Jennifer Government
by Max Barry · first published 2003
54% recommend46% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Funny dystopian satire of unchecked corporatism, where companies field their own armies and effectively run countries. Suits readers who want a fast, darkly comic take on where corporate power could lead.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In een wereld waarin Amerika volledig geprivatiseerd is, raakt een man betrokken bij een moord en komt in de problemen.
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Max Barry's "Jennifer government" comes close. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Government?wprov=sf...
on “Violating Terms of Use Isn’t a Crime, EFF Tells Court” ↗There was a pretty great book by Max Barry (Jennifer Government, Syrup, Company) called Machine Man[1] that was about this; the main character was an engineer who lost his leg, and decided to build a better one. The whole thing is worth reading for the first chapter…
on “First Bionic Leg to Harness Nerves Allows Mind Control Movement” ↗Oh, never noticed there was new Max Barry since "Jennifer Government"! That was good times, though - I should pick up some more...
on “Ask HN: Sci-Fi novels?” ↗Max Barry's "Jennifer Government" does a much better job of this kind of satire.
on “LPD: Libertarian Police Department (2014)” ↗Thank you. I'll trade you a Jennifer Government by Max Barry (not the same premis just a recommendation, but is also a take on the progression of corporations)
on “Humans in Humans Out: GPT Converging Toward Common Sense in Both Success/Failure” ↗There’s a fun book called Jennifer Government by Max Barry about corporations fielding their own armies and directly controlling countries.
on “Apple Says It Will Exit the UK Market If Government Passes Online Safety Bill” ↗Utopia [1] [2] by (back then) Mehul Patel's Swirve. Apparently it is still going on. Same with NationStates! [3] [4] Max Barry's book Jennifer Government is also decent. [1] https://web.archive.org/web/20000816192919/http://games.swir... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(1998_video_game) [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationStates [4] https://web.archive.org/web/20021208105428if_/http://www.nat...
on “Video Game Websites in the early 00s” ↗I loved Jennifer Government (Max Barry) wayyyy back.
on “Sci-Fi Short Film "There Is No Antimemetics Division" [video]” ↗You should read Jennifer Government.
on “Palantir extends reach into British state as gets access to sensitive FCA data” ↗I recommend "Jennifer Government". Still plenty of violence, but all in the name of PR. And a darn good read.
on “A ‘Grass-Roots’ Campaign to Take Down Amazon Is Funded By Its Biggest Rivals” ↗For a nice satire of this idea, Jennifer Government [0] is a good read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Government
on “Are Index Funds Communist?” ↗Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, Jennifer Government. Also, read through the thread. I saw Neuromancer recommended already :)
on “NSA Official: We Need to Prepare for the Future of War” ↗…funny dystopian novel Jenifer Government [3]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarcera... [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechtsstaat [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Government
on “The origin of the law of torture: A cautionary tale” ↗Not sure if you've read Jennifer Government
on “Apple is threatening to terminate my developer account with no clear reason” ↗You should read Jennifer Government, if you haven't already. :D
on “Car companies will charge you monthly fees for add-on features like heated seats” ↗