Making Money

I love this book, like always Mr. Pratchett takes something familiar to us all(money and economy). Sticks it in a fantasy world (complete with a flying star turtle), and completely runs amok! I almost missed this gem, since the store decided to put it in with the financial books. Though I have to admit, I did learn about making money!

Making Money (2007) is the thirty-third fantasy novel in the Discworld series, following Thud. In the previous volume, Sam Vimes went to Koom Valley for the anniversary celebration, taking Sybil and Young Sam. Vimes was unfortunately delayed in his evening ritual with his son and everybody in the household became anxious. However, Vines recited Where Is My Cow anyway and caused rampant confusion and fear among the nearby dwarves. This lead to urgently needed peace talks between the dwarves and trolls in the Valley. In this novel, Postmaster General Moist von Lipwig of Going Postal is restive at the absence of his girlfriend. Miss Adora Belle Dearheart is away digging for Golems on dwarf land just this side of Chimeria. Without her, Moist is climbing the exterior of buildings and practicing Extreme Sneezing to settle his need for excitement and risk. Gladys -- his Golem female servant -- interrupts Moist at breakfast to tell him that he has an appointment with Lord Vetinari. He doesn't remember having such an appointment, but Gladys informs him that two guards are waiting outside to escort him to the palace. Moist finishes dressing and hurries down the back stairs to the coach yard. He catches the Quirm Shuttle and jumps down at the palace's main entrance. Lord Vetinari greets him and Moist immediately goes on the defensive. After quickly considering recent difficulties, Moist explains the snail problem. When that turns out to not be the reason for the meeting, Moist suggests the cabbage-flavored glue incident and the Second-Issue 50p Stamp affair. After brushing aside those small issues, the Patrician takes control of the conversation and asks if Moist would like to make some real money. Moist cautiously works his way all-round the subject and is finally released from the office without discovering the reason for his summoning. But he does leave with Drumknott's pencil. Returning to the Central Post Office, Moist is entertained by several dull meetings and reads some exceedingly correct -- but improbable -- letters. When Gladys brings in the tea, she mentions that the Patrician's coach is waiting outside. Gladys states that the coachman has been told to wait. After reading a few unexciting reports, Moist happens to look out the window and the coachman gives him a friendly wave. After visiting the sorting rooms, Moist has a cup of tea in the postmen's locker room. Happening to glance out the window, Moist sees that the coachman is eating lunch on a little folding table with a white tablecloth. Moist runs madly down the main entrance and steps into the coach. In this story, Lord Vetinari takes Moist to the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork, introduces him to Mr. Mavolio Bent -- the chief cashier -- and then departs the building. Mr. Bent takes Moist to see the gold being held in reserve and Moist is not impressed. Then Mr. Bent shows him the Royal Mint, where Moist meets the Men of the Sheds. There he learns the cost of making

As usual, Pratchett gives interesting and humerous insight into another socioeconomic system, this time banking. I have a hard time thinking of how a non-fanatic might enjoy or not enjoy this book, however I would highly recommend reading Going Postal first, and maybe Feet of Clay as well.

I have been reading Terry Pratchett's writings for more than thirty years and he just gets better and better. In this book we again meet Moist von Lipwig, who did such a bang-up job of restoring order and honor to the Post Office and now is put to the task, at the order of The Patrician, Lord Vetinary, of putting the Royal Mint and the Bank of Ankh-Morpork to rights. A little mystery, a little melodrama, some romance, some supernatural happenings, combine in this novel to create a story that holds the interest from page one to the end. There are of course some of the Ankh-Morpork "usual suspects" in the cast of characters and there are some subtle hints about the orgins and purposes of many of the new characters but not enough to tip the reader too soon to the eventual reveal. There is a strong sense that the author truly understands "how things work" and this reviewer would like this book to be required reading for all politicians, most of whom seem to have little knowledge of basic economics. The story has twists and turns that appear to lead off into dead ends, but each and all ultimately are integral to the eventual success of Moist's scheme (even without his active knowledge or participation) and introduces some new characters, both living and semi-living, that one hopes will appear in later books. This was a very enjoyable read and anyone who is a fan of fantasy and humor should find is as much fun as it was for me.

It seems, after reading Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld novel "Making Money", that money does make the world go `round, even if that world is flat and balanced on the backs of four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle. In "Making Money", Terry Pratchett and his `hero' Moist von Lipwig do for and to the monetary system exactly what they did for and to the post office in "Going Postal". The result is the same - - - - a Buster Keaton-like romp through the strange and wonderful world of Discworld. It is impossible to detail the plot of this book without giving away spoilers so I think it best just to say that Lord Vetinari has determined that Ankh-Morpork's monetary system is in dire straits and in need of improvement. Vetinari picks, in his inimitable way, Moist von Lipwig to lead the way. In essence, Moist is set-up by Vetinari to become Ankh-Morpork's Alan Greenspan. Unlike Greenspan, however, Moist must deal with a cast of characters that have no idea as to what Moist is up to or trying to achieve. (Well, maybe that isn't so unlike Greenspan!). "Making Money" feature a cast of old but mostly new characters. As to established characters, Vetinari is featured and his is as delightfully Machiavellian as ever. There are cameo appearances by DEATH, the Watch, and CMOT Dibbler. However, new or newer characters play the largest roles. Moist's second appearance is terrific. Pratchett does a very nice job turning him into what I hope is a regular role. Moist's girlfriend the chain-smoking Adore Belle Dearheart makes her presence felt. Mr. Bent, the oh-so serious bank manager plays straight man to Moist's light-hearted con-man character. Bent is tied to the old ways - where money must be based on gold and nothing but gold. There is something very William Jennings Bryan-like about Bent and his straight-laced approach is the perfect foil for Moist's extraordinarily flexible approach to monetary issues. Moist's antagonists are the Lavish family, Cosmo Lavish and his rather large sister Pucci (of whom Pratchett says in a great line, "she had no idea how to handle people and she tried to make self-esteem do the work of self-respect, but the girl could flounce better than a fat turkey on a trampoline".) They make good foils for Moist and Vetinari. As always the plot has many twists and turns and one-liners fly almost as fast as the slings and arrows of the Assassins' Guild. Pratchett has a great way with humor and manages to combine that humor with a good deal of insight into how `things' work in the real world. His look at the monetary system in "Making Money" can now stand with Pratchett's look at rock music Soul Music, religion Small Gods, the post office Going Postal, and movies Moving Pictures as some very funny looks at our world through the prism of Discworld. "Making Money" was a fun book for me to read. It was typical Pratchett (high praise) and I think most Pratchett fans will enjoy it. I certainly did. L. Flei