The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil
In a profoundly strange country called Inner Horner, large enough for only one resident at a time, citizens waiting to enter the country fall under the rule of the power-hungry and tyrannical Phil, setting off a chain of injustice and mass hysteria. An Animal Farm for the 21st century, this...
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In a profoundly strange country called Inner Horner, large enough for only one resident at a time, citizens waiting to enter the country fall under the rule of the power-hungry and tyrannical Phil, setting off a chain of injustice and mass hysteria. An Animal Farm for the 21st century, this is an incendiary political satire of unprecedented imagination, spiky humor, and cautionary appreciation for the hysteric in everyone. Over six years in the writing, and brilliantly and beautifully packaged, this novella is Saunders' first stand-alone, book-length work—and his first book for adults in five years. From the author of Tenth of December...
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Format: paperback
ISBN:
9781594481529 (1594481520)
Publish date: September 6th 2005
Publisher: Riverhead Trade
Pages no: 130
Edition language: English
I have a feeling if I'd read this as part of a collection, I would have liked it more. I'm pretty fond of Saunders' work, generally, and I see that this is equal to some of it. Somehow, though, the mere fact that it has been published as a book on its own made me expect something . . . more? . . . d...
The story is on the light side even with the political satire behind it, but I'll be damned if it wasn't a hilarious read.
The first (and title) story in this collection was fascinating. Completely unique and with a real point, well made. It's about opression, balance of power, xenophobia and everything that goes with it. READ the first story! Unfortunately it all goes a bit to pot after that. Some intersting point...
Overly-obvious political parable featuring six inhabitants of an increasingly impoverished and minuscule nation. My favorite part was the Kellerites and their Enjoyment statistics. My least favorite aspect was meanie Phil's falling-out brain.
I've been wanting to read something by Saunders for a couple of years now, ever since interviewing him when he was planning a local appearance for an annual literary festival. Sadly, I had no idea who he was at the time and expect I made a bit of an ass of myself in the interview. It was during that...