Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2)

Title: Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 2007

Date read: 28th August 2012

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Comedy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Making Money" by Terry Pratchett is the 36th novel in his Discworld series, and the second to feature the reformed con artist Moist von Lipwig. Published in 2007, it's a brilliant and timely satire on economics, banking, and the very nature of money itself, all set within the chaotic yet ultimately logical framework of Ankh-Morpork.

The story opens with Moist von Lipwig finding himself in an unfamiliar state: boredom. After successfully revitalizing the Ankh-Morpork Post Office (as chronicled in "Going Postal"), the postal service is now running so efficiently that Moist, a man who thrives on chaos and ingenuity, feels utterly superfluous. This, of course, does not escape the notice of Lord Vetinari, the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, who always has a new, seemingly impossible task for Moist.

Vetinari offers Moist a new challenge: to take over the ailing Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork and, by extension, the Royal Mint. Moist is deeply reluctant, recognizing that the banking world is far more opaque and dangerous than the postal service. However, Vetinari, with his characteristic subtle coercion, ensures Moist has no real choice in the matter.

Moist's new role is immediately fraught with absurdities and dangers:

The bank's Chief Cashier, Mr. Bent, is a meticulously organized, terrifyingly efficient individual who might be a vampire – or something equally unsettling.

The bank's actual Chairman is an elderly, very small mongrel dog named Mr. Fusspot, who inherited the majority shares and must be taken for daily "walkies" by Moist, as per the will of the recently deceased former Chairwoman, Topsy Lavish. If Moist fails in this duty, the Assassins' Guild is authorized to enforce the contract.

The Royal Mint, housed in a cavernous, almost infernal space beneath the bank, is running at a substantial loss because the cost of the metal used to make the coins is actually more than the face value of the coins themselves.

The city's economy is in disarray, with people increasingly using Post Office stamps as a more reliable form of currency than the official coins.

Moist, with his con-man's understanding of human psychology and his flair for showmanship, immediately sets about revolutionizing the archaic banking system. His most radical idea is the introduction of paper money, or banknotes. This concept is met with deep scepticism and resistance from the traditionalists, particularly the powerful and entrenched Lavish family (Topsy's conniving relatives, led by Cosmo Lavish), who see their own power and influence threatened by Moist's reforms.

The struggle for control of the bank and the city's financial future becomes a high-stakes battle. Moist tries to convince the people of Ankh-Morpork that money's value isn't inherently in gold, but in trust and the promise of value – a concept of "fiat currency" that Pratchett brilliantly explores and satirizes.

Meanwhile, Moist's fiancée, Adora Belle Dearheart, is off on her own adventure with the Golem Trust, trying to uncover more ancient golems from the ruins of the city of Um. This subplot, initially seemingly separate, eventually leads to a chaotic event involving thousands of newly unearthed golems, which could either be a massive threat or a surprising solution to the city's financial woes.

The climax involves Moist navigating assassination attempts, financial conspiracies by the Lavish family (including Cosmo's audacious plot to replace Vetinari), and the challenge of establishing a new, stable currency for Ankh-Morpork. He must use all his wit, charm, and ingenuity to outmanoeuvre his enemies and cement the city's financial future, ultimately linking the value of the new currency to something even more reliable than gold: the endless, tireless labour of golems.

"Making Money" is a sharp, insightful, and incredibly funny novel that uses the fantastical setting of Discworld to comment on very real-world economic principles and human nature's relationship with wealth and power.

Comments:
Very funny addition, Moist von Lipwig really does well to show how utterly bonkers the world of finance is to the average person.

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)