Official Review: Politics by Other Means by Adam Fitchett
Posted: 30 Dec 2013, 13:11
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Politics by Other Means" by Adam Fitchett.]
This is a review for Politics by Other Means, a short story/novelette by Adam Fitchett. It is a satirical, fictional story regarding the warring governments of capitalist Great Britain and communist “Gritania” (most likely Russia). The author has also written the story Allerednic, but I have not read it.
This story completely makes fun of the modern political system, regardless of the type of government. It ridicules their leaders, their many irrational decisions, and the seemingly mundane reasons that start attacks and wars. Since it’s such a short story (I received a PDF with 29 pages), I’m going to try as much as possible to avoid any spoilers.
General Thackworth of Great Britan is interrupted on his casual chicken cannon-throwing and shooting afternoon by the Foreign Secretary, Fred (or is it Phillip?), to arrange a meeting with General Bolkarov (or Bollocksoff) of The People’s Republic of Gritania, and try and achieve a peace treaty. Obvioulsy, it can only mean disaster for one country, the other, or both.
My Reaction
When I read the first page, I laughed out loud. It is blatantly ridiculous, but that’s what makes the story brilliant. Every word, descriptive phrase, adjective-you name it-has a purpose. I can assume that the author has no regard or respect for his, or any other, government, because there is no clear “good guy”: both are led by incompetent fools with no real care for the people they lead.
Issues that can be crucial in the minds of these people are: custard creams, bathing in the garden, height, undercover gay lovers and secret Chinese takeout, to name but a few. The people have short tempers and memories, and no capability of correctly remembering names.
Politics by Other Means reminded me a little bit of Catch-22, in the sense that it was satirical in every word and chapter. As a deeply sarcastic person, I could really enjoy it. I’ve always enjoyed short stories (mainly since high school) and this one hit the right spot. It was funny, and it made fun of everyone just the right way.
My Rating
I give Politics by Other Means a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I really found no flaw in the story (other than that the author mistakenly wrote you’re when it was supposed to say you on the first page of the second chapter), and found it brilliant. I recommend it to everyone, especially people with a special love for sarcasm.
***
Buy "Politics by Other Means" on Amazon
This is a review for Politics by Other Means, a short story/novelette by Adam Fitchett. It is a satirical, fictional story regarding the warring governments of capitalist Great Britain and communist “Gritania” (most likely Russia). The author has also written the story Allerednic, but I have not read it.
This story completely makes fun of the modern political system, regardless of the type of government. It ridicules their leaders, their many irrational decisions, and the seemingly mundane reasons that start attacks and wars. Since it’s such a short story (I received a PDF with 29 pages), I’m going to try as much as possible to avoid any spoilers.
General Thackworth of Great Britan is interrupted on his casual chicken cannon-throwing and shooting afternoon by the Foreign Secretary, Fred (or is it Phillip?), to arrange a meeting with General Bolkarov (or Bollocksoff) of The People’s Republic of Gritania, and try and achieve a peace treaty. Obvioulsy, it can only mean disaster for one country, the other, or both.
My Reaction
When I read the first page, I laughed out loud. It is blatantly ridiculous, but that’s what makes the story brilliant. Every word, descriptive phrase, adjective-you name it-has a purpose. I can assume that the author has no regard or respect for his, or any other, government, because there is no clear “good guy”: both are led by incompetent fools with no real care for the people they lead.
Issues that can be crucial in the minds of these people are: custard creams, bathing in the garden, height, undercover gay lovers and secret Chinese takeout, to name but a few. The people have short tempers and memories, and no capability of correctly remembering names.
Politics by Other Means reminded me a little bit of Catch-22, in the sense that it was satirical in every word and chapter. As a deeply sarcastic person, I could really enjoy it. I’ve always enjoyed short stories (mainly since high school) and this one hit the right spot. It was funny, and it made fun of everyone just the right way.
My Rating
I give Politics by Other Means a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I really found no flaw in the story (other than that the author mistakenly wrote you’re when it was supposed to say you on the first page of the second chapter), and found it brilliant. I recommend it to everyone, especially people with a special love for sarcasm.
***
Buy "Politics by Other Means" on Amazon