Raising Steam

Raising Steam is the fortieth Discworld novel, and the final one written for adults.

Dick Simnel (son of the older Simnel from Reaper Man) has invented the Disc's first working steam locomotive. He brings it to Anhk-Morpork, where it quickly catches the attention of everyone, including Lord Vetinari, who sees the potential in having fast transportation to other nations on the Disc. It also catches the attention of some fundamentalist dwarfs, who think that it's an abomination and are willing to do something permanent to the permanent way. Of course Vetinari knows about the fundamentialists, so he appoints Moist von Lipwig - the only person who has a chance of surviving the creation of the railroad - as the liaison between the railroad company and the city.