Moist von Lipwig who was pressured into revitalising the Post Office by the dictator of Ankh-Morpork, Lord Vetinari, is a busy man. His wife Adora runs the clacks, or communication towers, which are a recent innovation but have become inordinately popular. Moist, a former con-man, also oversees the Mint and Bank, keeping his nose clean lest Captain Vimes of the Watch set a werewolf guard onto him. Now a plain-speaking self-taught engineer turns up with the steam-powered engine which he has created. He's brought it from his mountain homeland by putting it on wheels which run on rails. Travel and goods shipping could be within reach. Moist instantly sees the possibilities for prosperity. Harry King, the refuse collector tycoon, is also a plain-speaking man and he wants to elevate himself from the 'where there's muck there's brass' situation. He decides to finance railways, and Moist works to grease the metaphorical wheels.

Lord Vetinari enjoys fresh seafood and watercress as much as anyone, so the first major rail is laid to Quirm which is famous for lobster, wine, cheese, onions and avec. Now lobster can reach Ankh-Morpork not in three days, but before the ice it's packed in has melted. Tensions are rife however - the Low King of the dwarves is facing rebellion in the dark mountain passages, and outlaw radical dwarves are burning down clacks towers and killing the staff. Vetinari is keen to avoid a resumption of war between dwarfs and trolls. He orders Dick Simnel the engineer to lay a railway to the kingdom of the dwarves. And if it doesn't happen fast, Moist will pay the penalty.

While this is less funny than some of Terry Pratchett's previous outings, I enjoyed the way that the well-realised tale explores the social good brought by railways, from understanding of others to housing and employment for workers. Wizards don't feature, sadly, and the reader can get tired of the many 'as it were' comments slipped into the narration and the dialogue. Discworld fans will of course want to read RAISING STEAM and ride the latest craze along with their favourite characters.

Book Summary