Samyann
The Postman by David Brin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Yes. This is the book on which the Kevin Kostner movie is based, and the original novel was published in the mid-1990s. Read the book, it’s better.
That said, the story takes place sixteen years after an EMP apocalypse wipes out most of humanity. In his mid-30s, Gordon, a wanderer who earns his meager living by telling stories and entertaining small clusters of survivors. While on the highway, he’s robbed – Gordon stumbles across a 16-year-old USPS Jeep. He gives the driver a proper burial and takes, to get warm. a USPS uniform, and his life changes.
His appearance as a Postman lifts the hopelessness of the people he meets. They believe America is coming back, and he is all the proof they need. Gordon doesn’t have the heart to tell them the truth, so takes mail from them, and trudges to the next town. Over time, Gordon becomes a Postman. No spoilers, but Gordon’s travels are at once perilous and uplifting – will he maintain this ruse? Should he?
Written by David Brin, narrated by Kevin Kenerly, ten hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, the audiobook released in December 2020 by Blackstone Publishing.
