Making Money
Making Money is a comic fantasy novel by British author Terry Pratchett, the thirty-sixth entry in his Discworld series, published on 20 September 2007.[1][2] It centers on Moist von Lipwig, a former con artist previously reformed as postmaster, who is coerced by Patrician Havelock Vetinari into managing Ankh-Morpork's moribund Royal Bank and Mint, tasking him with introducing paper currency backed initially by gold reserves to restore public confidence in the financial system.[3][4] The narrative unfolds amid subplots involving a hoard of buried gold, experimental banking practices, and threats from entrenched interests, blending satire on economics with Pratchett's signature wit and world-building. The novel builds on Going Postal (2004), the first Moist von Lipwig story, extending themes of institutional reform and entrepreneurial ingenuity in a pseudo-Victorian fantasy setting where magic coexists with emerging industrial and financial mechanisms.[3] Pratchett employs the plot to dissect concepts like fiat money, fractional reserve banking, and the psychology of value, portraying money as a collective belief system rather than inherent worth, which anticipates real-world financial vulnerabilities exposed in the 2008 crisis.[1] Notable for its ensemble cast—including golems, assassins, and the scheming Adora Belle Dearheart—it highlights Pratchett's critique of bureaucratic inertia and the risks of unchecked monetary innovation, achieving commercial success as a New York Times bestseller while reinforcing the series' reputation for accessible philosophical inquiry through humor.[2]