny, all the depth was gone. In this novel it's back, and I would rank Going Postal pretty high among the Discworld novels.Highly recommended, especially to Pratchett fans who think Discworld has gotten a little stale.
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LibraryThing member aprille
Review by 12-year-old-boy:
It's kind of good, but not as good as other Terry Pratchetts. I just wasn't as clever. The main character's name is "Moist Van Lipwig," and he's appointed to be head of the postal system, where he must beat the telegraph system and hire golems to deliver the mail. None of
It's kind of good, but not as good as other Terry Pratchetts. I just wasn't as clever. The main character's name is "Moist Van Lipwig," and he's appointed to be head of the postal system, where he must beat the telegraph system and hire golems to deliver the mail. None of
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my favorite Discworld characters were in this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member heidilove
absolutely loved it. typically wonderful pratchett fare, and if you don't htink and laugh in equal measure, often out loud, then you didn't deserve to read it.
LibraryThing member alarra_c
GREAT. If you are interested in the Discworld, technology advance, words as a source of power, the philosophy of freedom, the idea of Microsoft as a (corrupt, unholy) monopoly, The Truth or any combination of these (though I assume that the pleasure grows exponentially for each factor you can put a
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tick next to), then Going Postal is an enjoyable thoughtful funny intelligent read in the most vividly-drawn fantasy universe out there at the moment. Show Less
LibraryThing member Crowyhead
I actually liked this better the second time around, I think. Last time, I recall being a bit put off by the lack of familiar characters, but this time I was expecting it, so it didn't bother me. The whole thing's hilarious and thoughtful, as usual. Every time I read a Discworld book, there's one
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or two almost throw-away jokes/scenes that just kill me. In this case, there's two: the way that everything that the greengrocer says is punctuated with too many apostrophes (or should I say, "everything he say's is punctuated with too many apo'strophe's"?), and the whole thing about how it's ALWAYS a bad idea to go back to find the cat. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meijhen
Not only was the story great, but the narrator of this recording was excellent.
LibraryThing member SimonW11
Terry Pratchett can write well on auto pilot and I suspect he did. There some nice vignettes on telegraph operators as computer/internet nerds.
Maybe next time he will not settle for merely writing well and put some effort into it.
Maybe next time he will not settle for merely writing well and put some effort into it.
LibraryThing member altivo
Moist Van Lipwig, swindler extraordinaire, is offered a choice by Lord Vetinari: he can be executed as a criminal or take a government position as postmaster, charged with reviving the moribund Ankh Morpork postal service. The decision seems easy until he finds himself embroiled in a cut throat
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battle with the clacks (semaphore telegraph) monopolies and may the cleverest villain win. Hilariously true to life. Show Less
LibraryThing member stepol
One of my favorite of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. As a computer geek, the story of the rise and fall of the clacks and "The Smoking Gnu" was particularly entertaining. Moist von Lipwig was also a great main character and kept me tied to the story from beginning to end. Would love to see
Favorite quote: "Moist always raised the stakes. Never promise to do the possible. Anyone could do the possible. You should promise to do the impossible because sometimes the impossible was possible. And if you failed, well, it had been impossible."
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another book based on the clacks and postal services.Favorite quote: "Moist always raised the stakes. Never promise to do the possible. Anyone could do the possible. You should promise to do the impossible because sometimes the impossible was possible. And if you failed, well, it had been impossible."
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LibraryThing member abatishko
This book seems to have a little less random strangeness than other Pratchett books that I've read. It still very much contains his sense of humor and odd way of looking at the world, but it is perhaps toned down just a bit.
This is a great story about overcoming impossible odds and getting caught
This is a great story about overcoming impossible odds and getting caught
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up in something greater than yourself. The parallels to the real world are interesting and humorous. (4.5/5) Show Less
LibraryThing member John5918
Very amusing and very clever, as with most Discworld books. The lead character (a conman who is reprieved from a death sentence if he agrees to take over and reactivate the moribund post office) is very engaging. Other interesting and somehow charming characters include Lord Vetinari and the
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golems, although I'm always sorry to find a book that doesn't have the luggage in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudithProctor
The best Pratchett of them all. Probably works so well because it's a stand-alone, not heavily dependant on previous books.
I particularly loved the custom of 'sending home' the way that the clacks operators remember the dead.
In his earlier books, Pratchett relied on parodying other genres. Now,
You can also see the benefit of the research that went into this novel.
I particularly loved the custom of 'sending home' the way that the clacks operators remember the dead.
In his earlier books, Pratchett relied on parodying other genres. Now,
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he's writing entirely on his own strengths and the humour comes from within and is all the more effective for this. You can also see the benefit of the research that went into this novel.
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LibraryThing member benfulton
Sixty reviews? I don't think I have much to add. A good read, the main character is perky and fun. Technology on the Discworld continues to improve at an outrageous pace. Once again, some really fascinating characters get bumped off before we even get to know them. Cameos by all of our old friends.
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Yeah, just read it. Go read the other 28 that come before it in the series though, just for background. You won't be sorry. Show Less
LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: A fairly down-to-Earth plot for a Discworld novel, with very little magic. The usual character side plots, the usual occasional craziness. Good pacing that maintains a surprising amount of tension.
Characters: Interesting central character - it's so good when they aren't idealistic idiots.
Style: A fairly focused books with few random jokes. Chapter headings, which is a first for the series, and doesn't quite feel right. The humour is quieter than in most other books in the series.
Plus: The internet/telephone plotline. Established character cameos.
Minus: Female central character isn't great, post office staff is irritating.
Summary: A quieter book, with a central character I won't mind seeing more of.
Characters: Interesting central character - it's so good when they aren't idealistic idiots.
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The side characters are trickier; some of them didn't quite convince me, while others were just boring. Pre-established characters are fun and well-used. Style: A fairly focused books with few random jokes. Chapter headings, which is a first for the series, and doesn't quite feel right. The humour is quieter than in most other books in the series.
Plus: The internet/telephone plotline. Established character cameos.
Minus: Female central character isn't great, post office staff is irritating.
Summary: A quieter book, with a central character I won't mind seeing more of.
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Awards
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 2005)
Audie Award (Finalist — Fiction — 2005)
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2005)
Quill Award (Nominee — 2005)
Margaret A. Edwards Award (2011)
Geffen Award (2014)
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction (Shortlist — 2005)
Locus Recommended Reading (2004)
Original publication date
2004-10
Local notes
Discworld - Industrial, 4
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Pratchett |