Making Money by Terry Pratchett

The second book in the Industrial Revolution Trilogy, with my favorite character Moist Von Lipwig, and no less favorite Lord Vetinari.  This book is longer than the first volume, but not as interesting, unfortunately. The plot with the bank and the mint is interesting, and also Moist's invention of paper money (just like he invented stamps in the previous volume), however the whole thing with Umnian golems and the ending when they become the backing for the paper money is a bit contrived and feels forced.

The role of Adora Belle Dearheart is also pretty trivial in this book, marking no character development from the previous volume.  Yes, we get it that she's sexy and smokes like a chimney, but is there anything else interesting about her? Lord Vetinari is the best developed character here, besides Moist, and has much more screen time than in the first volume, which is a good thing.

Moist is bored with his job at the post office (where he does practically nothing) and is entertaining himself with breaking and entering, lock picking and climbing tall buildings at night.  Lord Vetinari is not satisfied with this turn of events and wants to make use of Moist's people swindling i.e. management talents so he gives him a dysfunctional bank and the Royal Mint to run.  However, this is the domain of the old, rich and thoroughly corrupt and decayed Lavish family, Cosmo Lavish being the current scion.

Since the little doggie Fusspot becomes the new chairman of the bank and Moist is his caretaker, he takes on the Lavishes and reforming the bank. Mr. Bent, the chief cashier of the bank, initially is an obstacle, but by the end becomes an asset. He also re-discovers his origin as a clown from the Fool Guild and his considerable clown talents.  This also feels forced, unless there is something about the Fool Guild in the previous 40 volumes. 

Anyways, now I am on the third volume, Raising Steam, which is the longest and most slow burn of these three volumes.  Hopefully it gets better towards the end. 

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Long time ago a person I knew told me about Terry Pratchett and his satirical/comical take on the Sword and Sorcery and Epic Fantasy genres. I didn't bite. I was too much into Tolkien and Moorcock (later I discovered Sapkowski and Martin). I couldn't care less about some satirical take on my favorite heroes that I identified with.  Well, I was wrong.

Even though I didn't start with the chronological order with the Rincewind series, neither with the Witches or The Watch, the industrial revolution trilogy is amazing, and Moist Von Lipwig is becoming one my favorite characters in literature. Yes, there is a lot of satire about vampires and trolls and wizards (from the Unseen University and boy do they like to eat!), however the character of Moist and his transformation from a scoundrel to a hero is amazing, and so it the plot development and the resolutions, with Lord Vetinari serving as a Deus Ex Machina of sorts.

After being saved from hanging, Moist von Lipwig is appointed Postmaster General and given the task to make the dilapidated, almost completely destroyed Post Office into a successful institution. Of course, Lipwig's first reflex is to run as fast as possible, but that doesn't pan out thanks to the Golems, which are one of the main characters throughout the Industrial Revolution trilogy.  Here we learn about "The Clacks" - a form of visual telegraph (no electricity yet in Ankh-Morpork) and the corrupt fraudster who stole them from the original inventor.

Eventually Moist invents stamps and restores the Post Office to the old glory and more.  In the meantime he also makes the daughter of the Clacks inventory (who smokes like a chimney non-stop, but apparently is very fit and sexy otherwise) his fiance. Her name is Adora Belle Dearhart and she runs the Golems in the city and fights for their rights.

Excellent book and absolutely great read for the times when you don't want to get too deep into some difficult and deep reading.  I am looking forward to the other two books in the trilogy.