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The Space Merchants (The Space Merchants, #1)

Frederik Pohl

Start date: July 1, 2013

Finish date: July 30, 2013

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: Pickle

Why we're reading this: Group Classic Discussion July 2013
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Apr 17, 2017 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi, 1audio, 2fiction

A satire of the future where commercialism is king, the raison d'etre. Unfortunately, the 1950s vibe set several centuries in the future & heavy-handed treatment made it too slapstick for me most of the time. Also, the main character (certainly no hero) was just too conveniently clueless & brilliant too often. It was well narrated, so I stuck through it & had a few laughs that I'm not sure the author intended. For instance, the blatant sexism is leavened by the obvious superiority of one of the ...more

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Dec 09, 2009 Carlex rated it really liked it

Briefly, I will tell you about my happy rereading of this science fiction classic. I read it about thirty years ago and I can say that my fond memories are justified.

We are closer to this future of the 22nd century that the authors describe in this novel (written in 1952): we are temporally closer, of course, but we are even closer because of our consumer society and the degraded environment that it describes.

Curiously, the book is written in a comedy style, even with some hilarious moments. Eve ...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: have-ebook, read-since-joining-goodreads

This is a satire on the advertising business...sort of "Mad Men" of the future. It was originally published in the 1950s so it is of course a bit outdated. I understand Pohl recently came out with an updated version where he has made some minor changes mostly updating the technology and adding a few more contemporary corporate names like WalMart and Enron. I've also read though that the original 50s vernacular suits the story better.

The book opens with Mitch Courtenay, a "copysmith" in one of t ...more

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