Open main menu

Wikipedia
Raising Steam
Article Talk

Language
Watch
Edit

Raising Steam is the 40th Discworld novel, written by Terry Pratchett. It was the
penultimate one, published before his death in 2015. Originally due to be published
on 24 October 2013, it was pushed back to 7 November 2013 (and March 18, 2014 in
the U.S.).[1][2] It stars Moist von Lipwig, and features the introduction of
locomotives to the Discworld (a concept mentioned already in Death's Domain),[3]
and an entirely new character.[4]
Raising Steam
The front cover of the book Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett.jpg
First edition
Author
Terry Pratchett
Cover artist
Paul Kidby
Language
English
Series

Discworld
40th novel – 3rd Moist von Lipwig story

Subject

Steam engines
Characters:
Moist von Lipwig
Locations:
Ankh-Morpork

Genre
Fantasy
Publisher
Doubleday
Publication date
7 November 2013 (18 Mar 2014, U.S.)
Pages
384
ISBN
978-0-85752-227-6
Preceded by
Snuff
Followed by
The Shepherd's Crown

The cover of the novel was exclusively revealed on Pratchett's Facebook page on 6
August 2013.[5]
An update to Pratchett's website late October 2013 revealed that characters include
Harry King, Moist von Lipwig, Adora Belle Dearheart and Sgt Fred Colon amongst
others.[6]
Plot synopsisEdit

Dick Simnel, a young self-taught engineer from Sto Lat (and whose father, Ned
Simnel, appeared in Reaper Man), has invented a steam locomotive. He brings his
invention to Ankh-Morpork where it catches the interest of Sir Harry King, a
millionaire businessman who has made his fortune in the waste and sanitation
industry, as he wishes to create a legacy disassociated from the source of his
wealth. Harry promises Dick sufficient investment to make the railway a success.

The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Lord Vetinari, wishing to ensure that the City has
appropriate influence over the new enterprise, appoints the reformed fraudster
turned civil servant Moist von Lipwig to represent the government in the management
of the railway. His skills soon come in useful in negotiations with landowners
along the route of the new line.

Throughout the story, Dwarfish fundamentalists are responsible for a number of

terrorist attacks, including the murder and arson. This campaign culminates in a
palace coup in Überwald, whilst the King is at an international summit in Quirm,
over twelve hundred miles away. Vetinari declares that it is imperative to return
the King to Schmaltzberg as soon as possible in order to restore political
stability, and gives Moist the task of getting him there via the new railway. Moist
protests impossibility on the grounds that the railway is nowhere near complete,
but is told that achieving this target is non-negotiable.

On the journey there are numerous attacks by Dwarfish fundamentalists, but

eventually the train reaches its destination and the King retakes Schmaltzberg with
little resistance.

Back in Ankh-Morpork, there are honours and medals all round except for Moist who
is told that his reward is to remain alive.
CharactersEdit

Dick Simnel – inventor of Iron Girder, Discworld's first steam train

(Discworld's answer to Roundworld 's George Stephenson).
Lord Vetinari – Patrician of Ankh-Morpork
Moist von Lipwig
Harry King
Low King Rhys Rhysson
Adora Belle von Lipwig
Samuel Vimes

Reception
References
External links
Last edited 1 month ago by Explicit
Wikipedia

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.

Privacy policy
Terms of Use
Desktop