Going Postal

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Arch-swindler Moist von Lipwig never believed his crimes were hanging offenses, until he found himself with a noose around his neck, dropping through a trap door, and falling into...a government job? Getting the moribund Postal Service up and running again, however, may be an impossible task. Worse, the new Postmaster 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; to move the mail, continue breathing, get the girl, and deliver that invaluable commodity that everyone requires: hope.

©2004 Terry Pratchett (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Fiction (unabridged), 2005

"Thanks to the timely subject matter and Pratchett's effervescent wit, this 29th Discworld novel may capture more of the American audience he deserves." (Publishers Weekly)

"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)

it's a fantastic listen

any lover of fantasy should be listening to the disk world books. their's all winners

I love the way Stephen Briggs reads.

Stephen Briggs has a great sense of style. I wish the Discworld books that he reads wouldn’t be replaced by full cast. Let all of the different versions be available. Especially because I want to have access to Nigel planer’s and Steven Briggs’ work.

First TP book, loved it.

Love the humor and witty writing. Just goofy enough without losing any quality of story. I will at the very least pursue the other two in this trilogy.

A witty story of an ex-conman

I have listened to a decent nunber of Discworld stories, and this is probably my favorite. Prachett has matured as a writer throughout the series, they have become a little bit less madcap, a little darker, and more focused on social commentary than mocking trite fantasy worlds. They are still funny, but they are also much more satisfying to listen to. Going Postal revolves around an entirely new (and appealing) character, and, while many favorites make guest appearances, it is accessible to the non-fan, and even to those who are not necessaily big lovers of fantasy. What makes it work is tight plotting, a very good sense of humor, and a relevant plotline full of conmen and corporate intrigue in a fantasy world. If you like later Prachett (Monsterous Regiment, for example), this is a good choice. If you are looking for sword-and-sorcerey parodies, this is probably the wrong way to go.

Best Audiobook Ever

I don't even know how many times I have listened to this. A great author, a great reader, a thoroughly hilarious and rollicking fantasy (if Pratchett can be reduced to a single genre)--I love it. The protagonist is a con with a most unfortunate name, and a man who loves "the game." What will he do when Vetinari apprehends him? This one is _fun_!

Simply not a fan of this narrator

However I love these books. I wish that Briggs would put more effort into his pacing as well as the voices. He reads everything so quickly it feels like he's just rushing through the story to get to dialogue. Then he rushes through that as well. I liked Nigel Planer as the narrator.

That being said this is a great read. I highly recommend it for the content.

Awesome story with real life parallels

Pratchett really tells a wonderful story in Going Postal. it is very entertaining and funny. What makes it really entertaining are the parallels drawn with reality, not only with the post office, but with today's technological communication infrastructure. It made me think of the dangerous job cell phone tower workers have and the pressure they are under to construct and maintain towers in unreasonable short schedules.

The next great Pratchett Adventure

What did you love best about Going Postal: Discworld #29?

This is an amazing story from Disc World. A new and exciting character to follow. Briggs is once again gives a stellar performance!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Going Postal: Discworld #29?

The Golem story line was excellent, and the new villain/hero story arc was awesome.

What about Stephen Briggs’s performance did you like?

His golem voices were astounding.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was extremely hilarious.

Any additional comments?

Once you have finished this one, go for Making Money for the continued adventures of Moist Von Lipwig!

Pterry is even better via audio, <br />

When it isn't myself stumbling through pronunciations. The comedic timing is spot on. i honestly laugh, cry and most of all Think at the behest of Pterry's magnificent magical grasp of language and the human condition

A good entry point

One of Pratchett 's most intriguing characters in a stand-alone book. Recommended as an introduction to the Discworld.