Set twenty minutes into the future, the united states has become a globespanning corporate empire including the western hemisphere except cuba, the british isles, south africa, india, japan and australia, a recent acquisition where most of the book takes place. Jennifer government is an ah book where anarchocapitalism runs rampant. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best novel in the w. In some ways, max barry s jennifer government is like the inverse of orwells 1984.
With its political, philosophical, and personal allegories, i believe jennifer government puts max barry into an elite league of fiction writers along with the likes of orwell. Download or stream jennifer government by max barry. Anyway, jennifer government is a book i would have liked to read in high school. If you find and correct errors in the text, please update the. 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. In max barrys twisted, hilarious and terrifying vision of t.
Young authors new book jennifer government headed for big screen a talk with max barry. Jennifer government audiobook by max barry rakuten kobo. Within the first few chapter of jennifer government, the reader will notice a unique style of narration. I just loved the book and devoured it in a few days, then went and read syrup. Max barry focuses strongly on the use of political satire plot of his story while using a unique style of third person limited point of view to bring about a story of deceit, and scandal. There are a lot of real company names and trademarks in this book, most in situations you are unlikely. 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 the future, max barry envisions a future max barrys second novel, jennifer government, is a wild ride through the near future, when american consumerism and culture have consolidated much of the world under a single government.
Lexicon won the alex award, not jennifer government. 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. Bubblegum popfuture comedy in which corporations go to war like feudal fiefdoms. In usa countries, we respect individual rights and let people do whatever they want. The us, now dominated by a cabal of totalitarian companies, controls the americas, the pacific islands, japan, south korea, india, south africa, new zealand and australia. Buy jennifer government by barry, max from amazons fiction books store. Jennifer government by max barry fantastic fiction. Its set in the near future where things have gone loopy, but instead of an out of control, totalitarian government oppressing everyone, its uncontrollable megacorporations and hypercapitalism or, one could argue, hyperlibertarianism thats ruining everyones day. And lexicon has sex and death and horror and is quite a lot less goofy than jg, which just goes to show those things dont. There are a lot of real company names and trademarks in this book, most in situations you are unlikely to see on the covers of any annual. Jennifer government by max barry, 9780349117621, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Max barry 1973 is the author of five novels, including lexicon, the new york times notable book jennifer government, and syrup, now a film starring amber heard. It wasnt until around 2008 that i actually saw a copy in a library and decided to read it. In some ways, max barrys jennifer government is like the inverse of orwells 1984.
Its a fastpaced thriller and the whole conception of government and human rights marginalized by capitalism is remarkable. The world the book is set in is definitely in the not too distant. People name themselves after the company they work for, and the unemployed are easily identifiable by their lack of surnames. New york times notable book borders original voices finalist. The eponymous jennifer government works for the government, hack nike works for nike, etc. The pace of modern advancements in biotechnology, information. Jennifer government by max barry penguin random house audio. About the author max barry is an australian, for which he apologizes. Strangelovebarry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast.
Barry is also the creator of nationstates, a game created to help advertise jennifer government that eventually evolved into its own online community. Jennifer government is a 2003 novel by max barry, a dystopic tale of a corporate run world. So you have characters such as john nike, hayley mcdonalds and of course jennifer government. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best novel in the world ever. You really feel yourself connecting with the characters. Max barry, author of lexicon, jennifer government, providence, syrup, machine man, and company max barry writes novels, creates web things, runs, and coaches kids netball. 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. Max barry born 18 march 1973 is an australian author. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and. Strangelove barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast. Jennifer government is a novel written by max barry. Born on march 18, 1973, max barry is known for his debut novel syrup. Max barrys 2003 novel jennifer government was a spectacular, and terrifyingly possible, nearfuture dystopia of corporate overreach and government impotence. He spent most of his years being a miserable marketer for hewlettpackard before he became a novelist.
Hack first heard about jennifer government at the watercooler. Awards john w campbell memorial award best novel nominee. 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. The premise of max barrys novel is that a secret society of poetshas refined a language system that can compel another human being to do whatever the society wishes. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. In countries like france, where the government isnt privatized, they still have to pay tax and do whatever the government says, which would really suck. He also maintains a blog on various topics, including politics. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Is it simply a random arrangement of numbers, or does it have meaning. Jennifer government is a 2003 novel by max barry about a corporate dystopia where the government is powerless.
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. Hayley mcdonalds and of course jennifer government. While reading, i read something which made me think. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Download jennifer government audiobook by max barry. Jennifer government is a 2003 science fiction novel by australian author max barry. Max barry, author, patrick frederic, read by, read by patrick frederic. Jennifer government ebook by max barry rakuten kobo.
When he published his first novel, syrup, he spelled his name maxx, but subsequently has used max. He is the creator of the online political simulation game nationstates, for which he is far more famous among high school students and polisci majors than his novels. Max barry is one of todays brightest and most promising young writers that the world has seen. He lives in melbourne, australia, with his wife and two daughters. 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. Jennifer government by max barry 1220 words 123 help me. Barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast. The rule of capitalizm makes for a somewhat unusual world. The book jennifer government was advertised with the game, it being loosely based on the novel and from the same creator. The new york times book may be the most fun youll find in a bookstore this year. In max barrys twisted, hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations except for a few deluded holdouts like the french. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it.
Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Jennifer government was more intriguing to me based on the world it creates than the actual plot it follows. The police and the nra are publiclytraded security firms. Read jennifer government by max barry available from rakuten kobo. In max barrys twisted, hilarious vision of the near future. In addition to being an extremely funny writer, it appears max barry is a bit prophetic. Full of wit, humor and imagination, jennifer government ultimately pulls off its overthetop conceit.
Published in 2003, it is barrys second novel, following 1999s syrup. Oh i dont know, is the margaret alexander edwards alex award for young adult novels. Listen to jennifer government by max barry available from rakuten kobo. Jennifer government vintage contemporaries series by max barry. Jennifer government by max barry overdrive rakuten. Max barry is the author of six novels and the creator of the popular online game nationstates. Barrys cartoonish characters and comic book chase scenes dont allow for. Listen to jennifer government audiobook by max barry. Dear max barry, after visiting i decided to read your book, jennifer government. Jennifers daughter goes to a school run by mattel making for a barbieparadise, the nra americas favourite gungho gungroup is an even more significant player in this society, and crimes. Jennifer government, maxx barrys second book after the equally wellwritten syrup, is a fun fast read, interweaving different characters and points of view. Its set in the near future where things have gone loopy, but instead of an out of control, totalitarian government oppressing everyone, its uncontrollable megacorporations and hypercapitalism or, one could argue, hyperlibertarianism thats ruining everyones. He is a published novelist and has also taught corporate marketing at two universities in australia. Lexicon, a thriller by max barry the washington post.