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Going Postal: A Novel of Discworld

by Terry Pratchett

Going Postal: A Novel of Discworld Cover

ISBN13: 9780060013134
ISBN10: 0060013133
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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. Worst of all, it means taking on the gargantuan, money-hungry Grand Trunk clacks communication monopoly and its bloodthirsty piratical head, Mr. Reacher Gilt.

But it says on the building neither rain nor snow nor glo m of ni t ... Inspiring words (admittedly, some of the bronze letters have been stolen), and for once in his wretched life Moist is going to fight. And if the bold and impossible are what's called for, he'll do it — in order to move the mail, continue breathing, get the girl, and specially deliver that invaluable commodity that every human being (not to mention troll, dwarf, and, yes, even golem) requires: hope.

Review:

"British fantasist Pratchett's latest special-delivery delight, set in his wonderfully crazed city of Ankh-Morpork, hilariously reflects the plight of post offices the world over as they struggle to compete in an era when e-mail has stolen much of the glamour from the postal trade. Soon after Moist von Lipwig (aka Alfred Spangler), Pratchett's not-quite-hapless, accidental hero, barely avoids hanging, Lord Havelock Vetinari, the despotic but pretty cool ruler of Ankh-Morpork, makes him a job offer he can't refuse — postmaster general of the Ankh-Morpork Post Office. The post office hasn't been open for 20 years since the advent of the Internet-like clacks communication system. Moist's first impulse is to try to escape, but Mr. Pump, his golem parole officer, quickly catches him. Moist must then deal with the musty mounds of undelivered mail that fill every room of the decaying Post Office building maintained by ancient and smelly Junior Postman Groat and his callow assistant, Apprentice Postman Stanley. The place is also haunted by dead postmen and guarded by Mr. Tiddles, a crafty cat. Readers will cheer Moist on as he eventually finds himself in a race with the dysfunctional clacks system to see whose message can be delivered first. Thanks to the timely subject matter and Pratchett's effervescent wit, this 29th Discworld novel (after 2003's Monstrous Regiment) may capture more of the American audience he deserves. Agent, Ralph M. Vicinanza. (On sale Sept. 28) Forecast: Despite sales of more than 35 million copies of his books worldwide, Pratchett has yet to become a U.S. bestseller. This one may finally break him out of category." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"[A] deeply satisfying comedy about a man sent to a fate worse than death: the post office....Sharp-edged humor — and wonderfully executed." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Instead of revisiting old characters, Pratchett again takes on the task of further rounding out his already beautifully imagined Discworld, doing it with his usual blending of good laughs and unexpected depths." Booklist

Synopsis:

The newest entry in Pratchett's internationally bestselling series is a splendid send-up of government, the postal system, and everything that lies in between.

About the Author

Terry Pratchett's novels have sold more than fifty-five million (give or take a few million) copies worldwide. He lives in England.
As many of you know, beloved house author Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. Terry has become active in fundraising efforts to support Alzheimer's research. Click here to read a speech Terry made to the Alzheimer's Research Trust Conference in the UK earlier this year. If you are interested in making a tax-free donation to to the Alzheimer's Association click here.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
crowyhead, October 29, 2007 (view all comments by 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 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.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060013134
Author:
Pratchett, Terry
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
Author:
by Terry Pratchett
Subject:
Fantasy - General
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Fantasy fiction
Subject:
Satire
Copyright:
Edition Number:
1st U.S. ed.
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Series:
Discworld Novels
Series Volume:
29
Publication Date:
October 2004
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
377
Dimensions:
9.26x6.34x1.17 in. 1.42 lbs.

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