Books › Going Postal
Going Postal
496 pages
A sharp, joyful caper about a con man who accidentally discovers a conscience while trying to resurrect a broken system.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like watching a master illusionist perform a spectacular trick, only to realize the real magic is a profound belief in human decency. The pacing is wonderfully brisk, propelled by razor-sharp dialogue, escalating absurdities, and the sheer chaotic energy of a bustling, industrialized fantasy city. It balances a wry, deeply satirical tone with an undercurrent of fierce optimism, wrapping sharp critiques of corporate monopolies and late-stage capitalism in a wildly entertaining caper. The prose is a delight, stuffed with clever wordplay, hilarious footnotes, and keen observations about how people tick. It is a perfect read for anyone who loves a lovable rogue, a triumphant underdog story, and a world that feels both utterly ridiculous and strikingly familiar.
- Mood
- bustling
- chaotic
- triumphant
- whimsical
- Tone
- wry
- satirical
- optimistic
- clever
- irreverent
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- redemption and second chances · the power of belief · corporate greed vs public good · the magic of communication · reluctant heroism
- The writing
- Sharp, endlessly quotable, and layered with clever wordplay, footnotes, and keen, humanist observations.
- The arc
- Moves from cynical self-preservation to a triumphant, hard-won sense of civic duty and genuine connection.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love sharp satire, lovable rogues, and fantasy that holds a brilliant, comedic mirror up to modern society.
Content notes
- capital punishment
- corporate violence
- mild fantasy violence
About the book
Suddenly, condemned arch-swindler Moist von Lipwig found himself with a noose around his neck and dropping through a trapdoor into... a government job? By all rights, Moist should be meeting his maker rather than being offered a position as Postmaster by Lord Vetinari, supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork. Getting the moribund Postal Service up and running again, however, may prove an impossible task, what with literally mountains of decades-old undelivered mail clogging every nook and cranny of the broken-down post office. Worse still, Moist could swear the mail is talking to him. Worst of all, it means taking on the gargantuan, greedy Grand Trunk clacks communication monopoly and its bloodthirsty piratical headman. But if the bold and undoable are what's called for, Moist's the man for the job -- to move the mail, continue breathing, get the girl, and specially deliver that invaluable commodity that every being, human or otherwise, requires: hope.
Description from Open Library.
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