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In Max Barry's twisted, hilarious and terrifying vision of the near future, the world is run by giant corporations and employees take the last names of the companies they work for. It's a globalised, ultra-capitalist free market paradise! Hack Nike is a lowly merchandising officer who's not very good at negotiating his salary. So when John Nike and John Nike, executives from the promised land of Marketing, offer him a contract, he signs without reading it. Unfortunately, Hack's new contract involves shooting teenagers to build up street cred for Nike's new line of USD2,500 trainers. Hack goes to the police - but they assume that he's asking for a subcontracting deal and lease the assassination to the more experienced NRA. Enter Jennifer Government, a tough-talking agent with a barcode tattoo under her eye and a personal problem with John Nike (the boss of the other John Nike). And a gun. Hack is about to find out what it really means to mess with market forces.
Little, Brown Book Group (United Kingdom) | |
2004 | |
9780349117621 | |
Paperback - 352 Pages |
Average rating (1 review)
Great plot. Missing a little something...
Darran10 | 30/05/2008 | See all Darran10's reviews (5) »
Hmm. Before I get stuck in, I should say that I was compelled to keep reading Jennifer Government until I reached the end.
Also, I read it with ultra high expectations after it was highly praised by a fellow collective member (bbc alternative culture forum RIP).
Written in short and snappy chapters, the plot is great and moves very briskly. Bouncing back and forth between four or five different threads which eventually interlink with each other to form the whole picture.
It's straight forward and unpretentious.
So why only three stars?
Firstly, it is NOT hilarious. Humourous, yes. But don't expect to laugh out loud.
Secondly, it is almost all narrative. Describing what is happening perfectly. But we don't get enough of what the characters are thinking or feeling. In my humble opinion.
Don't be put off though. Jennifer Government is a very enjoyable, fast paced tale. Filled with healthy cynicism. And probably not too far from the truth.
