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| Making Money (Discworld) | 
 enlarge | Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (101 reviews)
Sales Rank: 66182
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 1.5
ISBN: 0061161640
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780061161643
ASIN: 0061161640
Publication Date: September 18, 2007
Release Date: September 18, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Disappointing Read January 7, 2008
I have been a loyal fan of the Discworld for many years, but this one just wasn't up to par. There weren't too many funny parts, and Vetinari had too large a role. He's better as an offscreen presence.
Love it! January 2, 2008
I love Pratchett. And the characters are really great. I recommend reading Going Postal first to really get the characters and background but this is a great read. Everything he has written is good. I loved Going Postal so much I'm glad that he wrote about them again.
 Man and Dog Against the Lavish December 12, 2007
19 out of 24 found this review helpful
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 money.
After that, Mr. Bent takes him to meet the Chairman and Manager of the Bank -- Mrs. Topsy Lavish -- who owns fifty percent of the stock. She also owns Mr. Fusspot -- a small ugly dog of mixed ancestry -- who possesses one percent of the stock. Thus Topsy controls the Bank.
Following a fascinating talk on his morals and knowledge of the banking industry, Mr. Bent takes him to see the counting house. There various necessary calculations are performed by human brains without artificial aids. Although Mr. Bent would like to claim the total lack of errors, he admits that sometimes the clerks do make blunders. However, all calculations have to be approved by Mr. Bent and he never makes mistakes.
Afterward, Mr. Bent takes Moist to meet Hubert, the inventor of an "analogy machine" fondly called the Glooper. This device is capable of simulating various financial situations in its glass maze of flowing water and variable shunts, valves, bottles and springs. Of course, Hubert has an Igor to construct and charge the machine.
This story has Mrs. Lavish change her will just before Death come for her. Mr. Fusspot inherits Topsy's share in the Bank and the title of Chairman. Moist inherits a yearly stipend for taking care of Mr. Fusspot and he is also appointed as Master of the Royal Mint. Topsy has also taken out a contract with the Assassins Guild to terminate Moist if any harm comes to Mr. Fusspot. A couple of black arrows come through his window to remind Moist of his responsibilities.
The Lavish family takes immediate notice of Moist von Lipwig. Cosmo Lavish tries to bribe Moist. Pucci Lavish tries to vamp Moist and blackmail him. The Postmaster General sweats off a few unnecessary pounds and is energized by the attention. Then Adora Belle returns to Ankh-Morpork followed by some ancient golems.
Read this book more than once. You will probably miss many digs and other satirical remarks during the first pass. But don't expect to get all the jokes unless you are British from the Chalk Country.
There are less footnotes and most are less funny than in the early volumes, but the author has to skack off sometimes. Nonetheless, the footnotes are still reasonably funny and irreverent.
Highly recommended for Pratchett fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of financial bureaucracy, aristocratic alienation, and buffoonish antics.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Economics made interesting December 3, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
While this may not be Pratchett's best book, any book featuring a guy named Moist von Lipwig gets my vote. A graduate student introduced me to Pratchett's Disc World novels, and I have read and reread them over and over. That was a bit redundant. Still the Disk World novels are so funny, refreshing and "spot on" (forgive me) that I really owe that student for telling me about them. I always keep a Pratchett book on hand, especially if I'm reading something very literary, for the humor and sheer inventiveness. It amazes me that Pratchett has a "handle" on so many diffuse subjects and can make them so entertaining. Let's face it, economics is fairly boring, but Pratchett can make it interesting and fun. Who else can do that?
You should deftinatly buy this!! December 3, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was so funny, i think everyone should own all of Terry Pratchett books he has such a wonderfull imagination this book is writen to take you on from another book Going postal which i would also recomend they are both Brilliant,funny books that you cant put down.
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