Going Postal By Terry Pratchett

8 stars

Summary from Amazon.com:
Soon after Moist von Lipwig barely avoids hanging, Lord Havelock Vetinari, the despotic but pretty cool ruler of Ankh-Morpork, makes him a job offer he can't refuse—postmaster general of the Ankh-Morpork Post Office. The post office hasn't been open for 20 years since the advent of the Internet-like clacks communication system. Moist's first impulse is to try to escape, but Mr. Pump, his golem parole officer, quickly catches him. Moist must then deal with the musty mounds of undelivered mail that fill every room of the decaying Post Office building maintained by the ancient Junior Postman Groat and his callow assistant, Apprentice Postman Stanley. Readers will cheer Moist on as he eventually finds himself in a race with the dysfunctional clacks system to see whose message can be delivered first.

Going Postal is but one of the many books written by Terry Pratchett, who is my favorite fiction author of all time. Pratchett is a hilarious writer whose books contain many subtle and not-so-subtle parallels of the real world. Within the humor you will find thoughtful critiques and dilemmas about some aspect of the real world. All of his books are intended to make you laugh, and as you laugh you think. I am always in awe of Pratchett's ability to do both at the same time.

I would say that Going Postal is probably in the high middle range of Pratchett's writing. If you haven't read any of Pratchett's books, Going Postal is an excellent place to enter. I own a copy (and many other Pratchett books) and would be happy to loan it out.