‘Postman’ Delivers Entertainment

Four words are probably circling around Metaline Falls right now “Kevin Costner” and “The Postman.” Costner, who is producing and starring in a movie called “The Postman,” has chosen Metaline Falls as one of the locations for the film.

But no one seems to be mentioning David Brin, whose novel, “The Postman,” is the catalyst for Costner’s movie.

That’s too bad, because the book is worth talking about.

“The Postman,” the book, is set after a massive war that left the United States barely hanging on to its humanity. After being robbed of his food, weapons and clothing, a man named Gordon comes across an old mail truck with a dead postman in it.

Gordon takes the clothing and an old bag of mail and sets off on an incredibly moving journey.

It turns out people find hope in the uniform Gordon has acquired; seeing the mailman provides a symbol of what was once right in America. Gordon fibs that he is a postman and begins the motions for getting the nation back on track.

Not that Gordon doesn’t have trouble. It comes in many forms - broken hearts, a super soldier created in order to win the war, the pain about his lie and the fear that his lie will be discovered.

Gordon also travels north to find Cyclops, a super-computer believed to have jump-started a small community and which may jump-start the country. The truth about Cyclops, however, leaves Gordon questioning himself and his new-found hero status.

David Brin has written a powerful novel that is extremely moving. Full to the brink with exceptional characters and seamless plotting, “The Postman” is the book of the century. At the very least, it’s the book of Metaline Falls.