Originally a drama student at the University of Minnesota, he traveled west to Oregon in the aftermath of the worldwide chaos that resulted from several EMPs, the destruction of major cities, and the release of bioweapons.

In reality, however, the machine ceased functioning due to damage from a Luddite mob, and a group of scientists maintain the pretense of its working to try to keep hope, order, and knowledge alive.

Another message of the plot deals with the backstory of the post-apocalyptic world: specifically, that it was not the electronics-destroying EMPs, the destruction of major cities, or the release of various bio-engineered plagues that completely destroyed society, but rather it was the Holnists, who preyed on humanitarian workers and attacked communities during this difficult period.

Dave Langford reviewed The Postman for White Dwarf #83, and stated that "The story is complicated by Krantz's intersection with another myth in the making, and then by a muddle of battle, murder and enhanced super-guerillas, all a bit of a needless distraction, but never mind.

[5] Brin has suggested that he wrote The Postman as a rebuke to the celebrations of mayhem in the many derivative post-apocalyptic fictions that appeared in the wake of the popular Mad Max movies.

It was written by Eric Roth and Brian Helgeland, and also features Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo, and Tom Petty.