The Postman - David Brin

The story is set in what was the USA, after a nuclear war and subsequent apocalyptic disasters, and follows a survivor, Gordon, who has been travelling across to the west coast. Gordon is a loner and a survivor, visiting any lone communities and making a living (literally) as a one man theatre band. All that changes when he runs across an old postal van and dons the dead posties clothes.

The unique variation of this books apocalyptic setting is that the country pretty much survived the nuclear war, and the riots and disease, it was the violent survivalists following the teachings of Nathan Holn, that brought the country to its knees. The survivalists are portrayed as grizzled hunter types, who had hoarded guns and wanted to play army. Whereas Holn is a crazed lunatic who becomes a martyr. All of this provides a deep backdrop and a scary, believable enemy.

The Postal uniform worn by Gordon proceeds to inspire hope amongst settlements that he passes through. When the villagers assume that he is a real postman, Gordon goes along with it and even elaborates, creating his own myth / lies. At first this is a cynical plan on Gordon's behalf (although with no real harm come from it), but eventually he buys into it, and a real postal system begins to emerge.

From then on the story follows the change in Gordon, from someone who uses the myth of a resurgent nation, to someone who starts to believe in it. He travels through more civillised regions and becomes embroiled in a war against survivalists. Gordon's journey is gripping, and on several occasions I wished he would forget the right thing and save himself. And in fact this constant tension is nicely explored in the story.

The climax of the plot feels a little strained, despite being very Science Fictional, it's a twist, but seemed to stick out against the general flow. Climatic, yes, however.

One strand of the book felt very old fashioned. Some of the women want to join in the fight against the survivalists and the men are shocked, because fighting is not a role for women in their post-apocalyptic world. The story then goes on to try and prove that the women were indeed capable in a plot strand which I won't give away. The whole idea however seems like something from the Victorian ages, where women should know their place. I can't begin to imagine that in a post-apocalyptic world all women would suddenly become meek homemakers, or that the men would even think it could be so. Compared to The Carhullan Army, the entire theme is dealt with in a very heavy handed way.

In summary however, it was an enjoyable book, with a unique ingredient added to the apocalyptic setting and likeable main character that you can't help rooting for.

A quick mention about print editions, I was pleased to see that the book has had a reprint in the UK (by Orbit) in 97, 98, 07, and 08, good to see when some of my Apocalypse Watch reading list are now out of print.