Max barry born 18 march 1973 is an australian author. Corporations have free reign in what is called the united states of america but actually comprises north and south america, australia, new zealand, and the british isles or, for you george orwell fans out there, there is so much i want to say about this book. Based in the near future it displays the social consequences of a fully privatised society. Lexicon won the alex award, not jennifer government. Jennifer gouvernement novel, satire by the author max barry. The world of jennifer government reads like an ayn rand wet dream. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. If you like jennifer government you might like similar books company, machine man, syrup, machine of death.
A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best novel in the world ever. Legal was going to come down on natures springs like a ton of shit. So you have characters such as john nike, hayley mcdonalds and of course jennifer government. Legal was going to come down on natures springs like a ton of shit, you could bet on that. Its funny and particularly today with the ongoing rise of multinationals and britain thinking of leaving the eu its seems shockingly modern. Jennifer government ebook by max barry 9781400076345. Max barry, author of lexicon, jennifer government, providence, syrup, machine. Jennifer government is a 2003 science fiction novel by australian author max barry.
He was only there because the one on his floor was out. Set 20 minutes into the future, united states has become a globespanning corporate empire including the americas bar cuba, the british isles, south africa, india, japan, and australia a recent acquisition where most of the book takes place. Even so, one wonders what the reallife lawyers at nike and various other corporations with cameos in jennifer government will think of the book, which makes a very spirited attempt to be. In the horrifying, satirical near future of max barrys jennifer government, american corporations literally rule the world.
Characters are no longer passive and powerless citizens, but teens who are empowered, fearless, strong, and determined to find a way to survive and face their fears. Jennifer is so named because she works for the government employees take their last names from their employers. I just loved the book and devoured it in a few days, then went and read syrup. Jennifer government was optioned by steven soderbergh and george clooneys now defunct. Max barry is the author of syrup and jennifer government. Jennifer government, a witty outlook on modern consumerism. Published in 2003, it is barrys second novel, following 1999s syrup. Its like something conceived of by a gang of fidgety fourteen yearold boys who dont have the patience to work out any one idea and so switch back and forth and all over, just looking for bigger explosions and more unlikely events.
Jennifer government came out in 2004, and it has references to vcrs, talks about cell phones like theyre exotic and special, and the networking capabilities in the book are hilariously outdated. Apr 25, 2018 not everyone in the us government at the time even opposed apartheid in south africa. Strangelove barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make h. Legal was going to come down on natures springs like a. Hack first heard about jennifer government at the watercooler. Goodreads members who liked jennifer government also liked. It served as a solid reminder that the book was meant to be alterateearth, not nearfuture.
We take out 10 customers, make it look like ghetto kids, and weve got street. In barryus twisted, hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations and employees take the last name of the companies they work for. Max barry takes us on a great ride through a bitterly absurd future where corporations are so influential as to virtually replace governments. Rupi kaur didnt necessarily start a trend and revival of poetry, but it sure feels that way. Max barrys jennifer government unfolds in an australia now annexed by the us. Jennifer government is a novel written by max barry. In a move guaranteed to provide the impetus for many a lawsuit, all barrys characters have forgone use of their surnames in the interest of renaming themselves after their place of workso we have jennifer government, john nike, hack nike, buy mitsui, and billy nra. Set in a dystopian alternate reality in which a united statesdominated global government is controlled by corporate entities, it focuses on the people working to maintain the capitalist system of the society. Max barry, author of lexicon, jennifer government, providence, syrup. The appeal of dystopian novels for teens thoughtco. With a southern touch will renew your faith in the power of love. Syrup now a minor film, jennifer government, machine. Jennifer worth books into tv shows jennifer worths first book in the midwife trilogy, the midwife, has since been adapted for the screen. Im actually drawn now between which one of your books i like better.
Max barry is the author of six novels and the creator of the popular online game nationstates. Strangelovebarry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast. Lexicon, a thriller by max barry the washington post. Like steve aylett, alexander besher, douglas coupland, paul di filippo, jim munroe, jeff noon, and chuck palahniuk, max barry is an author of smartass, punky satire for the late capitalist era. The world the book is set in is definitely in the not too distant future where the world has basically been split into two factions, one led by the usa and then the rest of the world. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read what are the branches of government. The plotting in jennifer government is either painfully transparent or hopelessly over the top. Bubblegum popfuture comedy in which corporations go to war like feudal fiefdoms. A stressedout single mom, corporate watchdog, and government agent who has to rustle up funding before shes allowed to fight crime, jennifer government is holding a closing down saleand everything must go.
She found it when we visited a book swap at morden tube station. You might like similar authors, books, music to jennifer government like max barry. With a barcode tattooed on her left cheek, a past shrouded in mystery and a grudge against john nike, jennifer s one of the book s few surviving representatives of the rule of law. Max barry in barrys twisted, hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations and employees take the last name of the companies they work for. The satirical impulse that barry showed in earlier books like jennifer government 2003 is also present here. Something that maybe has tiny illustrations along with the words. Create a nation according to your political ideals and.
Shes moving out next week sob so she was trying to reduce the number of books she had to pack which resulted in a nice little windfall for me among the new volumes i picked up was a book called jennifer government by max barry. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best novel in the world. Jennifer government is a 2003 novel by max barry about a corporate dystopia where the government is powerless. Its like something conceived of by a gang of fidgety fourteen yearold boys who dont have the patience to work out any one idea and so switch back and forth and all over. She was awarded courtesy of her 2002 book the midwife. And jennifer government, a legendary agent with a barcode tattoo, is a consumer watchdog with a gun. And so we have more books like milk and honey by rupi kaur. The police, like all companies in this new usa have their own. In 2002, i also made nationstates, a political sim website. Jennifer government is by no means a great book, but it sure is an entertaining one. Jan 06, 2004 jennifer government is set in the near future, where global corporations rule the world, the government is a largely ineffectual annoyance to them, and the police and national rifle association are guns for hire. Jennifer is a single mom and a government agent who has to get funding before she can fight crime if you want your lost loved one found, or a crime solved, you have to pay the government to do it in this world, the us controls not only the western hemisphere, but also australia, england and. And the dreaded government agent jennifer government is after him. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best nov.
Barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast. The novel is set in a dystopian alternate reality in which most nations now controlled by the united states are dominated by forprofit corporate entities while the government s political power is extremely limited. It was a big deal back then because people were like, an author using the internet for selfpromotion, no way. Find books like jennifer government from the worlds largest community of readers. Create a nation according to your political ideals and care for its people. Syrup now a minor film, jennifer government, machine man, company. Some people say all the characters in the story are stupid, flat and unlikeable.
Jennifer government is set in the near future, where global corporations rule the world, the government is a largely ineffectual annoyance to them, and the police and national rifle association are guns for hire. He lives in melbourne, australia, with his wife and two daughters. Jennifer herself is a government agent trying to track down the hapless hack nike, a whitecollar worker unwittingly involved in nikes latest guerrilla marketing campaign, which involves gunning. Jennifer government by max barry, 9781400030927, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Since 2000, dystopian novels for teens have retained the dismal, dark setting, but the nature of the characters has changed. The novel is set in a dystopian alternate reality in which most nations now controlled by the united states are dominated by forprofit corporate entities while the government s 1 political power is extremely limited. Jennifer government lexile find a book metametrics inc. Im max barry, author of lexicon and jennifer government. It should be as well know as handmaids tale or brave new world or 1984. Perhaps shes just the first one to take off and sell gazillions of books. The third book could be the charm for this talented writer if he can consider leaving the satiric hijinks behind and do. Jennifer government vintage contemporaries and millions of other books are. School library journal adult books for young adults winner.
A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is. Jennifer government is set in the near future, where global corporations rule the world, the government is a largely ineffectual annoyance to them, and. Probably a true young adult novel primarily appeals to teen readers, like. Jennifer worth awards on october 2009, jennifer worth clinched the mothers naturally award, in the category of the outstanding book of 2009.
Strangelove barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast. Bbc culture why the handmaids tale is so relevant today. His book, machine man, initially was an online serial, but has since been updated and published in 2011 by vintage books. Jennifer government is a somewhat intelligent and thought provoking look at the dark side of capitalism that sucessfully avoids what could potentially be a serious and severe mood setting by frosting the plot in sheer hilarity. Free delivery worldwide on over 20 million books we use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Max barry, quote from jennifer government it was turning into a sly, antifree market statement, and irony irritated him. It looks like we dont have any quotes for this title yet. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer governmentis the best novel in the world ever. Max barry presents a chilling yet comical view of what our future could hold. Jennifer blake, heather graham and diana palmer, wellloved voices of romance fiction, bring you three new stories of sultry southern romance. Lists that contain jennifer government by max barry goodreads.
The novel is set in a dystopian alternate reality in which most nations now controlled by the united states are dominated by forprofit corporate entities while the governments 1 political power is extremely limited. Jan 06, 2004 a stressedout single mom, corporate watchdog, and government agent who has to rustle up funding before shes allowed to fight crime, jennifer government is holding a closing down saleand everything must go. A really great book i do not know why jennifer government is not more famous. Billy nra is finding out that life in a private army isnt all snappy uniforms and code names. Hack first heard about jennifer government at the water cooler. Buy a cheap copy of jennifer government book by max barry. Legal was going to come down on natures springs like a ton of shit, you could. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. A lot of books i read have felt to me like the ending sort of pops out from. Jennifer government, maxx barrys second book after the equally wellwritten syrup, is a fun fast read, interweaving different characters and points of view. Jennifer government is a wonderful writin novel with all the twist and humor weve come to expect in max barrys stories.
Hot on the trail of john nike, an executive from the land of marketing, is agent jennifer government, the consumer watchdog from hell. Max barrys jennifer government unfolds in an australia now annexed by. Anyway, jennifer government is a book i would have liked to read in high school. A novel by max barry 2003, cd, abridged at the best online prices at ebay. Jul 10, 2019 since 2000, dystopian novels for teens have retained the dismal, dark setting, but the nature of the characters has changed. Goodreads members voted jennifer government into the following lists. Jennifer government, well, works for the government. Corporations run the show in this twisted commercial world. In max barrys 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. This is one of my favourite books ever and i dont give a fishing damn if.