Do you ever feel like your job is so central to your being that you might as well take your company name as your last name? Do you ever stop to think how many companies know exactly how many six-packs of beer you've bought in the past year, where you've traveled, and what books you read while you were there?
If you haven't thought about it, Max Barry has. In his fast-paced novel Jennifer Government, Barry speculates about a world where the government is just another business, the NRA and the police serve as justice-for-hire, and corporations are free to kill customers to create a demand for their products.
Enter Hack Nike: lowly merchandising specialist at... you guessed it... Nike Corporation. One day he's approached for a lucrative job higher up the ladder, signs his new contract and BINGO! He discovers his first task in his new position is to kill ten teenagers who buy the newest Nike shoes in order to create a buying frenzy for the $2500-a-pair sneakers. Hack's got himself a conscience, which is dangerous in this brave new world, so he goes to the police about the matter. The trouble is, they want the job. They tell him he can go to the NRA, but that really, the Police are the best bargain for hit jobs. But the police subcontract it to the NRA anyway.
Hack's girlfriend, Violet, is a computer programmer who has created a brilliant virus that she wants to sell for millions of dollars. Her problem? A mega-corporation wants to launch the virus on its biggest competitor's computer network, but it doesn't want to pay Violet for it. And when Violet plots her revenge, things don't go as planned.
To say that Barry paints a cynical view of the future of the world would be an understatement. But the good news is: all is not lost. The future does feature people with ethics and consciences. People still protest globalization at fast-food restaurants, and some still believe in the value of the simple joys in life.
Barry's pacing gets a bit too fast at times, and you almost feel like you're not really reading the book, but skimming over it like a water-skier on the surface of a rough river. But if you're in the mood for a fun, engaging story, bet on Barry to deliver.
