This is a hipster book: it cloaks itself in words of profundity, what appear to be "big" concepts to those who think Ayn Rand is philosophy, and allusions to greats like Pynchon, but really it's a lengthy comic book acting out in linear fashion a convoluted but transparent premise, all designed to get you to buy into this guy's off-the-shelf "perspective" on the world. Ruff isn't a thinker, although he does a good job of embellishing this transparent plot, and this book isn't designed to bring you new information as much as gather around those who already agree. It reminds me a lot of T. Coraghessen Boyle, who writes rambling "funny" (not really) books that try through intricacy to obscure the literal political commentary that they are, but fail. This book does so similarly. It's smarmily clever, yet despite all its attempts to appear profound, shallow as a recent puddle. Even for those who like postmodern literature it's hard to argue this book brings learning, or experience, or even a good read to the table. Avoid.

Folks expecting a discourse on Objectivism will be disappointed, but this is a fun zany book nonetheless. The sheer imagination of the author is amusing, as you try to decode how all the subplots are going to come together. By the last third of the book, however, the novely wears off, but the author picks up the pace and put in some interesting action to keep reader's interest, though much of the ending is a bit too convenient for my taste. Not an intellectual tour de force, but if you don't get too serious, it will pay you back handsomely in fun.

Brilliant! Genocide, electronic slaves, eco-crusaders, the politics of power, social responsibility...how do you construct a novel with all these elements without frightening or boring your reader to death? Matt Ruff knows: a true artist. He extends reality to the point of what is seemingly fantastic; but, is it really? Probably not; however, the flow of Ruff's lyrical writing style and excellent comic relief empowers the reader with a sense of hope. All I can say is... WOW!!! This is a must for anyone's personal library. A rating under 4 doesn't do this book justice. I've given it a 5.

PS: FOTH is a very different book but another great example of Ruff's amazing talent.

update: 6/20/06
I originally wrote my review in 2002 and just realized this book is no longer available on Amazon. Although I still have my old copy, I wanted another clean, unhandled copy for safekeeping. This was an amazing book and I simply can't understand why everyone does not have a copy of it.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

With a Kalashnikov.

More than once.

Think about it. How many of these Amazon[.com] reviewers, in the limited time and space available to tell the world what they thought of this book, chose to highlight the fact that it makes fun of Ayn Rand? If this book was so great, or so funny, you'd think they'd have found something *original* to say about it. Oh, wanting the book to be original...must have been reading too much Ayn Rand, ha ha.

Go back a few years, to _The Fountainhead_, and read Ellsworth Toohey's views on humor.

I didn't think the book was funny.

This novel defies classification. It is part SF, part satire, but all very readable and enjoyable. It is thought-provoking but doesn't beg to be taken seriously, and certainly not literally.
For the objectivists in the crowd, I recommend it for those who thought *Atlas Shrugged* was gospel when they read it in college, but who are now ready to begin questioning Ayn Rand's philosophy.