Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
published by Corgi Books October 2005 (ISBN 0-552-14943-8)
Going Postal is Terry Pratchett’s 33rd Discworld novel. He has recently been accused of recycling ideas, but with such a long series even the best of authors can fall into this habit – think of Shakespeare’s obsession with twins and cross-dressing. With Going Postal he brings in a completely new context and a set of new characters. The old stalwarts of the Wizards, the Watch, Lord Vetinari etc, are given walk on parts which would make Rosencrantz & Guildenstern look like major players. The result is a completely fresh storyline but with the same wit and black humour.
Moist von Lipwig (a name worthy of Dickens) is saved from the gallows, or rather saved from dying on the gallows as he was actually hung, only to be given the poisoned chalice of revitalising the Ankh Morpork postal service. To help him with his task, Lord Vetinari has assigned a gollum to watch over him and ensure that any thoughts of quitting are driven from his mind. Along the way, von Lipwig has to deal with stiff competition from the clacks, a new-fangled technological method of sending messages, and literally a mountain of undelivered mail which threatens to avalanche at the drop of his gold, wingèd hat.
Underneath the humour is a tale of business skulduggery which has many parallels in our world in recent years, with the privatisation of many state run industries, making this a book which can be thoroughly enjoyed at many levels.
Moist von Lipwig (a name worthy of Dickens) is saved from the gallows, or rather saved from dying on the gallows as he was actually hung, only to be given the poisoned chalice of revitalising the Ankh Morpork postal service. To help him with his task, Lord Vetinari has assigned a gollum to watch over him and ensure that any thoughts of quitting are driven from his mind. Along the way, von Lipwig has to deal with stiff competition from the clacks, a new-fangled technological method of sending messages, and literally a mountain of undelivered mail which threatens to avalanche at the drop of his gold, wingèd hat.
Underneath the humour is a tale of business skulduggery which has many parallels in our world in recent years, with the privatisation of many state run industries, making this a book which can be thoroughly enjoyed at many levels.