The Postman - David Brin

The Postman

By: David Brin

From: Orbit

Set in a post apocalypse world, this story is a journey of discovery. One man's desperation leads him to assume the identity of a postman, so he can have shelter for the night.
When he is given letters to pass on he only carries on because, as he reasons, he may get some shelter and food out of it.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear to him that a postman represents external authority, hence a challenge to autocratic leaders of isolated communities, and, as long as he keeps on moving is in no personal danger. There is the realisation that by having become part of something larger than the communities he serves he can no longer belong to them.

Without giving too much away, there are stories within stories in this book. While some parts of the plot seem to have been shoehorned in to make the story move in the direction required by the author, the overall read is pure enjoyment.

This is a dark book of hope. The film by Kevin Cstner does not do the book justice at all, and changes several parts for purely Hollywood reasons.

A solid read and a very decent four and a half out of five.