Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1)

Title: Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 2004

Date read: 3rd May 2011

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Going Postal" by Terry Pratchett is the 33rd novel in his Discworld series and the first to feature the charming con man Moist von Lipwig, as he's forcibly rehabilitated into the civil service of Ankh-Morpork.

The story begins with Moist von Lipwig, a highly successful swindler, confidence trickster, and forger, finally being caught and sentenced to death for his numerous crimes. However, instead of being hanged, he finds himself in the office of Lord Vetinari, the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork. Vetinari offers Moist a stark choice: take on the seemingly impossible job of Postmaster General of the city's completely defunct Post Office, or take a rather final walk out of the Patrician's very tall window.

Reluctantly (and after a failed escape attempt), Moist accepts the position. He quickly discovers the Post Office is a derelict, pigeon-infested building filled with literal mountains of undelivered mail, some of it decades old. His staff consists of two eccentric individuals: the ancient and rule-obsessed Junior Postman Tolliver Groat, and the young, pin-collecting apprentice Stanley Howler. Moist also gains a silent, watchful golem named Mr. Pump as his parole officer.

Moist's task is not just to get the mail moving again, but to restore the Post Office's reputation and profitability. This puts him in direct competition with the Grand Trunk Clacks Company, a powerful, corrupt, and seemingly unassailable communication monopoly that uses a network of semaphore towers (akin to a telegraph system) to transmit messages across the Discworld. The Clacks, under its ruthless chairman Reacher Gilt, prioritizes profit over service, and its shoddy practices have led to widespread dissatisfaction.

With his conman's ingenuity, a flair for showmanship, and a surprising knack for bureaucracy, Moist begins to revitalize the Post Office. He invents the postage stamp, hires hardworking golems to deliver mail, and uses clever marketing and the sheer force of his personality to win over the skeptical public. He also forms a complicated relationship with Adora Belle Dearheart, a chain-smoking, golem-rights activist whose family were the original founders of the Clacks and were cruelly defrauded by Reacher Gilt.

As the Post Office's fortunes rise, the Clacks Company, under Gilt's increasingly desperate leadership, resorts to dirty tricks, sabotage, and even assassination attempts to maintain its monopoly. Moist and his ragtag team must face down financial manipulation, physical threats, and a powerful, entrenched corporation that will stop at nothing to ensure the mail never gets through. The story culminates in a dramatic showdown and a high-stakes race to deliver a message across the Discworld faster than the Clacks, forcing Moist to prove that the old ways, with integrity and genuine service, can still triumph over modern, cynical greed. "Going Postal" is a brilliant satire on corporate corruption, bureaucracy, the value of communication, and the surprising potential for redemption in even the most unlikely of characters.

Comments:
The arrival of Moist von Lipwig brought in a new era of Discworld books. Not better, not worse...just different. This is a very entertaining book and it was a brave change having this new central character but it paid off.

Books that we've read by Terry Pratchett (39):
The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) (1983), The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) (1986), Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) (1987), Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) (1987), Sourcery (Discworld, #5; Rincewind, #3) (1988), Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) (1988), Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) (1989), Pyramids (Discworld, #7) (1989), Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind, #4) (1990), Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10; Industrial Revolution, #1) (1990), Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches, #3) (1991), Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2) (1991), Small Gods (Discworld, #13) (1992), Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches, #4) (1992), Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2) (1993), Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) (1994), Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5) (1994), Maskerade (Discworld, #18; Witches, #5) (1995), Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3) (1996), Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4) (1996), Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4) (1997), Carpe Jugulum (Discworld, #23; Witches, #6) (1998), The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind, #6) (1998), The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) (1999), The Truth (Discworld, #25) (2000), The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) (2001), Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) (2001), Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) (2002), The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) (2003), Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31; Industrial Revolution, #3) (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) (2004), Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1) (2004), Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7) (2005), Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3) (2006), Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2) (2007), Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8) (2009), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4) (2010), Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8) (2011), Raising Steam (Discworld, #40; Moist von Lipwig, #3) (2013)