Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not one of his best - but not the worst either, 30 Oct 2007
Making money is not one of Mr Pratchett's best works - in fact it appeared rushed to cash in on the run on the Northern Rock Bank, not his usual smooth work.
I have to say I was disappointed on first reading the book, I then listened to my discs and I liked the book more. There's something about a listening to someone reading me a story that takes me back to a less stressful time (that Jackanory moment when I was a child and the troubles of the world were far, far away).
This story is not going to rank in my top twenty discworld stories but it isn't at the bottom of the list either.
It could be that the new Moist book came too soon on top of the Going Postal, that it would have been better if Mr Pratchett had returned to the Watch, or the Witches, or UU's faculty and Rincewind, or even Death, before moving back to Moist so quickly. Yet, for all its faults and similiarities to Going Postal, the Making Money story is a good one, even if it is lacking in the usual Pratchett polish.
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59 of 84 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
More Moist, Less Good., 4 Oct 2007
I was pleasantly surprised to discover this on sale and quickly snapped it up and devoured it quicker. It was, on the whole, a little on the short side (or certainly felt it) and that would have been okay if it had been up to the prime Pratchett standard.
Alas, it fell short. Going Postal, the first book to feature Moist von Lipwig, failed to re-generate the Discworld cycle of books and Making Money has continued this downward spiral. The character on his own doesn't really cut the mustard as such and the plot, while appearing fresh, was composed of large numbers of old jokes and rehashed elements. By the end of the book, the chapters intended to be a fast-paced amusing anarchy concluding the plot threads (something which Pratchett has shown himself to be good at) was a positive flop, being muddled, confused and crowded, almost listing through plot elements and resolutions.
Even Vetinari seemed a little... uncharacteristicly un-Vetinari. Over the past few books just a little has happened with Ankh-Morpork and Vetinari and the city's amusing citizenry and modern-world apery.
Furthermore, the ending of the book reveals a disappointing and frankly dull revelation of the next novel in main Discworld series... yes, once more Moist von Lipwig will taken on an aspect of Ankh-Morpork's civil service. "Raising Taxes" has already been announced.
I'd welcome a re-airing of the Witches or better, the improbably antics of the Unseen Faculty over where the series seems to be going. It makes me sad.
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62 of 89 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Money for nothing and your clacks for free, 20 Sep 2007
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 postal service in "Going Postal". The result is the same - a slapstick 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. The result is - well just about what you'd expect.
"Making Money" features a cast of mostly new characters. As to established characters, Vetinari is featured and he 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 recurring role. Moist's girlfriend the chain-smoking Adore Belle Dearheart makes her presence felt, especially when she puts her foot down. 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. He is serious, has never been known to laugh, and has a head for numbers that is astonishing. In some (admittedly very superficial) respects you could argue that Bent is to Moist what Gordon was to Tony.
Moist's antagonists are the Lavish family, particularly 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 humour and manages to combine that humour 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, religion, the post office, and movies 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. Fleisig
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