Boots Riley

This book was packed in with McSweeney's #48, but I'm reviewing it separately. I have to say, it's the star of the show. Written by Boots Riley, the lead vocalist for the 'political hip-hop' group The Coup, it's a screenplay about an African-American man named Cassius Green who gets a job as a telemarketer for the "WorryFree" corporation, which offers lifetime employment and security to the masses, but with hidden downsides. Cassius gets really good at his job after taking a tip to use his 'white voice', and soon finds himself torn between his friends and ascending in what is almost exclusively a white man's world.

I loved this book. The points Riley makes while satirizing capitalism and race relations are heavy, but he doesn't do it in a heavy-handed way. It's light, smart, and funny. I loved the dialogue. There is an interesting science-fiction/futuristic/absurd bent to it which reminded me in tone of Soviet writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (in a good way, if you're not familiar with them). It had great pace and editing - to the point, and without a bit of unnecessary action. Definitely worth buying #48 specially for, and I only wish I knew a Hollywood producer who I could foist this upon, after first slapping the banana daiquiri out of his hands.… (more)