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. He also maintains a blog on various topics, including politics. He spent most of his years being a miserable marketer for hewlettpackard before he became a novelist. He is the author of the cult hit syrup, although he spelled his name maxx for that novel, because it seemed like a funny joke about marketing, and i failed to realize everyone would assume i was a pretentious asshole. Aged thirty, he hails from melbourne, australia where he lives comfortably with his wife, jennifer. Barry is also the creator of nationstates, a game created to help advertise jennifer government that eventually evolved into its own online community. Barry s brutally funny satire hits all the right notes of absurdity, pathos, and romance. Prior to his writing career, barry worked at tech giant hp. Max barrys satire is set in a ralph nader nightmare. Dont be frightened by the dark nature of the material in a postcolumbine, post911 world.
Max barry is the author of numerous novels, including company, machine man, and lexicon. Jennifer government by max barry read by michael kramer. He lives in melbourne, australia, with his wife and two daughters. Max barry is a gifted and highly imaginative writer, no doubt about it, and, i thoroughly enjoyed a more recent novel of his, machine man, about a man who replaces his own limbs with supercharged prosthetics, but this novel, jennifer government, although it comes highly recommended and even spawned interest from hollywood unfortunately. Mar 31, 2020 max barrys providence sees the fourstrong crew of an aicontrolled spaceship shot into deep space to take part in a war against a reptilian extraterrestrial species nicknamed salamanders. Listen to jennifer government audiobook by max barry, narrated by michael kramer. The book jennifer government was advertised with the game, it being loosely based on the novel and from the same creator. Oct 17, 2002 listen to jennifer government audiobook by max barry. Hot on the trail of john nike, an executive from the land of marketing, is an agent jennifer government, the consumer watchdog from hell. Jennifer government san diego county library overdrive. Jennifer government by max barry author michael kramer narrator. Jennifer is so named because she works for the government employees take their last names from their employers. 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. Max barry is an australian, for which he apologizes.
Jennifer government is the second book of his that ive read the first being lexicon and it has only reinforced my perception of him, his ideas and his writing. 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. You wont find any deep insights here, but you will certainly get a few laughs and a sharpeyed look at americas consumerism. Max barry is the author of syrup and jennifer government, in development to become a motion picture with george clooney and steven soderberghs section eight films. Michael kramer in max barrys hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american coporations, and employees take the last names of the companies they work for. In max barrys twisted, hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations. Barry is also the creator of nationstates, a game created to help advertise jennifer government that eventually evolved. Jennifer government by max barry 1220 words 123 help me. In max barry s hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations, and employees take the last names of the companies they work for.
Syrup now a minor film, jennifer government, machine man, company. Published in 2003, it is barry s second novel, following 1999s syrup. Its the nearfuture in the australian territories of the u. Jun 04, 2006 max barry fans wont want to miss this novel. Jennifer government is a catch22 for the new world order, a satire both broad and pointed, deeply funny and disturbingly ontarget. Hes one of those writers that makes other writers think, thats brilliant. Jennifer government audiobook abridged listen instantly. Strangelove barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to. 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. Read a chapter excerpt from jennifer government at. Claustrophobia and isolation lead to tensions on board, while the ship itself, almost godlike in its indifference to the people within, pursues its. So you have characters such as john nike, hayley mcdonalds and of course jennifer government. Jan 31, 2007 max barry is the author of syrup and jennifer government, in development to become a motion picture with george clooney and steven soderberghs section eight films.
You really feel yourself connecting with the characters. Max barry is a gifted and highly imaginative writer, no doubt about it, and, i thoroughly enjoyed a more recent novel of his, machine man, about a man who replaces his own limbs with supercharged prosthetics, but this novel, jennifer government, although it comes highly recommended and even spawned interest from hollywood unfortunately left me disappointed and shaking my head at a missed opportunity. 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. 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. A couple months ago i emailed max a greedy proposition. Listen to jennifer government by max barry available from rakuten kobo. Max seems to have a particular hateon for the nra because those characters are consistently both violent and incompetent. Max barry s satire is set in a ralph nader nightmare. Jennifer government by max barry overdrive rakuten. Thoughts on government full audiobook greatest audio books duration. Jennifer government king county library system overdrive. He was born on march 18, 1973, and lives in melbourne, australia, where he writes fulltime, the. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet.
A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is. In max barrys twisted, hilarious and terrifying vision of t. In max barry s twisted, hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations except for a few deluded holdouts like the french. In barrys world, hostile takeovers mean real war between rival companies.
Max barry is the author of numerous novels, including jennifer government, company, machine man, and lexicon. To ask other readers questions about jennifer government, please sign up. When he published his first novel, syrup, he spelled his name maxx, but subsequently has used max. Within the first few chapter of jennifer government, the reader will notice a unique style of narration. This is an entertaining satire best read in a few sittings.
Max barry s writing style is spare to a faultso spare that parts felt more allegorical than narrative. The new york times book may be the most fun youll find in a bookstore this year. The police and the nra are publicly traded security firms, and the u. Max barry is one of todays brightest and most promising young writers that the world has seen. Jennifer government is an investigator who is trying to expose a conspiracy to kill innocents. Jennifer government ebook by max barry rakuten kobo. Acclaimed shortstory writer and editor of the world fantasy award nominee three messages and a warning eerily envisions an american society unraveling and our borders closed offfrom the other sidein this haunting and provocative novel that combines max barrys jennifer government, philip k. In max barrys hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations, and employees take the last names of the companies they work for. 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. Jennifer government is the best novel in the world ever. He is also the developer of the online nation simulation game nationstates. A sometime in the near future the power of the government has been supplanted by business, and surnames reflect a persons employment. Barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast.
A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best nov. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and. 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. It was a big deal back then because people were like, an author using the internet for selfpromotion, no way. Max barry is the author of six novels and the creator of the popular online game nationstates.
Four days away from launch and jennifer governments all over my ass. 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 political power is extremely limited. The story line lacks any real depth and the characters are plastic cutouts at best. The title character is a very static character, well developed, and fun. From the ingenious author of jennifer government and lexicon. Browse max barrys bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. People name themselves after the company they work for, and the unemployed are easily identifiable by their lack of surnames. Read jennifer government by max barry available from rakuten kobo. Hack first heard about jennifer government at the watercooler. 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. It wasnt until around 2008 that i actually saw a copy in a library and decided to read it.
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. In some ways, max barrys jennifer government is like the inverse of orwells 1984. The irreverent author of the cult classic syrup hits his target in this satire on the wages of big capital. Barrys brutally funny satire hits all the right notes of absurdity, pathos, and romance. A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, jennifer government is the best novel in the world ever. Download or stream jennifer government by max barry. The police and the nra are publiclytraded security firms. 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.
If you find and correct errors in the text, please update the. Jennifer government audiobook by max barry rakuten kobo. New york times notable book borders original voices finalist. Feb 05, 2004 jennifer government was more intriguing to me based on the world it creates than the actual plot it follows.
Max barry born 18 march 1973 is an australian author. Full of wit, humor and imagination, jennifer government ultimately pulls off its overthetop conceit. Jennifer government guess where she works must help our hero trap his nemesis and other assorted evil ceos and stop the madness before too many people are killed. Jennifer government is a novel written by max barry. The entire world except france is run by big business, and the term corporate conscience remains an oxymoron. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Listen to jennifer government audiobook by max barry. 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.
In 2002, i also made nationstates, a political sim website. 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. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. In max barry s twisted, hilarious vision of the near future, the world is run by giant american corporations. Max barry uploaded and added to favorites 8 years ago 11. Jennifer government by max barry image of armadillo in a penguin suit holding up a sign that says moo by camajama aka amanda. Strangelove barry unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast. Bubblegum popfuture comedy in which corporations go to war like feudal fiefdoms. Oct 17, 2002 in some ways, max barry s jennifer government is like the inverse of orwells 1984. Published in 2003, it is barrys second novel, following 1999s syrup. In barry s world, hostile takeovers mean real war between rival companies. Its a fastpaced thriller and the whole conception of government and human rights marginalized by capitalism is remarkable.