At first I didn’t enjoy this book much. I felt none of the characters were particularly sympathetic and it kept jumping from one to the other too quickly. As the book went on though, I got into it more and found the fast pace enjoyable. It’s a very witty book. I particularly liked how the names worked on a number of levels.

I heard this book was going to be made into a movie and I think it will make the transition well. In keeping with its theme, the style is rather Hollywood—big events with lots of explosions, plenty of action. Yet at the same time it manages to ask some interesting questions about where society is heading.

I felt the epilogue was fitting, but perhaps a little unnecessary.

All in all, I quite enjoyed it.

The first 40-or-so pages (section 1, basically) sets up the world of capitalism run amok. It’s brilliant. The rest of the book was disappointing as it flits among different scenes in an odd plot involving too many characters. As much as I reveled in the humor of the first part, I found the second part tedious and unfunny.

Max Barry’s other book, Syrup, is far better and more consistent.

Great story. Well structured. A page turner.

It could be written better, but I liked it. Some interesting ideas, for sure.

Rating: 3*/5

I’m completely hooked. the writing isn’t all that amazing, but I love the speculation about corporate america. very much worth reading.

Not very exciting or memorable. (7/27/04)

Bought on the way to catch a train; viral marketing works. Tell your friends. Not a very good book, though – some entertaining ad-absurdum sketches of a corporate future, but the writing and dialogue is all horrible teenage-sci-fi-writer Duplo.

I enjoyed this book. It’s a futuristic book with a sense of humor. Although, if one thinks about the way society is going, it can be a kind of sad book.