Going Postal (Going Postal - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: brittle1906

Product:	Going Postal - Terry Pratchett
Date:	11/08/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A Pratchett classic!

Disadvantages: May not appeal to non Pratchett fans

Review of 'Going Postal' a novel by Terry Pratchett
This review is based on the paperback version of the book, ISBN 0-552-14943-8, 474 pages, cover price £7.99.
About The Book

Going Postal is the 29th Disc World novel from the pen of popular fantasy author Terry Pratchett.
I read many of Pratchett's novel some years ago and enjoyed them very much. They are an acquired taste, Disc World novels draw the reader into a world populated by dwarves, vampires, trolls and werewolves. The humans are all too human in the Disc World and Pratchett manages to take the characteristics of basic human nature and weave the more ridiculous and amusing elements into his stories. The human invariably have daft names and they portray humans in all their glory, fickle, greedy, jealous and infinitely fallible!

The Plot
The story line covers the fates of Moist Von Lipwig. He is con-artist, fraudster, cad and bounder, he is due to be executed but is offered a reprieve by the Patrician of the Disc World's capital city Ankh-Morpork. His life will be spared if he takes up the position of Postmaster General and steer the Post-Office back to the glory days of yesteryear. The only staff Moist Von Lipwig has to help him are a rather elderly Junior Postman who is obsessed with natural healing and an unstable orphan who was raised in a field by peas and has an obsession for pins.

Moist finds the Post office in a state of disarray, bird droppings, cobwebs and a air of despondency hang over the once great Post Office premises. Previous postmasters have tried and failed to re-vamp the service, some met with unfortunate endings such as being swamped by undelivered mail, others fell to their death from the unstable building.
Moist is designated a kind of probation officer in the shape of Mr Pump, a troll, who takes his duties very seriously as he follows Moist into adventures and the resurrection of the Postal Service.
Moist's endeavours are thwarted by the owners of the new communications system, the 'Clacks' and he despairs of ever achieving his goal, a new and modern Postal Service for Ankh-Morpork.

As with many Pratchett books the plot is actually made up of side stories which cleverly become a tale of life in a make believe world.
I won't say more here for fear of spoiling the novel for other readers.

The Author
I could go on and on about this author but I will resist the temptation!

Terry Pratchett was born on 28th April 1948 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. He is a tireless campaigner for research into Alzhiemer's disease. Terry released a press statement in 2007 to inform the public that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of early on set Alzhiemer's disease.
For further information about Terry Pratchett and his works visit his website at www.terrypratchett.co.uk
Terry Pratchett's novels are not everyone's cup of tea, however he is an extremely popular author who was included in the 2009 New Years honours list for 'services to literature'. Well done, Sir Terry Pratchett.

Availability and Cost
The cover price on my copy is £7.99. The novel is available from www.amazon.co.uk for £4.99 new and from 0.50p used.

My Thoughts and Conclusion

This novel is definitely an acquired taste. Pratchett fans will love it and I'd recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Terry Pratchett's unique blend of psychology and humour, I must admit that I found some of his earlier books far more amusing than the later novels, but that said do not let this put you off 'Going Postal'. It is interesting to note that since 'going Postal' was published a whole new set of Disc World stamps were issued, a major marketing success for the author.


Thank you for reading

©Brittle1906 August 2009


NB My reviews can also be found on other review sites under the same user name, brittle1906

Summary: A cleverly crafted novel set in Sir Terry Pratchett's Disc World