Books
Let's start this review about a book with a quote from the book that is about other books talked about within this book. Got it? Good!
"All these old science-fiction books were the same: they thought the future would be dominated by some hard-ass, oppressive Government. Maybe that was plausible back in the 1950s, when the world looked as if it might turn Commie. It sure wasn't now."
Indeedy it's not like that now. Nowadays with their government lobbyists, secret research, and even privately-funded police forces, it's looking more and more like big business is beginning to run the show. Max Barry's 'Jennifer Government' follows that line of thinking to an extreme, where businesses are so all encompassing that employed workers actually take on the last name of their employer.
Jennifer Government, for example, is a government employee investigating some shootings that just might be the result some shifty business practices. Well, she will be investigating, if the victims' families can provide the Government funding to bring the perpetrators to justice. Perhaps the local police could investigate, but they'd have to be paid for their time, too.
Of course, other people have their problems, too. Hack Nike is being asked to carry out a company initiative that he's not really sure he can handle. Guy Mitsui is wondering if his motivations really match those of his coworkers. Don't even get me started on Billy NRA; he's in way over his head.
Welcome to a world that is uncomfortably close to ours, but far enough away that it comes across as a fun piece of satire. In this world, we see the amorality of unregulated business, as well as the struggles of individuals who have only the rights that their credit card can support. Author Max Barry leads the reader on a globe-spanning trip that is never dull, often funny, and fairly unique.
Unfortunately, Barry's latest book suffers from some mediocre writing and some pacing problems. The dialogue is crisp and natural-sounding in most areas, but seems forcibly casual in others. Still, these are only minor complaints. This is Barry's second published book, and as he improves as a writer, he could easily gain more widespread acceptance. In the meantime, we can enjoy this story, which is a nice little bit of light reading.
12th Jun 2003