Raising Steam
(Discworld novel 40)
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4.4 • 283 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
Discover the gloriously inventive and funny fantasy novel from bestselling author Terry Pratchett, the third book in the Industrial Revolution series, part of the Discworld novels.
‘One of the most consistently funny writers around’ Ben Aaronovitch, The Guardian
‘Truly a classic novel from the master of meaningful comic fantasy’ 5-star reader review
'The world lives between those who say it cannot be done and those who say that it can . . . it's just a matter of thinking creatively.'
Moist von Lipwig is a con man turned civil servant.
As head of the Royal Bank and Post Office of Ankh-Morpork, he doesn't really want or need another job. But when the Patrician, Lord Vetinari, gives you a task, you do it or suffer the consequences. In Moist's case, death.
A brand-new invention has come to the city: a steam locomotive named Iron Girder, to be precise. With the railway's introduction and rapid expansion, Vetinari enlists Moist to represent the government and keep things on track.
But as with all new technology, some people have objections, and Moist will have to use every trick in his arsenal to keep the trains running . . .
Raising Steam is the third and final book in the Industrial Revolution series, but the Discworld novels can be read in any order.
Praise for the Discworld series:
'[Pratchett’s] spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday
‘Pratchett is a master storyteller’ Guardian
'One of our greatest fantasists, and beyond a doubt the funniest' George R.R. Martin
'One of those rare writers who appeals to everyone’ Daily Express
‘One of the most consistently funny writers around’ Ben Aaronovitch
‘Masterful and brilliant’ Fantasy & Science Fiction
‘Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own… he is a satirist of enormous talent ... incredibly funny ... compulsively readable' The Times
‘The best humorous English author since P.G. Wodehouse' The Sunday Telegraph
‘Nothing short of magical’ Chicago Tribune
'Consistently funny, consistently clever and consistently surprising in its twists and turns' SFX
‘[Discworld is] compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world…There's never been anything quite like it’ Evening Standard
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A brash new invention brings social upheaval, deadly intrigues, and plenty of wry humor to the 40th installment of Pratchett's best-selling Discworld fantasy series. When intrepid inventor Dick Simnel comes to Ankh-Morpork looking for a backer for his revolutionary steam engine, the Iron Girder, entrepreneur Sir Harry King is quick to grasp the possibilities. So is Ankh-Morpork's ruler, Lord Vetinari, who immediately puts master facilitator (and former con artist) Moist von Lipwig in charge of the Discworld's first railway. But while the would-be railway tycoons are busy cutting deals for right-of-ways, supplies, and second class coach service, a group of radically conservative dwarf extremists are determined to stop the railroad, along with anything else that threatens "the truth of pure dwarfishness." In a realm where "even the factions had factions," Moist finds himself cast as Vetinari's agent to help defeat a political coup that could re-ignite ancient hostilities between dwarves and trolls. As always, Pratchett's unforgettable characters and lively story mirror the best, the worst, and the oddest bits of our own world, entertaining readers while skewering social and political foibles in a melting pot of humanity, dwarfs, trolls, goblins, vampires, and a werewolf or two.
Customer Reviews
Still going
Am still reading but am writing this review to say love the footnote system, finally able to enjoy Mr Ps writing digitally without hunting down the footnotes.
Pullman class
I finished this with real regret. Terry Pratchett on top form with clever allegories, sideswipes and jokes. I loved the 'Railway Children' and the development of goblins as a species on the Discworld is both interesting and superbly handled. My only regret was a complete absence of Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax but, perhaps, they will appear when the railway starts to go wrong and resembles the average commuting experience into London. I'd love to hear GW's comments on the wrong sort of snow.
Sad to say
I have loved all his books but this one seem to change half way
Through as if some one was finishing it off.
I cannot put my finger on it but just became hard work and not
Enjoyable for me. Put it down and have never had the urge to finish