Going postal

Discworld

by Terry Pratchett

352 pages

English language

Published Nov. 11, 2004 by Doubleday.

ISBN:: 978-0-385-60342-3
OCLC Number:: 56620029
Goodreads:: 833468

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(192 reviews)

Arch-swindler Moist Van Lipwig, instead of hanging for his confidence crimes, is given the job of Postmaster by supreme ruler Lord Vetinari. Resuscitating the moribund Postal Service might be an impossible task, with literally mountains of decades-old undelivered mail clogging every part of the broken-down post office building. Worse, Moist could swear the mail is talking to him.

16 editions

読書狂 reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

I can't believe I ever thought this was boring

5 stars

so this is actually my second read through of this book, the first one being over 15 years ago. I only remembered finding this book a little boring, and thinking Moist was low key obnoxious. frankly, I don't know what the heck was wrong with me. this book is hilarious. I'm also realizing how many other "stand alone" discworld novels feature proto-Moists. anyhow, Vetinari is at his tyrannical best, Moist is hilarious and layered, Miss Dearheart is hardly even in this novel but is easily my favorite character, and the idea of dueling con men is more relevant than ever. strong five stars.

Roy Adams reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Good tale with a critique of extractive capitalism

5 stars

Con artist Moist von Lipwig gets a second chance at life if he'll be the postmaster of Ankh-Morpork's ailing postal service. Along the way he grows and does the "better thing" instead of what would be immediately satisfying.

𝓣aarion 📕 reviewed Ab die Post by Terry Pratchett (Scheibenwelt, #33)

Die Menschen wollen betrogen werden...

4 stars

... Das könnte zumindest die Einstellung des Protagonisten sein.

Ab Die Post ist amüsant. Richtig herzhaft gelacht habe ich aber erst im Finale der Geschichte. Was soll ich noch mehr sagen? Es ist halt ein Pratchett: bissig und mit einem guten Blick für die Unzulänglichkeiten der menschlichen Gesellschaft.

Themen in diesem Buch sind: - Philatelie - Golems - Trickbetrug - Internet + Hacking - Wirtschaftskriminalität

#pratchett #scheibenwelt

Nastja reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Enjoyable but very flawed

3 stars

Content warning spoiling part of the main story

An easy and exciting read, but: 1. The book is drenched in casual sexism and fatphobia 2. There is an underlying current of support for the state and a belief that state power is, at the end of the day, good. Kinda understandable given the ultracapitalist usamerican context, but it is still a reactionary idea and the book still promotes it in the narrative. Still, this was an enjoyable experience overall. Reading Terry Pratchett is fun. Oh, and the whole thing about working conditions being awful in the Grand Trunk and them changing bc of an external savior, the protagonist, and not bc of labor organising and unions and strikes. It's a reactionary narrative as well, but it does make for an exciting story.

Wes reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

This is one of the better discworld books

4 stars

I wouldn't attempt to rank all the Discworld books. But I definitely prefer the later ones to the the early ones. I appreciate that the characters from the watch are are visible but we only see them through an outsiders eyes, which is a nice touch.

Paul Oldham reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Worth the re-read

3 stars

I confess that 'Going Postal' was never one of my favourite of the Discworld novels but re-reading it for the first time (I think) since I first bought it revealed some nice bits of Pratchett humour which I'd forgotten. The passing references to the gods particularly amused me. I'm still not convinced that Moist von Lipwig is one of his best heroes but I do have 'Making Money' to hand, which also features him, so I'll give that a go and see if Terry can convince me.

madklowns reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Possibly my favorite of his books so far

Ika Makimaki reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

One of my favourite Discworld books so far! It is funny as usual, but also incredibly deep and touching and smart and weirdly political as well. The golems have become complex characters, pondering freedom and happiness. The swindler must be good to keep up the facade of being good. The postal system faces technology and hackers are involved in its downfall that implies a rescue and rejuvenation of the system itself.
Definitely Terry Pratchett at his very best! Will be returning to this one for sure.

Spencer Williams reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Very funny snarky fantasy that's a blast in the way it all comes together.

Eduardo Santiago reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Why did I dislike this one so much? I kept wondering as I read, is this really Sir Terry, or is it poor fanfic? I found it heavyhanded, with an unpleasant aggressive edge and none of the warmth I expect in his books. It does improve: the last third develops themes of moral ambiguity with undertones of growth and loss... and redemption, although not enough to carry over into redeeming the entire book. Just enough to bump to three stars.

blackbrokkoli reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

In-Genre Rating: 8.5
Global Rating: 9
Reading Fun: 7.5

Maybe not the strongest disk world novel, but I did read it twice so I am not complaining. Full of low and high brow parody (mostly of the post office) and awesome obsolete technological rabbit holes like optical telegraphs.Quite characteristically for the Lipwig books, the tension lingers around for a while, although the humor mostly makes up for it. Worth it for Anghammarad's story alone.

nex3 reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

None

5 stars

"Terry HATES neoliberalism!"

Angrboda reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I greatly enjoyed this one. It's probably one of my favorites that aren't to do with the Lancre witches who are generally my favorites.

The Discworld novels are often somewhat satirical in nature, but to be honest, sometimes the satire bit goes over my head and it's just a fun story. This one, however, I totally got it, probably because I have in recent years been finding myself in a situation where I recognised some of the elements Pratchett was dealing with when it came to the Grand Trunk. Every now and then a quote would ring true, and nine times out of ten it was something Reacher Gilt said to the board that made me think, "yes, that's how they seem to actually think."

On top of that, of course, it doesn't hurt that it's as hilarious as ever with any number of bizarre yet lovable characters. Mr. Groat …

Zelse reviewed Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #33)

Review of 'Going Postal' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

One of Pratchett's finest. Moist is a thoroughly enjoyable character and you get a decent helping of Vetinari to round everything else. If you're a computing history nerd, you'll find the entire phreaking/hacker culture/Bell Labs nods and metaphors to be enjoyable as well.