Moist von Lipwig was a con artist and a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork's ailing postal service back on... read full description
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Aug 14, 2011
Sammy
rated it: 
What happens when Ventari becomes an angel and puts a con man in charge of the decrepit Post Office? Nothing one expects, of course.
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There was a silence. In that silence, Moist tried out a variety of responses, from "Pull the other one, it's got bells on" to "That's impossible", and decided they all sounded stupid. Groat looked deadly serious, so instead he said: "How?"
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There was a silence. In that silence, Moist tried out a variety of responses, from "Pull the other one, it's got bells on" to "That's impossible", and decided they all sounded stupid. Groat looked deadly serious, so instead he said: "How?"
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Jan 04, 2009
Laura
rated it:
This book was an excellent surprise; I love the Discworld series but was getting tired of seeing the same characters again and again in every book. But this book introduces an entirely new and refreshing cast of characters. I particularly liked the main character and felt he was very well-developed.
Pratchett's books are funny precisely because he has a very firm grasp of human nature. His best work feels surprisingly profound even though you're also laughing so hard you're afraid More...
Pratchett's books are funny precisely because he has a very firm grasp of human nature. His best work feels surprisingly profound even though you're also laughing so hard you're afraid More...
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Dec 06, 2010
Ron
rated it: 
Cute, but kind of stale--like Seinfeld. It's superficially funny, but you get the feeling it's been done before. Many times.
In light of 2008's financial crisis, Going Postal might be taken as a timely reminder of the fallibility of humans, especially those entrusted with wealth or power.
In light of 2008's financial crisis, Going Postal might be taken as a timely reminder of the fallibility of humans, especially those entrusted with wealth or power.
Dec 16, 2009
Rachel
rated it: 
Not as good as the other ones I've read, but maybe I'm ODing just a bit. Still awesome though. Very funny, and very well done. I like him a lot better than Neil Gaimon (don't kill me!).
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Jan 01, 2010
Nate
rated it:
This was really surprising, actually. Perhaps it shouldn't have been, given how many people whose opinions I respect are Pratchett fans, but I haven't read a fantasy novel since giving up on Robert Jordan's painstakingly prolonged The Wheel of Time (somewhere in book 5, I think) long before college. Actually, I suppose I read a bunch of the Harry Potters in the interim, but in some ways that felt more like keeping up with pop culture than reading actual fantasy.
In any event, Going Po More...
In any event, Going Po More...
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May 27, 2011
Jared
rated it:
In Going Postal, the enlightened despot of Ankh Morpork, Lord Vetinari, rather forcibly recruits a con man, Moist von Lipwig, to take over the running of the venerable and deserted post office, where letters have been accumulating for years -- if not decades -- without delivery. Moist steps reluctantly into the moldy shoes of the Postmaster, only to discover that the previous three occupants of the position died grisly deaths in the execution of their duties (and I use the term "execution"
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Jun 05, 2007
Platoeatssouls
rated it: 
I picked up this book to read on a 15 hour flight from Chicago to Vietnam, on the assumption that it would be a light, pleasant way to pass the dreary hours (after one flight to China during which I watched the first X-Men film three times, I decided it was best to err on the side of having too many books rather than too few).
My assumptions proved correct, and I enjoyed the book quite thoroughly. Three things struck me:
1) Pratchett's use of language is always fun, and More...
My assumptions proved correct, and I enjoyed the book quite thoroughly. Three things struck me:
1) Pratchett's use of language is always fun, and More...
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Jan 18, 2012
Luann
rated it:
If you've read Terry Pratchett before, you know what to expect from this. If you haven't read Terry Pratchett before, well, why not? He always has something to say about everyday life and society while telling a great story in a way that's fun to read and funny as well. In this one he deals with the post office, postal workers, city politics, email (although on Discworld it's called "clacks"), people who collect things, a con-man, a chain-smoking heroine, and letters that just want to
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Dec 31, 2007
Eleanor
rated it:
I am probably the last person on earth to read Terry Pratchett, but I'm glad I finally did. People have been recommending his books to me for years and although I had planned on starting with book 1, Color of Magic, the bookseller recommended I start with Going Postal instead (they were also out of stock of CoM). Every time I picked this book up I laughed out loud, it has a refreshing wit combined with a sharp perception of people and their funny habits. I ate this book up and bought copy of
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Feb 01, 2012
Dan
rated it:
Who would have thought a book about the postal service would be so entertaining? Well not I of course, but then again, this was my first introduction into the works of Terry Pratchett. The book was flat out hilarious, from the subtle commentary by the brilliant author, to the clever interaction between characters, and even to the well thought out names to each and every individual. From beginning to end the postal jokes got delivered (pun intended) as well as many other jokes of various shapes
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Jan 29, 2012
Harold
rated it:
This is another Discworld novel, and the first to feature career con man Moist von Lipwig. As it is a later Discworld novel, it focuses on satirically exploring one theme (the post) and on one character (Moist). Unlike many of Pratchett's other novels, there isn't really a mystery character whose true nature is not discovered until the end, though the hired killer Mr. Gryle is not far from one.
The book begins with Moist having been caught and sentenced to death. He's hung until nearl More...
The book begins with Moist having been caught and sentenced to death. He's hung until nearl More...
Jan 22, 2012
Bruce
rated it:
Well, now that I've read a Terry Pratchett book, I can say that I have actually read a Terry Pratchett book.
coolness++;
So, with that out of the way, is this book good? I mean, yes, it's discworld, it's by Terry Pratchett. I implore you to quit reading this and look up a picture of the man. Look at that beard. Does that look like the beard of a man who writes mediocre comedy fantasy novels? This IS a comedy novel, by the way, despite my doubts given the fact that the term More...
coolness++;
So, with that out of the way, is this book good? I mean, yes, it's discworld, it's by Terry Pratchett. I implore you to quit reading this and look up a picture of the man. Look at that beard. Does that look like the beard of a man who writes mediocre comedy fantasy novels? This IS a comedy novel, by the way, despite my doubts given the fact that the term More...
Jan 09, 2012
Susan
rated it:
I've probably read this one before. My husband is such a huge Terry Pratchett fan that I sometimes pick one up and give it a shot again. But he got the DVD version for Christmas. I adored it! So I thought I would re-read the book. Unusually, I like the movie version much better. (Be sure and look for the Terry Pratchett's Going Postal--There's evidently another movie of the same name.) I love romance and there's more of it in the movie. And the hero (Richard Coyle) is so charming that you just f
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Dec 20, 2011
Martin
rated it:
"People who step on to the air one hundred and fifty feet above the ground seldom have much to discuss afterwards."
Prologue
"The world was blessedly free of honest men, and wonderfully full of people who believed they could tell the difference between an honest man and a crook."
p.29
"By Our Own Hand, Or None."
p.87
"'A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that board,' said Gilt. 'Really?' said Vetina More...
Prologue
"The world was blessedly free of honest men, and wonderfully full of people who believed they could tell the difference between an honest man and a crook."
p.29
"By Our Own Hand, Or None."
p.87
"'A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that board,' said Gilt. 'Really?' said Vetina More...
Dec 08, 2011
Normacarpenter
rated it:
Moist Von Lipwig is a con man with the gift of being almost totally undistinguishable who is at the end of his rope, literally. However, he doesn't hang long enough to kill him, just long enough for his various aliases to die. He is then whisked to the office of the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Vetinari. Vetinari is his "guardian angel," giving him two choices: get the long-abandoned Ankh-Morpork Post Office up and running, or walk out the door behind him. Since Moist knows what awaits h
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Dec 03, 2011
Gav
rated it:
If you listen to my podcast with Simon Savidge, The Readers, you may hear the name Terry Pratchett once or twice. I think of him as my patron Saint of Reading. And that’s for one simple reason. He’s why I’m hooked on reading but I’ll admit that I stopped for a long while. I stopped reading between Night Watch and Monstrous Regiment.
Though I have dabbled with Tiffany Aching I have Wintersmith and I Shall Wear Midnight waiting. But I think this is the right time of year to get the best o More...
Though I have dabbled with Tiffany Aching I have Wintersmith and I Shall Wear Midnight waiting. But I think this is the right time of year to get the best o More...
Nov 21, 2011
Simon
rated it:
It takes a pretty damn smart writer to create damn smart characters. Fortunately, Terry Pratchett is a damn smart writer, and Moist von Lipwig, confidence man extraordinaire, is one of his most engaging, intriguing characters to date.
Saved from the consequences of his crimes by Lord Vetinari, tyrant of Ankh-Morpork, Moist von Lipwig is offered a chance at redemption in the position of Postmaster. The difficulty, however, lies in the fact that the postal service has been defunct for yea More...
Saved from the consequences of his crimes by Lord Vetinari, tyrant of Ankh-Morpork, Moist von Lipwig is offered a chance at redemption in the position of Postmaster. The difficulty, however, lies in the fact that the postal service has been defunct for yea More...
Oct 15, 2011
Karen
rated it:
It's important to note for this review that I listened to this on CDs, and the narrator was fantastic and very funny. I'm not at all sure I would have liked the book this much if I'd read it versus listened to it. In any case, the book was completely absurd in a good way -- very Monty Pythonesque crossed with the odd, weird movie "Brazil" (which was created by one of the Monty Python fellows), and a teeny bit crossed with some of the muggle parts of the Harry Potter series. I know th
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Sep 26, 2011
Shazza
rated it:
What happens when you take a con man and set him up as the head of a nearly-defunct business? Lord Vetinari intends to find out in this continuation of the highly popular Discworld series.
Moist von Lipwig expects to be executed at dawn (or thereabouts) only to realize when he wakes up, he's not dead. This is completely unexpected for him, considering he's conman of the utmost abilities, able to run cons on the most suspect of people. He finds himself in the presence of Lord Vetinary, t More...
Moist von Lipwig expects to be executed at dawn (or thereabouts) only to realize when he wakes up, he's not dead. This is completely unexpected for him, considering he's conman of the utmost abilities, able to run cons on the most suspect of people. He finds himself in the presence of Lord Vetinary, t More...
Sep 25, 2011
Христо
rated it:
“Пощоряване” на Пратчет – май Великият смехотворец губи форма или грешката е в превода…: http://www.knigolandia.info/2009/12/blog...
“Пощоряване” на вездесъщия Тери Пратчет – най-сетне негова нова книга, издадена на български. За съжаление и първата, която малко ме разочарова.
Да, това си е Пратчет в плът и кръв – шантави имена, идиотски персонажи, хаплив хумор и много смях. Но нещо почти недоловимо сякаш липсва. Според morrt проблемът е в превода и съм склонен да се с More...
“Пощоряване” на вездесъщия Тери Пратчет – най-сетне негова нова книга, издадена на български. За съжаление и първата, която малко ме разочарова.
Да, това си е Пратчет в плът и кръв – шантави имена, идиотски персонажи, хаплив хумор и много смях. Но нещо почти недоловимо сякаш липсва. Според morrt проблемът е в превода и съм склонен да се с More...
Jun 08, 2011
Taraza
rated it:
A primary reason that I enjoyed this book is that is has an Ankh-Morpork setting without being a City Watch book. Not that I don't love the Watch books--they're my favorite Pratchett series--but that it's nice to meet new people in the big city. Moist von Lipwig (WHY did Pratchett have to use such a bizarre first name? It doesn't even relate to any in-book jokes)is a con man and swindler who's hanged--almost to death--and then gets a new life from Lord Vetinari, the Patrician. The Post Office
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Apr 17, 2011
Tocotin
rated it:
Ended up liking it much more than in the beginning, even though the first chapter was what made me read the book in the first place. I love crafty, scheming and untrustworthy characters, and Moist von Lipwig seemed to be one. Soon though - unwillingly or not, but still owing to the influence of the Patrician, who'd given him a choice between the noose and the job of the Postmaster of Ankh-Morpork - he began to exhibit alarming (to me) signs of Moral Betterment and Resocialization. This developme
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Aug 19, 2010
Margaret
rated it:
This is a Discworld book, but a stand-alone (originally; now there's Making Money, rather than part of one of the internal series (like the City Watch books); it does take place in Ankh-Morpork, though, so there are familiar characters around, notably the city's tyrant ruler, Vetinari, as well as the City Watch and the wizards of Unseen University. Vetinari reprieves Moist von Lipwig, a con man who understandably goes by many other names, from a sentence of death so that Moist can take over the
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Jul 02, 2010
Dean
rated it:
This book introduces a new character to the Discworld series: 'Von Lipwig'. A con man who gets caught and hung, but instead of finding himself floating next to his own body and meeting the reaper, he finds himself in front of the Patrician who is offering him a new life if he reopens the Discworld post office.
Seeing the potential for a) staying alive and b) making some money, he takes up the offer.
Only trouble is that the post office failed years ago, an evil corporation More...
Seeing the potential for a) staying alive and b) making some money, he takes up the offer.
Only trouble is that the post office failed years ago, an evil corporation More...
Dec 31, 2009
Sarai
rated it:
I love Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. If you have read other Discworld books of his and liked them, you'll like this one too.
I listened to this on CD. Stephen Briggs always does a marvelous job as a reader. Highly recommended for traveling, except that the discs seemed to need to be changed a lot - whether they were shorter than normal or whether they just seemed to go fast because they're so enjoyable, I'm not sure.
One thing I like about the Discworld books is that More...
I listened to this on CD. Stephen Briggs always does a marvelous job as a reader. Highly recommended for traveling, except that the discs seemed to need to be changed a lot - whether they were shorter than normal or whether they just seemed to go fast because they're so enjoyable, I'm not sure.
One thing I like about the Discworld books is that More...
Aug 19, 2009
Mel
rated it:
Moist Von Lipwig is a con man with the gift of being almost totally undistinguishable who is at the end of his rope, literally. However, he doesn't hang long enough to kill him, just long enough for his various aliases to die. He is then whisked to the office of the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Vetinari. Vetinari is his "guardian angel," giving him two choices: get the long-abandoned Ankh-Morpork Post Office up and running, or walk out the door behind him. Since Moist knows what awai
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Jul 29, 2011
Georgie
rated it:
I really loved this addition to the Discworld and as of now (I still haven't really read that many), its probably my favourite.
At the beginning of the novel Moist Von Lipwip (the w is pronounced like a v) is hung within an inch of death and is offered the choice of facing the gallows for real or taking oveer the city's long dead postal service. Its seems like a sweet enough deal for the conman but it doesn't take him long to realise that the job is a lot more than it seems.
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At the beginning of the novel Moist Von Lipwip (the w is pronounced like a v) is hung within an inch of death and is offered the choice of facing the gallows for real or taking oveer the city's long dead postal service. Its seems like a sweet enough deal for the conman but it doesn't take him long to realise that the job is a lot more than it seems.
More...
Feb 04, 2010
Lindsey
rated it:
I'm a big Pratchett fan - in fact, flying with one of his books in hand has become a travel tradition (in an airplane, of course). Since hearing about his declining health, I've been saving them up ... but my copy of Going Postal being hardcover and too unwieldy to carry on, I finally picked it up and was very happy I did.
I can see why some people didn't like this book: especially early on, the absurdity and literal stretching of human foibles makes it difficult to suspend disbelie More...
I can see why some people didn't like this book: especially early on, the absurdity and literal stretching of human foibles makes it difficult to suspend disbelie More...
Jul 29, 2011
Joe
rated it:
I had heard of Terry Pratchett years ago. Upon learning that I am a Douglas Adams fan, a friend recommended I read Pratchett. Here it is years later and I have finally read one of Pratchett's books. I don't know if "Going Postal" is a fair representation of his work but it is the one I chose because I liked the title. I did not have anyone close by to say, "If you are only going to read one by Pratchett, read...", so I chose "Going Postal".
Perhaps it was timing More...
Perhaps it was timing More...
Aug 12, 2009
Melanie
rated it:
Moist Von Lipwig is a con man with the gift of being almost totally undistinguishable who is at the end of his rope, literally. However, he doesn't hang long enough to kill him, just long enough for his various aliases to die. He is then whisked to the office of the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Vetinari. Vetinari is his "guardian angel," giving him two choices: get the long-abandoned Ankh-Morpork Post Office up and running, or walk out the door behind him. Since Moist knows what awai
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