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Discworld #36
Making Money
"The Ankh-Morpork Post Office is running like...well, not at all like a government office. The mail is delivered promptly; meetings start and end on time; five out of six letters relegated to the Blind Letter Office ultimately wend their way to the correct addresses. Postmaster General Moist von Lipwig, former arch-swindler and confidence man, has exceeded all expectations -- including his own. So it's somewhat disconcerting when Lord Vetinari summons Moist to the palace and asks, "Tell me, Mr. Lipwig, would you like to make some real money?"
Vetinari isn't talking about wages, of course. He's referring, rather, to the Royal Mint of Ankh-Morpork, a venerable institution that has run for centuries on the hereditary employment of the Men of the Sheds and their loyal outworkers, who do make money in their spare time. Unfortunately, it costs more than a penny to make a penny, so the whole process seems somewhat counter-intuitive.
Next door, at the Royal Bank, the Glooper, an "analogy machine," has scientifically established that one never has quite as much money at the end of the week as one thinks one should, and the bank's chairman, one elderly Topsy (nee Turvy) Lavish, keeps two loaded crossbows at her desk. Oh, and the chief clerk is probably a vampire.
But before Moist has time to fully consider Vetinari's question, fate answers it for him. Now he's not only making money, but enemies too; he's got to spring a prisoner from jail, break into his own bank vault, stop the new manager from licking his face, and, above all, find out where all the gold has gone -- otherwise, his life in banking, while very exciting, is going to be really, really short..."
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2007
1764 people are currently reading
24463 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
678 books46.2k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,775 reviews
January 29, 2023
It seems a good investment in Ankh Morporks´ future
And who is one of the angel investors wins
The ridiculous thing is that much of the real life economy, and especially the banking, investment, and insurance industry are managed in similar greedy and incompetent ways. And that didn´t just start with paper money or hedge funds, the whole of human history could be seen as
Driven by economic madness
Pratchett uses loads of allegories, innuendos, and puns to integrate many real, in the grey area of legality, happenings that are just normal to make the one or other extra buck or a billion of them. This inherent craziness comes from the fact that
Economics isn´t a hard science
And thereby open to close to any manipulation. As long as the ruling class, politicians, and media define what a healthy economy should look like, there is no debate. In this regard, it was more honest millennia ago when the rule of the god emperor was combined with the greed of the traders and businessmen. Today, it´s obviously ridiculous, but because one can´t stop an endless exponential growth system circle pyramid scheme once it has started, there may be a little future problem. As if this wasn´t already bad enough Pratchett adds
Slavery and schizophrenia into the mix
That he does this in an appropriate way is another sign of his talent and ingenuity, because balancing with topics that hot could easily fail is a quality master seal. But he exactly knows which amount of what humor he has to take to get laughs that don´t feel bitter. Just as with Going Postal the late, great Pratchett wrote a satire that exactly hits the nail on the head of 20th and 21st century politics, economics, and society in general.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
And who is one of the angel investors wins
The ridiculous thing is that much of the real life economy, and especially the banking, investment, and insurance industry are managed in similar greedy and incompetent ways. And that didn´t just start with paper money or hedge funds, the whole of human history could be seen as
Driven by economic madness
Pratchett uses loads of allegories, innuendos, and puns to integrate many real, in the grey area of legality, happenings that are just normal to make the one or other extra buck or a billion of them. This inherent craziness comes from the fact that
Economics isn´t a hard science
And thereby open to close to any manipulation. As long as the ruling class, politicians, and media define what a healthy economy should look like, there is no debate. In this regard, it was more honest millennia ago when the rule of the god emperor was combined with the greed of the traders and businessmen. Today, it´s obviously ridiculous, but because one can´t stop an endless exponential growth system circle pyramid scheme once it has started, there may be a little future problem. As if this wasn´t already bad enough Pratchett adds
Slavery and schizophrenia into the mix
That he does this in an appropriate way is another sign of his talent and ingenuity, because balancing with topics that hot could easily fail is a quality master seal. But he exactly knows which amount of what humor he has to take to get laughs that don´t feel bitter. Just as with Going Postal the late, great Pratchett wrote a satire that exactly hits the nail on the head of 20th and 21st century politics, economics, and society in general.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
October 4, 2022
Full review coming soon...
October 17, 2025
“A banker? Me?"
"Yes, Mr. Lipwig."
"But I don't know anything about running a bank!"
"Good. No preconceived ideas."
"I've robbed banks!"
"Capital! Just reverse your thinking," said Lord Vetinari, beaming. "The money should be on the inside.”
4,5 stars
It is not as good as Going Postal, which is one of my favourite Discworld novels, but still brilliant and funny in its own right, so I am upping my rating from 4-stars to almost-five. :)
Moist von Lipwig, Discworld's most loveable con man, trickster, fraudster, impostor and chiseller is back!! He has become an Upright Citizen, Pillar of the Ankh Morpork Community and boy, IS HE BORED!
“He sighed. It had come to this. He was a responsible authority, and people could use terms like "core values" at him with impunity.”
'You have become an exemplary citizen, Mr Lipwig,' said Vetinari (...) 'You rise each morning at eight, you are at your desk at thirty minutes past. You have turned the Post Office from a calamity into a smoothly run machine. You pay your taxes and a little bird tells me that you are tipped to be next year's Chairman of the Merchants' Guild.'
(...)
'I shall get a very nearly gold chain,' said Moist."
But of course, Lord Vetinari has other ideas. Moist is introduced to Mrs Topsy Lavish (nee Turvey), Chairwoman of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork and the Royal Mint. Upon her death, she leaves her dog, Mr Fusspot in Moist's care. At the same time, Mr Fusspot inherits her 51% of the shares and is now Chairman.
Moist cannot say no to this legacy, especially after reading Topsy's heartfelt, moving letter:
“Dear Mr Lipwig,
I feel that you are a dear, sweet man who will look after my little Mr Fusspot. Please be kind to him. He has been my only friend in difficult times. Money is such a crude thing in these circumstances, but the sum of $20,000 annually will be paid to you (in arrears) for performing this duty, which I beg you to accept.
If you do not, or if he dies of unnatural causes, your arse will belong to the Guild of Assassins. $100,000 is lodged with Lord Downey, and his young gentlemen will hunt you down and gut you like the weasel you are, Smart Boy!
May the gods bless you for your kindness to a widow in distress.”
Awww, isn't that sweet?
Obviously, the rest of the Lavish family is very unhappy about the turn of events and are out for Moist, and so is a very nasty man from his past.
And then the mad ride begins with crazy economists, fool(ish) cashiers, necromancers of UU, golems and missing gold all in Sir Terry's usual style.
As I mentioned before, Making Money, is not as good as Going Postal was. Maybe because the baddies are nowhere near the cutting edge and style of Reacher Guilt, so despite all that is going on, the excitement never quite reaches any dramatic levels and so the ending is just a bit flat.
But Moist has the chance to shine, to dazzle and to embezzle again and he does it all with his usual suaveness and flair.
He always knows how to put on a good show.
I cannot help thinking that if he is an embodiment of a god, then it surely must be Loki. So obviously, while Richard Coyle was great in the Going Postal movie, if they should ever make a movie of Making Money, Tom Hiddleston would do just as well, or even better? (Just putting it out there??) ;)
"Yes, Mr. Lipwig."
"But I don't know anything about running a bank!"
"Good. No preconceived ideas."
"I've robbed banks!"
"Capital! Just reverse your thinking," said Lord Vetinari, beaming. "The money should be on the inside.”
4,5 stars
It is not as good as Going Postal, which is one of my favourite Discworld novels, but still brilliant and funny in its own right, so I am upping my rating from 4-stars to almost-five. :)
Moist von Lipwig, Discworld's most loveable con man, trickster, fraudster, impostor and chiseller is back!! He has become an Upright Citizen, Pillar of the Ankh Morpork Community and boy, IS HE BORED!
“He sighed. It had come to this. He was a responsible authority, and people could use terms like "core values" at him with impunity.”
'You have become an exemplary citizen, Mr Lipwig,' said Vetinari (...) 'You rise each morning at eight, you are at your desk at thirty minutes past. You have turned the Post Office from a calamity into a smoothly run machine. You pay your taxes and a little bird tells me that you are tipped to be next year's Chairman of the Merchants' Guild.'
(...)
'I shall get a very nearly gold chain,' said Moist."
But of course, Lord Vetinari has other ideas. Moist is introduced to Mrs Topsy Lavish (nee Turvey), Chairwoman of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork and the Royal Mint. Upon her death, she leaves her dog, Mr Fusspot in Moist's care. At the same time, Mr Fusspot inherits her 51% of the shares and is now Chairman.
Moist cannot say no to this legacy, especially after reading Topsy's heartfelt, moving letter:
“Dear Mr Lipwig,
I feel that you are a dear, sweet man who will look after my little Mr Fusspot. Please be kind to him. He has been my only friend in difficult times. Money is such a crude thing in these circumstances, but the sum of $20,000 annually will be paid to you (in arrears) for performing this duty, which I beg you to accept.
If you do not, or if he dies of unnatural causes, your arse will belong to the Guild of Assassins. $100,000 is lodged with Lord Downey, and his young gentlemen will hunt you down and gut you like the weasel you are, Smart Boy!
May the gods bless you for your kindness to a widow in distress.”
Awww, isn't that sweet?
Obviously, the rest of the Lavish family is very unhappy about the turn of events and are out for Moist, and so is a very nasty man from his past.
And then the mad ride begins with crazy economists, fool(ish) cashiers, necromancers of UU, golems and missing gold all in Sir Terry's usual style.
As I mentioned before, Making Money, is not as good as Going Postal was. Maybe because the baddies are nowhere near the cutting edge and style of Reacher Guilt, so despite all that is going on, the excitement never quite reaches any dramatic levels and so the ending is just a bit flat.
But Moist has the chance to shine, to dazzle and to embezzle again and he does it all with his usual suaveness and flair.
He always knows how to put on a good show.
I cannot help thinking that if he is an embodiment of a god, then it surely must be Loki. So obviously, while Richard Coyle was great in the Going Postal movie, if they should ever make a movie of Making Money, Tom Hiddleston would do just as well, or even better? (Just putting it out there??) ;)
October 15, 2024
If this book were made into a movie, I’d expect that either Adam Sandler or Frank Capra would be a fitting director (preferably Sandler since Capra has been dead for over 25 years).
Films like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Mr. Deeds capture the crowd pleasing best elements of Making Money, Pratchett’s 36th Discworld novel, Nebula Award nominee and Locus Award winner. Again we visit with Pratchett’s loveable rogue Moist Von Lipwig and this time around Lord Vetinari has placed him in a leadership position with the Ankh-Morpork bank.
As any reader of economics may attest, getting any two economists to agree is like herding cats into a bathtub – messy and potentially dangerous for all involved. Pratchett tackles this conundrum with wit and aplomb representative of his other Discworld works and readers will happily note the return of such Discworld notables as Vetinari, Lipwig, Gladys the Golem, Sam Vimes, smoking-like-a-chimney Adora Belle Dearheart, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler, and some new Dickensian characters who spark the Pratchett Smile-O-Meter to active life.
While Lipwig is certainly one of Pratchett’s most charismatic heroes and this does wrangle some tough subjects with Sir Terry’s characteristic comic timing and swagger, this is lacking something that I cannot quite define. Still a Terry Pratchett book and that means it’s better than most others. Good fun!
*** 2024 reread -
My 2024 Discworldapalooza kept a rollin’ in my revisit of this economics lesson from Sir Terry Pratchett.
Great cast of characters, I especially liked Harry King’s role in this one, he of the excremental capitalism and entrepreneurial spirit.
We also get to know Vetinari a little better and of course lots of time with the charismatic ne’er do well Moist Von Lipwig.
Besides, “I am Moist”, he had another great line in “I hate it when there are two four o’clocks in the same day.” Me too, Moist, me too.
We also spend lots more time with golems and so this was reminiscent of Feet of Clay and Adora Belle helps this along nicely.
Films like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Mr. Deeds capture the crowd pleasing best elements of Making Money, Pratchett’s 36th Discworld novel, Nebula Award nominee and Locus Award winner. Again we visit with Pratchett’s loveable rogue Moist Von Lipwig and this time around Lord Vetinari has placed him in a leadership position with the Ankh-Morpork bank.
As any reader of economics may attest, getting any two economists to agree is like herding cats into a bathtub – messy and potentially dangerous for all involved. Pratchett tackles this conundrum with wit and aplomb representative of his other Discworld works and readers will happily note the return of such Discworld notables as Vetinari, Lipwig, Gladys the Golem, Sam Vimes, smoking-like-a-chimney Adora Belle Dearheart, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler, and some new Dickensian characters who spark the Pratchett Smile-O-Meter to active life.
While Lipwig is certainly one of Pratchett’s most charismatic heroes and this does wrangle some tough subjects with Sir Terry’s characteristic comic timing and swagger, this is lacking something that I cannot quite define. Still a Terry Pratchett book and that means it’s better than most others. Good fun!
*** 2024 reread -
My 2024 Discworldapalooza kept a rollin’ in my revisit of this economics lesson from Sir Terry Pratchett.
Great cast of characters, I especially liked Harry King’s role in this one, he of the excremental capitalism and entrepreneurial spirit.
We also get to know Vetinari a little better and of course lots of time with the charismatic ne’er do well Moist Von Lipwig.
Besides, “I am Moist”, he had another great line in “I hate it when there are two four o’clocks in the same day.” Me too, Moist, me too.
We also spend lots more time with golems and so this was reminiscent of Feet of Clay and Adora Belle helps this along nicely.
March 8, 2024
Moist von Lipwig is bored. The Post Office can now function without his intervention, the Clacks Towers are also on the mend, so people keep supplying him with increasingly boring reports, and, on top of everything, his fiance is off on a mysterious business trip. With no other heart-stopping adventures to rear themselves on their own, our intrepid (anti)hero has no choice but manufacture one. And things almost get out of hand... for a minute or two.
Lord Vetinari, ever attuned to his favorite conman's mood, is ready with a solution: the opportunity to "survive on [his] own wits against powerful and dangerous enemies, with every day presenting fresh challenges". And all Lipwig has to do is agree to take on the sketchy business of revamping The Royal Mint, along with the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork. His lack of banking experience may even help, so that he has no preconceptions.
I have first read this novel some 10 years prior, cuddled up in a tiny Parisian hotel room, much more interested in exploring the tourist sites, rather than the intricacies of financial humor. With almost no other social engagements to honour (courtesy of the current pandemic), I was able to give my full attention to the book. And what a fantastic ride it gave me!
I greatly enjoyed Lord Vetinari's ever changing tactics when it came toforcing gently cajoling people into doing his bidding. While in the prequel he would casual point out the (nearly) bottomless pit next to his office, this time around, he was quite happy to just leave things up to the (ex-)conman's imagination, allowing the man to slowly but surely work himself into a frenzy.
Then there was Cosmo Lavish with his obsessive stalking of the Patrician, firmly convinced that nothing short of stealing the man's identity would allow him to defeat Vetinari. An interesting plan, if only he weren't so easily duped into paying for fakes. As a reader though, following his delusional machinations certainly provided endless moments of entertainment.
There was precious little that I outright disliked in this story, mainly related to a very confusing memory of movie vs. book events from the prequel (see Going Postal). It seems that I got more attached to movie-Adora Belle's self-sufficiency than I thought, so I got rather annoyed at having Lipwig save her. But for those of you who have had the good sense to refrain from (re)watching the movie tens of times, this will probably be a non-issue.
Score: 4.6/5 stars
With two such different reading experiences behind me, I have to conclude that going through the prequel before embarking on this book made for a vast improvement.
===================
Other books starring Moist von Lipwig:
Review of book 1: Going Postal
Review of book 3: Raising Steam
Lord Vetinari, ever attuned to his favorite conman's mood, is ready with a solution: the opportunity to "survive on [his] own wits against powerful and dangerous enemies, with every day presenting fresh challenges". And all Lipwig has to do is agree to take on the sketchy business of revamping The Royal Mint, along with the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork. His lack of banking experience may even help, so that he has no preconceptions.
I have first read this novel some 10 years prior, cuddled up in a tiny Parisian hotel room, much more interested in exploring the tourist sites, rather than the intricacies of financial humor. With almost no other social engagements to honour (courtesy of the current pandemic), I was able to give my full attention to the book. And what a fantastic ride it gave me!
I greatly enjoyed Lord Vetinari's ever changing tactics when it came to
Then there was Cosmo Lavish with his obsessive stalking of the Patrician, firmly convinced that nothing short of stealing the man's identity would allow him to defeat Vetinari. An interesting plan, if only he weren't so easily duped into paying for fakes. As a reader though, following his delusional machinations certainly provided endless moments of entertainment.
There was precious little that I outright disliked in this story, mainly related to a very confusing memory of movie vs. book events from the prequel (see Going Postal). It seems that I got more attached to movie-Adora Belle's self-sufficiency than I thought, so I got rather annoyed at having Lipwig save her. But for those of you who have had the good sense to refrain from (re)watching the movie tens of times, this will probably be a non-issue.
Score: 4.6/5 stars
With two such different reading experiences behind me, I have to conclude that going through the prequel before embarking on this book made for a vast improvement.
===================
Other books starring Moist von Lipwig:
Review of book 1: Going Postal
Review of book 3: Raising Steam
January 25, 2025
Завжди буду вдячний Пратчетту що ці буремні роки він допомагав мені позбутися реальності на пару днів і пожити у Дискосвіті. Все як завжди: знайомі герої, класична система перипетій, хепі-енд.
Що ту ще додати? Дякую, сер Террі!
Що ту ще додати? Дякую, сер Террі!
July 22, 2024
The post office is running smoothly. So smoothly that Moist is actually getting bored. When the chairwoman of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork and the Royal Mint dies, she leaves her shares to her dog, Mr Fusspot, making him the new chairman and the richest dog in town. And she leaves Mr Fusspot in the care of Moist.
Since Mr Fusspot can’t exactly run the bank himself, Moist will need to step up and rise to the challenge. And to give Moist some extra motivation, the Assassins' Guild has been contracted to go after Moist should anything unnatural happen to Mr Fusspot, or should he not do as the chairwoman's will commands. The first seems pretty likely to happen since the chairwoman’s greedy relatives want to get their hands on Mr Fusspot’s shares. So Moist will have to pull out all the stops to keep both himself and Mr Fusspot safe while also attempting to re-establish the people’s trust in the bank.
The plot feels a bit similar to Moist’s first story, Going Postal. Instead of the post office, Moist now turns the bank into a successful business. But there are a few things that do set this one apart from Moist’s previous story.
First and foremost is the addition of Mr Fusspot. I’m not going to lie, give me a cute little dog to love and this already elevates the story for me from the get go.
Second, the way Adora Belle Dearheart is used here only elevates Moist’s character and she makes a significant contribution to the plot in a way I did not see coming.
Third, the themes of this story are also quite strong and definitely do feel different from the first story. First and foremost is people’s lack of trust in banks and the importance of people trusting financial systems. But also that something is only as valuable as we say it is.
Making Money is a great sequel to Going Postal. That being said, this sequel doesn’t quite manage to reach the same level as the first Moist book. The most obvious difference that stands out is the antagonist, he just doesn’t feel as menacing or even as interesting as Reacher Gilt did in Going Postal. And this creates a bit of a lack of urgency at times, and even intensity. Though I will admit that giving the story more time to tackle certain important themes is a good way to make up for this.
Since Mr Fusspot can’t exactly run the bank himself, Moist will need to step up and rise to the challenge. And to give Moist some extra motivation, the Assassins' Guild has been contracted to go after Moist should anything unnatural happen to Mr Fusspot, or should he not do as the chairwoman's will commands. The first seems pretty likely to happen since the chairwoman’s greedy relatives want to get their hands on Mr Fusspot’s shares. So Moist will have to pull out all the stops to keep both himself and Mr Fusspot safe while also attempting to re-establish the people’s trust in the bank.
The plot feels a bit similar to Moist’s first story, Going Postal. Instead of the post office, Moist now turns the bank into a successful business. But there are a few things that do set this one apart from Moist’s previous story.
First and foremost is the addition of Mr Fusspot. I’m not going to lie, give me a cute little dog to love and this already elevates the story for me from the get go.
Second, the way Adora Belle Dearheart is used here only elevates Moist’s character and she makes a significant contribution to the plot in a way I did not see coming.
Third, the themes of this story are also quite strong and definitely do feel different from the first story. First and foremost is people’s lack of trust in banks and the importance of people trusting financial systems. But also that something is only as valuable as we say it is.
Making Money is a great sequel to Going Postal. That being said, this sequel doesn’t quite manage to reach the same level as the first Moist book. The most obvious difference that stands out is the antagonist, he just doesn’t feel as menacing or even as interesting as Reacher Gilt did in Going Postal. And this creates a bit of a lack of urgency at times, and even intensity. Though I will admit that giving the story more time to tackle certain important themes is a good way to make up for this.
February 10, 2008
This is the follow-up to Going Postal, in which the former con-man Moist von Lipwig sets up the new Ankh-Morpork post office and thwarts the evil corporate wiles of the Clacks.
When my co-workers asked me what I was reading, I told them, "It's a fantasy about.... About banking."
I know, I know, it sounds like a bizarre topic for a fantasy novel, even for a Discworld novel, but gods bless Terry Pratchett, he can even make basic economic theory interesting. Why is it not that bad that a penny costs more than a penny to make? Why don't we need gold to back our currency anymore? Why do these little pieces of paper in our wallets actually mean anything?
It could be implied, from reading this, that modern economics are a result of a grand, elaborate con.
You see, money is only worth something because we say it is. Oh, we can pretend it's based on gold, which we think is valuable because it's rare, or shiny. We can pretend it's based on the integrity of our nation, and hope that our nation's integrity never falters. We can base it on anything we want, but the key is this - the paper in your wallet only has value because we all agree that it does.
Now the reason this book isn't an economic treatise, of course, is because it has a plot. Golems, assassins, and madmen conspire to rule the economic future of the city, and all of them want Moist von Lipwig out of the way....
When my co-workers asked me what I was reading, I told them, "It's a fantasy about.... About banking."
I know, I know, it sounds like a bizarre topic for a fantasy novel, even for a Discworld novel, but gods bless Terry Pratchett, he can even make basic economic theory interesting. Why is it not that bad that a penny costs more than a penny to make? Why don't we need gold to back our currency anymore? Why do these little pieces of paper in our wallets actually mean anything?
It could be implied, from reading this, that modern economics are a result of a grand, elaborate con.
You see, money is only worth something because we say it is. Oh, we can pretend it's based on gold, which we think is valuable because it's rare, or shiny. We can pretend it's based on the integrity of our nation, and hope that our nation's integrity never falters. We can base it on anything we want, but the key is this - the paper in your wallet only has value because we all agree that it does.
Now the reason this book isn't an economic treatise, of course, is because it has a plot. Golems, assassins, and madmen conspire to rule the economic future of the city, and all of them want Moist von Lipwig out of the way....
May 28, 2020
Out of all the recent -- or perhaps going back to the very start -- Discworld books, there has never been one that struck right to the core absurdity of our world more than this one.
Maybe that's just me. Or maybe I just find money outrageously funny.
It's probably just me.
Regardless of my little foible, Pratchett strikes to the heart of the matter, making fun of the gold standard and illustrating to us the absurdity of the IDEA of money, while all the while giving us golems, golden suits, clown guilds, a dog who runs a bank, and a very interesting con-man who keeps finding himself in bigger and brighter boiling vats of oil.
This might be one of my very favorite Discworlds. :)
Maybe that's just me. Or maybe I just find money outrageously funny.
It's probably just me.
Regardless of my little foible, Pratchett strikes to the heart of the matter, making fun of the gold standard and illustrating to us the absurdity of the IDEA of money, while all the while giving us golems, golden suits, clown guilds, a dog who runs a bank, and a very interesting con-man who keeps finding himself in bigger and brighter boiling vats of oil.
This might be one of my very favorite Discworlds. :)
October 16, 2007
I'm a huge fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, but I have to say that this is not the best of the bunch. Maybe it's that the main character, Going Postal's Moist von Lipwig, is a thoroughly reformed scallywag. In Postal we all knew that he was going to realize that he had a heart of gold and do the right thing, but it was fun watching him discover it. And the plot is clever enough, but maybe just a bit too clever, with too many of its gears exposed. It's not bad -- I LLOLed* a few times -- but I've read better from Pratchett.
* It's well documented that LOL, originally "Laugh(ed) Out Loud", has become completely devalued. So I'm introducing LLOL -- Literally** Laughed Out Loud.
** Of course, since literally is also already devalued from its original meaning, I may be fighting a losing battle here.
* It's well documented that LOL, originally "Laugh(ed) Out Loud", has become completely devalued. So I'm introducing LLOL -- Literally** Laughed Out Loud.
** Of course, since literally is also already devalued from its original meaning, I may be fighting a losing battle here.
May 31, 2020
Moist von Lipwig has become a responsible authority of the community as Postmaster in Ankh-Morpork. He’s designed numerous stamps, the Post Office is flourishing, he’s got staff and has to organize such quaint little things as pension funds etc. In short: he’s bored. Nothing challenges him anymore.
Lord Vetinari, as fans know, is THE leader. He’s the embodiment of silently threatening authority figures with a brain (the most dangerous and rare of combinations). As such, he knows of Moist’s problem. And as he really is a GOOD leader on top of everything else, he makes sure Moist gets a new challenge, which will also advance Vetinari’s own plans (win-wins are always nice).
Thus, after revolutionizing the Post Office, our favorite con man becomes the manager of the Royal Mint of Ankh-Morpork as well as the bank right next to it! Ayup, a master thief in charge of an institution managing other people’s money. He now must even figure out a way to make money! Once again, he has to dust off an old defunct system and find creative ways to make it work. Preferrably before Lord Vetinari makes one of his non-threats come true.
As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a certain last will and testament resulting in the Assassins Guild watching him VERY closely. And between having to take the Chairman for his daily walkies, Moist is also stressed out over his girlfriend potentially starting some legal action against/with the dwarves (which we all know is even worse than going to war against them).
Some entitled little brats are sure to get what they deserve. *evil grin*
Yes, this is Terry Pratchett taking on the financial sector and all the sheer indescribably criminal ways most people in it work around laws and take people’s hard-earned money. He never goes so far as to SAY that bankers STEAL but let’s be real here: he put a THIEF in charge. *lol* He’s basically pointing out the obvious that some refuse to acknowledge while others apparently don’t dare point it out. Yes, the author it beating us with a sack of coins and calls it a massage. *snickers* All the commentary is once again as deliciously dark-humored as one expects from this master storyteller. The ridiculousness of the machinations directly mirroring our real-world’s insanity. If you don’t believe me, look at some of the passages I quoted.
I think I liked this even more than the last one with the Post Office. Both topics are more than timely (apparently regardless of when you’re reading this book). I laughed out loud while also cheering every time TP was dealing out yet another blow. Which is to say, I never had a moment of rest while reading this as the story never lets up.
Wonderful as usual, this time spiced a little bit more than in some other installments of the series even. In fact, and I at first couldn’t believe it to be true, this might have become one of my favorite novels of the series!
Lord Vetinari, as fans know, is THE leader. He’s the embodiment of silently threatening authority figures with a brain (the most dangerous and rare of combinations). As such, he knows of Moist’s problem. And as he really is a GOOD leader on top of everything else, he makes sure Moist gets a new challenge, which will also advance Vetinari’s own plans (win-wins are always nice).
Thus, after revolutionizing the Post Office, our favorite con man becomes the manager of the Royal Mint of Ankh-Morpork as well as the bank right next to it! Ayup, a master thief in charge of an institution managing other people’s money. He now must even figure out a way to make money! Once again, he has to dust off an old defunct system and find creative ways to make it work. Preferrably before Lord Vetinari makes one of his non-threats come true.
As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a certain last will and testament resulting in the Assassins Guild watching him VERY closely. And between having to take the Chairman for his daily walkies, Moist is also stressed out over his girlfriend potentially starting some legal action against/with the dwarves (which we all know is even worse than going to war against them).
Some entitled little brats are sure to get what they deserve. *evil grin*
Yes, this is Terry Pratchett taking on the financial sector and all the sheer indescribably criminal ways most people in it work around laws and take people’s hard-earned money. He never goes so far as to SAY that bankers STEAL but let’s be real here: he put a THIEF in charge. *lol* He’s basically pointing out the obvious that some refuse to acknowledge while others apparently don’t dare point it out. Yes, the author it beating us with a sack of coins and calls it a massage. *snickers* All the commentary is once again as deliciously dark-humored as one expects from this master storyteller. The ridiculousness of the machinations directly mirroring our real-world’s insanity. If you don’t believe me, look at some of the passages I quoted.
I think I liked this even more than the last one with the Post Office. Both topics are more than timely (apparently regardless of when you’re reading this book). I laughed out loud while also cheering every time TP was dealing out yet another blow. Which is to say, I never had a moment of rest while reading this as the story never lets up.
Wonderful as usual, this time spiced a little bit more than in some other installments of the series even. In fact, and I at first couldn’t believe it to be true, this might have become one of my favorite novels of the series!
June 29, 2025
The 36th in my re-read of the entire Discworld series has us back with Post Master General and gentleman scoundrel Moist van Lipwig.
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 36th book (in chronological order) are:
Moist van Lipwig has done it: the Post Office of Ankh-Morpork is running like a well-oiled machine. Which is a problem since that means good old Moist is a bit bored and not even his little midnight-capers can change much of that. *chuckles*
So it's most opportune (though he'd never admit it) when Lord Vetinari calls on him and tells him of the trouble the Bank of Ankh-Morpork is in. And wouldn't you know it? A man with a modicum of logical thinking (such as Moist) immediately sees the problem ... and it might not be the truly erratic people working for the bank. He also strikes up a fateful friendship with the Chairwoman - and all that before he agrees to run the bank!
Well, actually, HE isn't running the bank. You see, 51% of the bank (and adjacent Royal Mint) are owned by ... a dog. But the dog is owned by Moist! So now assassination atempt on the little pooch have to be thwarted AND Moist has to come up with a new way of making and handling all this money before the great city goes tits-up. It's hilarious and scary at the same time when an actual, professional crook isn't 100% cut out to be THE crook to run the Bank of Ankh-Morpork. *lol*
I have to say that the relationship shenanigans left me pretty cold - though the thought of "battling it out" with the dwarves in court being worse than any actual war was hilarious.
What I enjoyed the most was the absurdity of the (our) banking system and Moist dragging it all into the light. Oh, and of course that certain spoilt rich kids got the spanking of their lives. *cackles*
The commentary on the sheer criminality that is anything to do with banking, investments and financial secor in general had me laughing and crying out loud at the same time. I mean, it's no coincidence that a thief is in charge of the mint and bank. More than that, it's no coincidence that this kind of crookery is almost too much even for Moist!
So yes, razor-sharp wit taking on wealth itself (depending on your definition of wealth) and I was sooo here for it (just look at all the quotes I highlighted). The only reason, I discovered, why I enjoyed this a little less this time around was 1) the realism and 2) the lack of "romance" (the romantic view on letters we got from the first book about/with Moist). Here, we get cold, hardcoins facts.
And I still highly appreciate these new audiobooks having been produced with Richard Coyle as the narrator - he really IS Moist.
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 36th book (in chronological order) are:
Moist van Lipwig has done it: the Post Office of Ankh-Morpork is running like a well-oiled machine. Which is a problem since that means good old Moist is a bit bored and not even his little midnight-capers can change much of that. *chuckles*
So it's most opportune (though he'd never admit it) when Lord Vetinari calls on him and tells him of the trouble the Bank of Ankh-Morpork is in. And wouldn't you know it? A man with a modicum of logical thinking (such as Moist) immediately sees the problem ... and it might not be the truly erratic people working for the bank. He also strikes up a fateful friendship with the Chairwoman - and all that before he agrees to run the bank!
Well, actually, HE isn't running the bank. You see, 51% of the bank (and adjacent Royal Mint) are owned by ... a dog. But the dog is owned by Moist! So now assassination atempt on the little pooch have to be thwarted AND Moist has to come up with a new way of making and handling all this money before the great city goes tits-up. It's hilarious and scary at the same time when an actual, professional crook isn't 100% cut out to be THE crook to run the Bank of Ankh-Morpork. *lol*
I have to say that the relationship shenanigans left me pretty cold - though the thought of "battling it out" with the dwarves in court being worse than any actual war was hilarious.
What I enjoyed the most was the absurdity of the (our) banking system and Moist dragging it all into the light. Oh, and of course that certain spoilt rich kids got the spanking of their lives. *cackles*
The commentary on the sheer criminality that is anything to do with banking, investments and financial secor in general had me laughing and crying out loud at the same time. I mean, it's no coincidence that a thief is in charge of the mint and bank. More than that, it's no coincidence that this kind of crookery is almost too much even for Moist!
So yes, razor-sharp wit taking on wealth itself (depending on your definition of wealth) and I was sooo here for it (just look at all the quotes I highlighted). The only reason, I discovered, why I enjoyed this a little less this time around was 1) the realism and 2) the lack of "romance" (the romantic view on letters we got from the first book about/with Moist). Here, we get cold, hard
And I still highly appreciate these new audiobooks having been produced with Richard Coyle as the narrator - he really IS Moist.
July 26, 2022
"A banker? Me?"
"Yes, Mr. Lipwig."
"But I don't know anything about running a bank!"
"Good. No preconceived ideas."
"I've robbed banks!"
"Capital! Just reverse your thinking," said Lord Vetinary, beaming. "The money should be on the inside."
Thus, Ankh-Morpork's longest-living Postmaster takes on the cutthroat world of banking.
It's quite a good book. I absolutely do not recommend reading it without also having tackled Going Postal and Feet of Clay, and for best results the other thirty-three Discworld novels that precede this one.
My only reservations, the only things that keep it from shining as brightly as certain other Discworld books, are: It's a bit slow to actually get into the bank, and it's too short for its content. This book introduces several new characters and amusing story elements that simply don't have sufficient room to breathe. The barely-hinged chief cashier Mr. Bent, the fully-unhinged mad economic scientist Hubert with his Glooper in the basement, and the variably-hinged genius precision artist Owlwick Jenkins, also in the basement, each deserved more page time for their development. The ostensible main villain was utterly unthreatening throughout, and the character threatening to expose Moist (which sounds like a rather gross activity) went nowhere. It all climaxes in a well-done but uncharacteristically cliche courtroom scene.
This is, sadly, the last Discworld novel published prior to Sir Terry's diagnosis of embuggerance.
April 20, 2025
And yet more Discworld joy.
Making Money is the second instalment of the Moist von Lipwig story in which Moist, apparently destined for social acceptance and a gold(ish) finds himself at Vetinari's mercy once again. This time he's got to get the mint and the bank up to scratch.
Ably assisted this time by Mr Bent who really runs the show, Hubert and Igor who keep an eye on the balance of payments from beneath The Glooper, Gladys who has migrated from the Post Office and Mr Fusspot who, despite being the chairman, needs to be walked, sleeps in the in-tray and says woof. Of course Adora Belle will turn up when she's good and ready but hopefully before the Lavish family (the board of directors) get their knives into Moist.
Another thoroughly entertaining audiobook with Richard Coyle narrating everyone but Death (Peter Serafinowicz) and The Footnotes (Bill Nighy). Making Money is wonderfully clever and an exceedingly funny look at the world of finance. Sir TP never let's me down when I need a good laugh about how the world works (or is run by a tyrant).
Brilliant as usual.
Making Money is the second instalment of the Moist von Lipwig story in which Moist, apparently destined for social acceptance and a gold(ish) finds himself at Vetinari's mercy once again. This time he's got to get the mint and the bank up to scratch.
Ably assisted this time by Mr Bent who really runs the show, Hubert and Igor who keep an eye on the balance of payments from beneath The Glooper, Gladys who has migrated from the Post Office and Mr Fusspot who, despite being the chairman, needs to be walked, sleeps in the in-tray and says woof. Of course Adora Belle will turn up when she's good and ready but hopefully before the Lavish family (the board of directors) get their knives into Moist.
Another thoroughly entertaining audiobook with Richard Coyle narrating everyone but Death (Peter Serafinowicz) and The Footnotes (Bill Nighy). Making Money is wonderfully clever and an exceedingly funny look at the world of finance. Sir TP never let's me down when I need a good laugh about how the world works (or is run by a tyrant).
Brilliant as usual.
August 19, 2016
Quite fun. Fairly typical of the non-major-character stories in the series, although Moist von Lipzwig might be becoming a major character. The plot is a simplification of Going Postal: Vetinari ropes Moist into leaving his post as Postmaster and taking over as Assistant to the chairman of the Bank of Ankh-Morpork. Seeing as the chairman is a lapdog, this puts him in charge. The family that has run the bank for generations doesn't like this, the bank manager doesn't like Moist, and a mad scientist in the basement with an Igor is about to Do Something.
Oh, and Moist's girlfriend Spike is stirring up trouble with the golems again and might be starting a war with the Low King. Which is actually kind of tame for her. On the plus side, there is a lecherous lich leering after her, so Moist gets to get jealous.
As with all the Vetinari-centered, non-major-character stories (and with about half of the Vimes stories), this one is about the city as a living character in and of itself, asking the same question governments have been struggling with for thousands of years: what makes something valuable, and how can we get control of it? Ankh-Morpork is on the gold standard, which is entirely too inelastic for Moist's view of the world, but no Discworld economist has proposed any alternative and people don't know whether they can trust money they can't block magic with.
The economic question of automation springs up again, although the take on it is from the other side than it was in The Truth: what if it isn't one craft that's reduced from an industry to a cottage craft but instead categories of unskilled labor? How does the ripple of economic change spread and how can it gain momentum instead of lose it. This is always presented to Moist in the negative sense: how his rash ideas that words and passions can save people more than sensibility and money can could destroy even Ankh-Morpork; it takes him a long time to see the flip side of that coin.
On the downside, this isn't really anything excitingly new for Discworld. I'll keep reading the same stuff from Pratchett forever--it's brilliant. But sometimes he rises above the (already high) crowd and gives us a Night Watch, or a Fifth Elephant; if the occasional Monstrous Regiment is the price we pay to get them, then I'm happy to pay it.
I did laugh out loud through this one, reading far too many lines to my girlfriend (who was waiting to read it after me), so it's great in that Discworld-is-funny way (unlike, say Monstrous Regiment or Thud), but it's one of those "wait for the coincidences to catch up and then for Vetinari to show that he's known it all along" books, which are just so-so in my opinion.
Well, well worth reading for the humor, but don't drop Night Watch for it.
Oh, and Moist's girlfriend Spike is stirring up trouble with the golems again and might be starting a war with the Low King. Which is actually kind of tame for her. On the plus side, there is a lecherous lich leering after her, so Moist gets to get jealous.
As with all the Vetinari-centered, non-major-character stories (and with about half of the Vimes stories), this one is about the city as a living character in and of itself, asking the same question governments have been struggling with for thousands of years: what makes something valuable, and how can we get control of it? Ankh-Morpork is on the gold standard, which is entirely too inelastic for Moist's view of the world, but no Discworld economist has proposed any alternative and people don't know whether they can trust money they can't block magic with.
The economic question of automation springs up again, although the take on it is from the other side than it was in The Truth: what if it isn't one craft that's reduced from an industry to a cottage craft but instead categories of unskilled labor? How does the ripple of economic change spread and how can it gain momentum instead of lose it. This is always presented to Moist in the negative sense: how his rash ideas that words and passions can save people more than sensibility and money can could destroy even Ankh-Morpork; it takes him a long time to see the flip side of that coin.
On the downside, this isn't really anything excitingly new for Discworld. I'll keep reading the same stuff from Pratchett forever--it's brilliant. But sometimes he rises above the (already high) crowd and gives us a Night Watch, or a Fifth Elephant; if the occasional Monstrous Regiment is the price we pay to get them, then I'm happy to pay it.
I did laugh out loud through this one, reading far too many lines to my girlfriend (who was waiting to read it after me), so it's great in that Discworld-is-funny way (unlike, say Monstrous Regiment or Thud), but it's one of those "wait for the coincidences to catch up and then for Vetinari to show that he's known it all along" books, which are just so-so in my opinion.
Well, well worth reading for the humor, but don't drop Night Watch for it.
July 13, 2025
So clever and so very amusing. I just loved it! I think everyone should have a feisty octogenarian in their life to keep them on their toes and remind them to be glad they are alive. I am referring here to one of my favorite characters, Topsy Lavish. Her dog Mr. Fusspot is also worth a mention! Here are my very favorite quotes:
“Rich as plum pudding and more complicated than a dwarf contract” on describing the new design of bank notes.
So descriptive and reminiscent of some family gatherings: "They got along like a bag full of cats."
So endearing and makes me feel nostalgic for rural England: "that most knowledgeable of beings, the man in the pub."
Inventive description, which provides us with a clear impression: "a voice like a saw encountering a nail with a slight additional touch of foghorn."
Added on 4/12/19: Finally, I found a scrap of paper under a cookbook on my kitchen counter with this quote scribbled on it, I must have been listening while baking: "If you want to sell the sausage you have to know how to sell the sizzle." In other words, you need to ignite the imagination of the customer to what your product can become in order to be successful at selling it.
“Rich as plum pudding and more complicated than a dwarf contract” on describing the new design of bank notes.
So descriptive and reminiscent of some family gatherings: "They got along like a bag full of cats."
So endearing and makes me feel nostalgic for rural England: "that most knowledgeable of beings, the man in the pub."
Inventive description, which provides us with a clear impression: "a voice like a saw encountering a nail with a slight additional touch of foghorn."
Added on 4/12/19: Finally, I found a scrap of paper under a cookbook on my kitchen counter with this quote scribbled on it, I must have been listening while baking: "If you want to sell the sausage you have to know how to sell the sizzle." In other words, you need to ignite the imagination of the customer to what your product can become in order to be successful at selling it.
February 22, 2015
This is more or less a follow-up to Going Postal in which Moist von Lipwig is pressured into doing for the banking system what he has done for the post office. Some great new characters in Fusspot, Chairman of the Bank (and a dog), Cosmo Lavish, head of the family that owns the bank and a Vetinari want-to-be, and Mr Bent, the chief cashier with a surprising past. Moist's girl friend makes an appearance as does a long dead wizard and an economic modelling machine called the Glooper. Not quite as brilliant as Going Postal, but vintage Pratchett nonetheless with plenty of laughs along the way.
November 11, 2017
“He sighed. It had come to this. He was a responsible authority, and people could use terms like "core values" at him with impunity. ”
This was one of my favorites so far. SO many great quotes, and spot-on observations about our banking system.
This was one of my favorites so far. SO many great quotes, and spot-on observations about our banking system.
September 19, 2011
Moist von Lipwig, tired after making the Post Office such as success in "Going Postal", is itching for a new challenge - Vetinari sees this and turns Lipwig onto the banks and currency. Thusly Moist enters into a similar story to his last one where instead of the post, he is tasked with rejuvenating the money. The usual cast of new characters who seem familiarly like some previous new characters are present as are stock favourites, Vetinari, Vimes, Carrot, and a cameo by Death.
As others have pointed out the similarities to "Going Postal" are glaring and this is the problem with "Making Money" in that it has the feeling that we've been here before, not 2 years ago in fact! Sadly, it's very predictable fare. As Nobbs points out to Colon in the first third of the book: "Odds, sarge?" "You're running a book, Nobby. You always run a book" "Can't get any takers, sarge. Foregone conclusion. Everyone thinks he'll win" (p.132). And he does. A foregone conclusion. Yawn.
It wouldn't be so bad if Pratchett had made some interesting villains or obstacles but what we get is a rich guy who wants to be Vetinari, and something ominous but vague about golems which is quickly resolved in a paragraph at the end. Hardly edge of the seat stuff. Even the "secret" of Mr Bent, one of the new characters, is poor stuff. It's built up throughout the book and then revealed in a very weak punchline at the end. Vetinari disappointingly is present through much of the book when before he would have a couple of pages at the beginning and a couple at the end. His menace and mystique goes from interesting and dark to being that of a stern headmaster who is nonetheless approachable.
Also, there isn't much satire here. What exactly is he lampooning? Pratchett's always very sharp on his targets in Discworld but there doesn't seem to be a target here except that he wanted to introduce paper money to the citizens of Ankh Morpork which, really, he could have mentioned in a throwaway line in a better Discworld book ("What's this paper money for? Where's the gold?" "Y'know that Lipwig fellow? Vetinari put him in charge of the banks, so that's what we've got now" "Oh").
Who'd have thought it with Pratchett's ingenuinty - a by-the-numbers Discworld book? And it's hinted at the end that Moist will reappear to re-do the Ankh Morpork tax system! Dear me, I sincerely hope that book never materialises. The character of Moist was good for one book, two is stretching it, three is too much.
I can't bash this too much being a lifelong Discworld fan. It's well written and has enough going on to hold the interest even if you can see what's going to happen a mile off. Still, a visit to Ankh Morpork is always welcome and it's fun to see the familiar characters once again. Ideally a new Death book would be best but hey ho I guess Terry's lost interest in him and is content to churn out Young Adult Discworld like the atrocious Tiffany Aching/Nac Mac Feegle books. I just hope Terry goes with two of his other ideas "Snuff" featuring Vimes, and/or "Scouting for Trolls" a riff on "Scouting for Boys" instead of rounding off the trilogy of Moist (Moist! That name!) books.
As others have pointed out the similarities to "Going Postal" are glaring and this is the problem with "Making Money" in that it has the feeling that we've been here before, not 2 years ago in fact! Sadly, it's very predictable fare. As Nobbs points out to Colon in the first third of the book: "Odds, sarge?" "You're running a book, Nobby. You always run a book" "Can't get any takers, sarge. Foregone conclusion. Everyone thinks he'll win" (p.132). And he does. A foregone conclusion. Yawn.
It wouldn't be so bad if Pratchett had made some interesting villains or obstacles but what we get is a rich guy who wants to be Vetinari, and something ominous but vague about golems which is quickly resolved in a paragraph at the end. Hardly edge of the seat stuff. Even the "secret" of Mr Bent, one of the new characters, is poor stuff. It's built up throughout the book and then revealed in a very weak punchline at the end. Vetinari disappointingly is present through much of the book when before he would have a couple of pages at the beginning and a couple at the end. His menace and mystique goes from interesting and dark to being that of a stern headmaster who is nonetheless approachable.
Also, there isn't much satire here. What exactly is he lampooning? Pratchett's always very sharp on his targets in Discworld but there doesn't seem to be a target here except that he wanted to introduce paper money to the citizens of Ankh Morpork which, really, he could have mentioned in a throwaway line in a better Discworld book ("What's this paper money for? Where's the gold?" "Y'know that Lipwig fellow? Vetinari put him in charge of the banks, so that's what we've got now" "Oh").
Who'd have thought it with Pratchett's ingenuinty - a by-the-numbers Discworld book? And it's hinted at the end that Moist will reappear to re-do the Ankh Morpork tax system! Dear me, I sincerely hope that book never materialises. The character of Moist was good for one book, two is stretching it, three is too much.
I can't bash this too much being a lifelong Discworld fan. It's well written and has enough going on to hold the interest even if you can see what's going to happen a mile off. Still, a visit to Ankh Morpork is always welcome and it's fun to see the familiar characters once again. Ideally a new Death book would be best but hey ho I guess Terry's lost interest in him and is content to churn out Young Adult Discworld like the atrocious Tiffany Aching/Nac Mac Feegle books. I just hope Terry goes with two of his other ideas "Snuff" featuring Vimes, and/or "Scouting for Trolls" a riff on "Scouting for Boys" instead of rounding off the trilogy of Moist (Moist! That name!) books.
April 25, 2017
Making Money is the second book in the Moist von Lipwig subseries of Discworld. I’m enjoying this subseries quite a bit; I’m sorry it only has three books.
In this book, Moist von Lipwig finds himself unexpectedly involved in banking. The way in which this happens is pretty amusing, and the situation provides many chuckles throughout the book. I’m still really enjoying the character, and I also love that Lord Vetinari gets some decent page time in this subseries. The story itself wasn’t super exciting, and I was never in any great suspense about what would happen next, but it was funny and held my attention throughout.
In this book, Moist von Lipwig finds himself unexpectedly involved in banking. The way in which this happens is pretty amusing, and the situation provides many chuckles throughout the book. I’m still really enjoying the character, and I also love that Lord Vetinari gets some decent page time in this subseries. The story itself wasn’t super exciting, and I was never in any great suspense about what would happen next, but it was funny and held my attention throughout.
April 8, 2025
Це так добре, аж шкода, що книжка вже закінчилася.
Дуже динамічна книжка, як і Мокр, що не може всидіти на одному місці.
Дуже динамічна книжка, як і Мокр, що не може всидіти на одному місці.
August 2, 2021
Siempre que leo alguno de los libros del Mundodisco (lo que últimamente parece ser con demasiada frecuencia, lo reconozco) digo lo mismo: que cualquiera podría ser el antídoto perfecto para una depresión. Y con este no va a ser con el que me retracte, pese a que no me ha atrapado como otros y a que tiene una resolución, a mi juicio, algo falta de chispa.
Sin embargo, lo que me ha hecho quitarle una estrella no ha sido eso, sino el hecho de que en este caso no solo no me ha parecido encontrarme con una novela independiente (si no hubiera leído anteriormente “Cartas en el asunto” me habría perdido muchas cosas y no habría terminado de captar del todo el funcionamiento de las dinámicas de relación entre varios personajes), sino que, además, no creo que se le de una buena continuidad a la que, se supone, le precede “temáticamente”. ¡¡Justicia para los funcionarios de correos!!
Sin embargo, lo que me ha hecho quitarle una estrella no ha sido eso, sino el hecho de que en este caso no solo no me ha parecido encontrarme con una novela independiente (si no hubiera leído anteriormente “Cartas en el asunto” me habría perdido muchas cosas y no habría terminado de captar del todo el funcionamiento de las dinámicas de relación entre varios personajes), sino que, además, no creo que se le de una buena continuidad a la que, se supone, le precede “temáticamente”. ¡¡Justicia para los funcionarios de correos!!
April 13, 2025
3,5⭐️
Другої поштової лихоманки з Мокром не вийшло. Деякі лінії нецікаві (ну принаймні мені так було), але всюди де Мокр, Ветінарі - класні, і ще було неочікувано знову зустріти персонажів з Варти (вони цікаві як і сам цикл про них), які «каші» тут не зіпсували.
Другої поштової лихоманки з Мокром не вийшло. Деякі лінії нецікаві (ну принаймні мені так було), але всюди де Мокр, Ветінарі - класні, і ще було неочікувано знову зустріти персонажів з Варти (вони цікаві як і сам цикл про них), які «каші» тут не зіпсували.
May 20, 2016
Another Discworld book. These are now so familiar and comfortable, like a well worn pair of slippers or a battered old leather armchair.
I confess that the plots are a little formulaic, and there is an element of repetition, but these books are done so well. The Discworld multiverse is coherent and consistant within its own logic, and the level of detail is superb. Pratchett's books ooze wit and repartee from every page, and to me his work bears comparison with the traditional standard bearers of British humour such as Carry On films, Monty Python or The Goons
One little example from this book that warms the cockles of any red blooded Englishman. The head of the Guild of Greengrocer's features on a single page - and his few lines are littered with inappropriate apostrophes - absolutely delicious. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/greeng...
As was once said "I get down on my knees every night and thank God for making me an Englishman" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_...
Moist von Lipwig is a con artist and a thief, so what better job for him than the head of the Bank of Ankh Morpork. Cue mishaps, jolly japes and adventures, with Moist coming through by the skin of his teeth, helped by a rich cast of characters. My favourite in this book is one of the regulars, Lord Vetenari (despot of AM) who deftly orchestrates much of the action, or at least thinks he does.
I confess that the plots are a little formulaic, and there is an element of repetition, but these books are done so well. The Discworld multiverse is coherent and consistant within its own logic, and the level of detail is superb. Pratchett's books ooze wit and repartee from every page, and to me his work bears comparison with the traditional standard bearers of British humour such as Carry On films, Monty Python or The Goons
One little example from this book that warms the cockles of any red blooded Englishman. The head of the Guild of Greengrocer's features on a single page - and his few lines are littered with inappropriate apostrophes - absolutely delicious. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/greeng...
As was once said "I get down on my knees every night and thank God for making me an Englishman" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_...
Moist von Lipwig is a con artist and a thief, so what better job for him than the head of the Bank of Ankh Morpork. Cue mishaps, jolly japes and adventures, with Moist coming through by the skin of his teeth, helped by a rich cast of characters. My favourite in this book is one of the regulars, Lord Vetenari (despot of AM) who deftly orchestrates much of the action, or at least thinks he does.
May 26, 2018
1 January, 2009
I love these newer Discowurld books where Pratchett is bringing his creation into the industrial age.
***
June, 2009
Where a science fiction author might use robots to examine the idea of gender, Pratchett uses golems. For some reason, I love that. I also really enjoy how most of his stories are about how humans use stories to make sense of the world around us.
Library copy
I love these newer Discowurld books where Pratchett is bringing his creation into the industrial age.
***
June, 2009
Where a science fiction author might use robots to examine the idea of gender, Pratchett uses golems. For some reason, I love that. I also really enjoy how most of his stories are about how humans use stories to make sense of the world around us.
Library copy
February 21, 2023
Мокр фон Губперука знову затягує Ветінарі в нову авантюру, цього разу- банк.
Це було не настільки цікаво і фаново як з поштою, але для розваги на кілька вечорів цілком згодиться :)
Це було не настільки цікаво і фаново як з поштою, але для розваги на кілька вечорів цілком згодиться :)
February 25, 2020
Probably I should have read Going Postal first. (Have I read that? Not sure - we read a bunch of the Discworld books a while back).
January 1, 2020
10/24/19: Another audiobook re-read, this time so I could do crafts and miniatures painting with something to listen to. I liked the narrator better this time around, but it's good there isn't much Commander Vimes in this one, because I completely disagree with his interpretation of the character. Also noticed Moist's verbal tic of beginning a sentence with "O-kaaay," which I actually like. Now I have to decide if I'm going to finish off with Raising Steam, which I've only ever read once.
1/6/17: I re-read this as an audiobook as a test of the library's Overdrive system with my new phone and was surprised to see, when it's read aloud, how much there is of the Patrician in this book. (Stephen Briggs is not my favoritest narrator ever; his Patrician sounds like Stephen Fry, and yeah, who doesn't love Stephen Fry, he's just not how I imagine the Patrician sounding. And Briggs' default generic voice is Sort Of Scandinavian Or Something, which is just weird.)
Anyway, what I said below still goes, except for the final sentence, since now we know we got Raising Steam instead of the implied book about reforming the Ankh-Morpork tax system. I've only read that one once, which probably says something about how I liked it.
Read 8/12/10: Of all the Discworld novels, the ones featuring Moist von Lipwig are my favorites. I'm a sucker for rogues, and our hero is that in spades. What else can I say? I like everything about this book, including:
*the chain-smoking Adora Belle Dearheart, sensible and single-minded and still very attached to Moist
*Gladys the golem and her never-ending quest to become a Proper Lady
*the eternal question of how to deal with forgery (which in this case is to enlist the forgers on the side of Good)
*Angels, and the existence or lack thereof
*Igor
*The power of symbolism, in currency, necromancy, and the Golden Suit
I would very much like to see Moist tackle Ankh-Morpork's tax system, as the Patrician hints at the end of the book. Given Mr. Pratchett's health problems, that book would be especially welcome.
1/6/17: I re-read this as an audiobook as a test of the library's Overdrive system with my new phone and was surprised to see, when it's read aloud, how much there is of the Patrician in this book. (Stephen Briggs is not my favoritest narrator ever; his Patrician sounds like Stephen Fry, and yeah, who doesn't love Stephen Fry, he's just not how I imagine the Patrician sounding. And Briggs' default generic voice is Sort Of Scandinavian Or Something, which is just weird.)
Anyway, what I said below still goes, except for the final sentence, since now we know we got Raising Steam instead of the implied book about reforming the Ankh-Morpork tax system. I've only read that one once, which probably says something about how I liked it.
Read 8/12/10: Of all the Discworld novels, the ones featuring Moist von Lipwig are my favorites. I'm a sucker for rogues, and our hero is that in spades. What else can I say? I like everything about this book, including:
*the chain-smoking Adora Belle Dearheart, sensible and single-minded and still very attached to Moist
*Gladys the golem and her never-ending quest to become a Proper Lady
*the eternal question of how to deal with forgery (which in this case is to enlist the forgers on the side of Good)
*Angels, and the existence or lack thereof
*Igor
*The power of symbolism, in currency, necromancy, and the Golden Suit
I would very much like to see Moist tackle Ankh-Morpork's tax system, as the Patrician hints at the end of the book. Given Mr. Pratchett's health problems, that book would be especially welcome.
May 19, 2020
Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2020.
Moist von Lipwig is growing bored with being an upstanding member of society and head of the Post Office. He's been a little too successful with it, and now he doesn't feel challenged. Vetinari sees this, as he does everything, and gives Moist a brand new challenge: Master of the Royal Mint and the task of reforming Ankh-Morpork's financial system, which to date, mostly consists of sock-under-the-mattress savings and a bank that's devoted to the gold standard and only loaning money to people who've already got lots of it.
While Moist is a fun character, in a lot of ways this book is just a rehash of Going Postal with slightly different situations. It's also the book where it feels like Pratchett's illness began to change the way he was writing, but it could simply be that this is just a weaker entry in the series.
Still, its funny where it needs to be and further reforms Moist's character. It would have been interesting to see if Vetinari had him in mind to eventually succeed him, but the series never got that far.
Moist von Lipwig is growing bored with being an upstanding member of society and head of the Post Office. He's been a little too successful with it, and now he doesn't feel challenged. Vetinari sees this, as he does everything, and gives Moist a brand new challenge: Master of the Royal Mint and the task of reforming Ankh-Morpork's financial system, which to date, mostly consists of sock-under-the-mattress savings and a bank that's devoted to the gold standard and only loaning money to people who've already got lots of it.
While Moist is a fun character, in a lot of ways this book is just a rehash of Going Postal with slightly different situations. It's also the book where it feels like Pratchett's illness began to change the way he was writing, but it could simply be that this is just a weaker entry in the series.
Still, its funny where it needs to be and further reforms Moist's character. It would have been interesting to see if Vetinari had him in mind to eventually succeed him, but the series never got that far.
December 8, 2022
I enjoyed it even more on second reading.
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