Jennifer Government by Max Barry
This book went on and off my wishlist a couple times. I heard about it somewhere as a witty Orwellian satire, and I added it. I later heard there was an online game based on the novel (http://www.nationstates.net/), which I signed up for and was bored by, and thus later I took the book off my wishlist. Then, it cropped up somewhere else as a recommended novel for its smart wit and satire, so I added it back.
I dunno. It was an okay read. There was not a lot of depth or originality to any of the characters. The alternate future was a bit outlandish (Privatizing the government? Just how would that work, and how is that not a paradox?), but with a bit of effort I was able to suspend my disbelief… like Cars: accept the premise, don’t think too hard about it.
I wasn’t bored by it, and early on I knew there wasn’t going to be any big payoff, so the ride was fairly enjoyable. Though I can’t figure out what some of the reviewers “laughed out loud” about.
Max Barry’s other books (Company and Syrup) look like more of the same. As one Amazon reviewer put it, “knee-jerk anti-corporate humor is occasionally funny…” I probably won’t bother.
I read it and I agree — it’s pretty much a one-joke concept.
185 corporations walk into a bar. The bartender says, “I’m sorry, we don’t server corporations here.” The corporations ask “Why not?”, and the bartender replies, “Because you’re a bunch of inherently corrupt, uber-powerful entities that are destroying our culture!”
(rim-shot)(laughter)
Privatizing the government? Just how would that work, and how is that not a paradox?
It’s the libertarian wish-dream. I don’t know why you’re puzzled by the concept.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the building is on fire, and I have to go look up which Fire Services Provder we’ve subscribed to.
Straw man much?
It’s the burning straw that got the fire started! I couldn’t resist. I still don’t understand why you say you don’t understand “privatizing the government.”
I understand what the words mean, but I don’t understand how it would work. I understand how you can privatize certain functions of the government, as in your example of the Fire Station, Inc. But I don’t see how the whole thing becomes a corporate entity. (Who are the shareholders? Where do they derive their authority? Is it still a democracy? What’s going on here?)
Max Barry just sort of glossed over the details, even though it’s a fairly major plot point in the book.
But, of course, this is just a satire, and he’s engaging in hyperbole to make a (heavy-handed) point. I’m just saying it was a conceptual snag that tripped me up a bit (as you had your suspension of belief challenged by Cars), but in the end I just went with it without thinking too hard.
(as you had your suspension of belief challenged by Cars)
WHO THE HELL WAS DRIVING THEM?!