Jennifer Government

Speculative fiction is at its best when demonstrating the consequences of carrying a set of beliefs all the way to their logical conclusion. Max Barry’s second novel shows us what we could really get from an unrestricted free market. In this economy, employees take corporate names as their own, and if one can’t pay for a road good enough to drive on or afford a government investigation of a child’s murder, well, too bad. The Police (privatized) and the NRA both take contracts and provide muscle, and consumers are more loyal to their brands than to their families. The title character is on a quest for justice against murderous John Nike, but she’s hamstrung by the for-profit, privatized government she serves. A funny and amazing read that’ll make you think twice about donning a logo for any reason.