by Maxx Barry

I had a lot of fun reading this book, even though I breezed through it in just two days. A friend at work, as he was lending it to me, tried to describe it for me and couldn't. I'm not sure I can do much better, but I'll give it a shot: think Elmore Leonard on benzedrine plus a smattering of Tom Robbins.

No, that won't work. Here, let me try something else. See, the lead character's name is Scat. His love interest, who also happens to be his business partner, is named 6. Their nemesis and his ex-roommate is Sneaky Pete. Sneaky Pete's assistant is @. (Yes, her name is @.) They all work, in one form or another, for Coca-Cola. The book revolves around their attempts to climb the corporate ladder while, as often and as treacherously as possible, stabbing each other in the back.

Okay, okay. It's a satire. A dystopian view of corporate culture and general marketing sleaziness.

Umm, get the idea?