The PostmanThe Postman
Score Classic
What it's about
Years after a war and plagues have destroyed civilization, Gordon Krantz drifts across the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Desperate and cold, he puts on the uniform of a dead mail carrier, and in the next village, people take him for a postman from a restored United States. Gordon keeps up the lie, and finds it gives people hope, which makes him a target for violent survivalist warlords.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula. It's a story about how a symbol can rebuild a civilization.
You'll love it if you liked
The Stand
Station Eleven
A Canticle for LeibowitzGood to know
It's quite different from the Kevin Costner film. There's violence and an odd final section.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #222 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #636 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2207 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous, Dark
More by David Brin
Startide Rising
The Uplift War
Earth
Brightness ReefIf you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Postman worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula. It ranks #2,207 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Postman about?
Years after a war and plagues have destroyed civilization, Gordon Krantz drifts across the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Desperate and cold, he puts on the uniform of a dead mail carrier, and in the next village, people take him for a postman from a restored United States. Gordon keeps up the lie, and finds it gives people hope, which makes him a target for violent survivalist warlords.
How long does it take to read The Postman?
About 7 hours (296 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Postman?
If you liked it, try The Stand by Stephen King, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel or A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr..