"If you were shipwrecked on a desert island, what would you prefer, a bag of potatoes or a bag of gold?"
-Moist von Lipwig, former Postmaster General of Ankh-Morpork
Discworld’s favorite con-man is back and he’s being pushed into the job of running the Mint and introducing that devilish creation, paper money. If you haven’t read Going Postal, read that and probably Feet of Clay first unless you’re just interested in the finance. However, I don’t think knowledge of any other Discworld books is strictly necessary. For Discworld fans, this focuses on Moist, Adora Belle of the Golem Trust, and Lord Vetinari. The usual Ankh-Morpork denizens make an appearance but if you’ve got a real Watch craving this isn’t your book.
I’d rate this in the middle of the Discworld. It doesn’t have the scope of Going Postal but it does have much of the fun, The best new character is probably Mr. Fusspot a canine who through the usual complicated twists and turns manages to become owner of the Bank of Ankh-Morpork. This doggy is not deep, but he’s good for a fair number of laughs.
Much like Going Postal was about mail and technology, much of the fun of the book comes from the madcap rush through the world of finance. It all stands up based on my understanding of economics, although I didn’t find as many new insights as I usually get in a Discworld book. That said, the story mostly deals with solved problems, although Moist’s facing down a bank run with neither the FDIC nor gold to back him up does make for a suspenseful plotline.
Unfortunately, the B plot, involving buried golem, mostly stays in the background until a big reveal that worked out fairly anti-climatically in my view. In addition, Moist faces many a challenge but Lord Vetinari basically coasts through the book on his considerable intellect and self-restraint. Near the end a key exchange with his clerk sums things up:
[Secretary Drumknott:] "I hope you are right, sir."
[Lord Vetinari:] "Do you? I hope I am wrong. It will be good for me. Ah. Ahaha."
My sentiments exactly. For all its dangers, Ankh-Morpork is getting a bit to safe and refined, but that’s a discussion I’ll save for a later spoiler-y post.
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