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)

This one's a keeper

I was first introduced to Terry Pratchet through the book Good Omens - which I really hope audible offers in audio someday. He has a wonderful sense of humor and I was drawn to this particular story because my dad actually works for the post office himself. I got a HUGE kick out of the idea of a career criminal being made post master general. I believe this is set in Disc World (I haven't read those books) but you don't need to have read Disc World to enjoy it. This is set in a "modern fantasy" world containing things like werewolves, golums, and vampires - the most successful lawyer in the city is a zombie. It's quirky and fun. I highly recommend it!

Outstanding!

It does not get any better then this. Terry has got it right! I was looking for a writer that had the same style as Douglas Adams and Terry has far exceeded my expectations! Going postal is a very funny book. Very easy and enjoyable listen. If I had to pick one thing bad about the book it would be that is was over to soon.

I have also just listened to another book by Terry Pratchett and I am now a true fan and will be buying more by this author.

The Narrator Stephen Briggs also does an outstanding job.

I highly recommend this book.

Hilarious!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a great introduction to Terry Pratchett's disc world and it captures his witty style well.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mr. Pump, the pensive golem, is my favorite character. His no-nonsense views provide a clever contrast to the wily antics of the protagonist, Moist.

What about Stephen Briggs’s performance did you like?

Stephen Briggs's narration is spot on. I appreciate the variety of voices he uses. He truly does an impressive job portraying each character differently!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the concept of the whispering letters. The magic of the mail piles was a great metaphor for the power that words carry and the suggestion that some messages demand to be heard was poignant.

A fun 3 book series

This title was in Audible Plus so I decided to try it. It's a stand-along trillogy and you don't need any knowledge of the Disc-World. I enjoyed the world, the characters and the storytelling. At times, I laughed out loud and thats always nice. An enjoyable series with entertainment value.

Beyond terrific

Pratchett brings his best to the story, the performance delivers as expected. A must listen! You'll be able to enjoy without reading other Discworld novels, though having read them will make this even funnier.

Fun characters & story

I've liked all the Discworld stories I've read, but this one is now among my new favorites. From the Patrician to the new Postmaster General to the Golems, I had fun listening to this droll and witty satire.

One of the BEST Books ever!

TP's brilliantly funny and character rich story is brought to life by the talented Stephen Briggs!
Great read!

One of Pratchett's best!

Would you listen to Going Postal: Discworld #29 again? Why?

I have listened to Going Postal numerous times and I have no doubt I will do so again. I'm a huge Pratchett fan, and this definitely is one of his best pieces of work. It's also one of the few Pratchett books that can be enjoyed without having read other Discworld novels as background. I've recommended it to several people as a good introduction to Terry Pratchett and the Discworld, and all of them have loved it. Smart, deliciously witty, thought-provoking and loud-out-loud funny, with Sir Terry's trademark love of word play ... even after reading it once a year for several years, it never gets stale.

What does Stephen Briggs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Stephen Briggs does his usual masterful job of bringing Pratchett's extraordinary, weird and wonderful characters to life. He gives each of them a unique and easily identifiable voice and personality that adds immensely to the experience. I've read Going Postal in print and also listened to the audiobook, and while reading the story is a delight, the addition of Briggs' performance makes it positively delicious!

Any additional comments?

Making Money is the excellent sequel and also a great, fun read, although Going Postal is a hard act to follow.

Absolutely amazing book

Writing is brilliant, the story and characters are lovely. One of Terry Pratchetts best, on top of that simply one of tue best books I've read in a while. Do read it!

Audio broken at some parts, the story is excellent

Audio broken at some parts, the story is excellent, fun and enjoyable. 3 more words (for the review ;D)