The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil
by George Saunders
On This Page
Description
Welcome to Inner Horner, a nation so small it can only accommodate one citizen at a time. But when Inner Horner suddenly shrinks, forcing three-quarters of the citizen in residence over the border into Outer Horner territory, the Outer Hornerites declare an Invasion in Progress, having fallen under the spell of the power-hungry and demagogic Phil. So begins his brief and very frightening reign.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
A short, sharp, strange satire, by a master of short, sharp, strange satire. The nation of Inner Horner is so small that only one person can stand inside it at a time, while the country's remaining handful of citizens, waiting their turns inside, crowd around its edge in the tiny section of the large, comfortable surrounding country of Outer Horner where their presence is temporarily tolerated. Then Inner Horner suddenly shrinks, the guy inside gets pushed out a bit, and come on, can this invasion be allowed to stand? Phil doesn't think so, and who wouldn't want to rally around Phil? Sure, his brain tends to fall out a lot, literally, but every time that happens, he just sounds more impressive!
This was published in 2005, and no doubt it show more was incisive and relevant then, with its commentary about xenophobia, self-aggrandizing leaders, and the exploitative treatment of the have-nots by the haves, but hooooooo boy does it feel even more so now. Hey, look, it's a guy who wants to build a border wall, and someone who was never elected by anybody taking a country for everything it has while crowing about how great he is and how much he's helping, and the gleeful embrace of the idea that truth is whatever those in power say it is, and... and... and, and. It's all utterly surreal and absurd, and yet it's so close to reality that it's actually a bit difficult to find it funny. Which is a pity, because it is also very funny.
Rating: Right now, today? 4.5/5 show less
This was published in 2005, and no doubt it show more was incisive and relevant then, with its commentary about xenophobia, self-aggrandizing leaders, and the exploitative treatment of the have-nots by the haves, but hooooooo boy does it feel even more so now. Hey, look, it's a guy who wants to build a border wall, and someone who was never elected by anybody taking a country for everything it has while crowing about how great he is and how much he's helping, and the gleeful embrace of the idea that truth is whatever those in power say it is, and... and... and, and. It's all utterly surreal and absurd, and yet it's so close to reality that it's actually a bit difficult to find it funny. Which is a pity, because it is also very funny.
Rating: Right now, today? 4.5/5 show less
I wish I could say that I didn't understand this, or found it obscure, or thought it exaggerated beyond what it had to be. I wish I could say that, entertaining as it is, it isn't something which we should need to worry about--or, worse, be aware of--on a daily basis. I wish I could say that it isn't, as the blurb describes, 'an Animal Farm' for our times. I wish that, reading it now, I didn't feel like Saunders was not just offering warning, but prediction, back when he wrote this.
And, yet.
If this is a difficult read, it's because it feels too real and raw, too much like what seems to be unfolding in too many parts of our world and even on the news, crossing our television screams. In fact, it's a bit too raw to be entertaining or show more humorous, and a bit too hard to be boring. When this was published, had I read it then, I think I might have been bored or annoyed with it, or simply not enjoyed it, and read it and then forgotten about. Reading it tonight, none of those things were possible, though it's still true that I didn't quite enjoy it. I devoured it in the way that one can't quite help reading some things, and it was a painful experience. It is a painful experience, as it should be, because it's quite a bit more real and graceful than anyone would wish. show less
And, yet.
If this is a difficult read, it's because it feels too real and raw, too much like what seems to be unfolding in too many parts of our world and even on the news, crossing our television screams. In fact, it's a bit too raw to be entertaining or show more humorous, and a bit too hard to be boring. When this was published, had I read it then, I think I might have been bored or annoyed with it, or simply not enjoyed it, and read it and then forgotten about. Reading it tonight, none of those things were possible, though it's still true that I didn't quite enjoy it. I devoured it in the way that one can't quite help reading some things, and it was a painful experience. It is a painful experience, as it should be, because it's quite a bit more real and graceful than anyone would wish. show less
George Saunders’ short stories are brilliant. This is a novel of equal brilliance. In a place called Outer Horner a being named Phil whose brain tends to dislodge maneuvers himself into a position of prominence by manufacturing a security and border crisis at the expense of the already beleaguered residents of the neighboring Inner Horner.
Saunders excoriates the type of post 9/11 worldview that devalues people and ignores human rights in the name of national security. The media also gets spanked, including a media rep who “realized he was presenting his personal views as the objective view of the media and asked his question more ethically, by asking it out of the mouth near his rear.”
Saunders excoriates the type of post 9/11 worldview that devalues people and ignores human rights in the name of national security. The media also gets spanked, including a media rep who “realized he was presenting his personal views as the objective view of the media and asked his question more ethically, by asking it out of the mouth near his rear.”
The most remarkable thing about George Saunders’ “The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil” is that he is able to carry it off with such aplomb. And he manages it without devolving into giddiness. Rather, he is serious. Deadly serious. As perhaps all satirical allegory must be. But to “people” his satire with such fanciful creatures as the Outer and Inner Hornerites is truly inspired.
As ever, Saunders is a master of voice. His periodically (and literally) brainless Phil slips into stentorian xenophobia every time his brain falls out. Fortunately his aides re-insert his brain in quick order to keep him, roughly, sane, or at least sane enough to be getting on with. If his brain stays out too long though he risks the loss of his show more principal asset, his words. It is a delight to see Saunders play with this, even as he constrains the voices of the all-too-constrained Inner Hornerites. Likewise the curving linguistic arcs of the Greater Kellerites match their geographic constraints.
Was there ever any doubt that a deus ex machina would come in at the end and set things (almost) to rights? Of course there was. But Saunders makes the reshaping hands of the Creator seem almost natural. All too soon Phil’s brief and frightening reign is little more than a memory. Not that any lesson has really been learned, at least not permanently.
Briefly and frighteningly recommended. show less
As ever, Saunders is a master of voice. His periodically (and literally) brainless Phil slips into stentorian xenophobia every time his brain falls out. Fortunately his aides re-insert his brain in quick order to keep him, roughly, sane, or at least sane enough to be getting on with. If his brain stays out too long though he risks the loss of his show more principal asset, his words. It is a delight to see Saunders play with this, even as he constrains the voices of the all-too-constrained Inner Hornerites. Likewise the curving linguistic arcs of the Greater Kellerites match their geographic constraints.
Was there ever any doubt that a deus ex machina would come in at the end and set things (almost) to rights? Of course there was. But Saunders makes the reshaping hands of the Creator seem almost natural. All too soon Phil’s brief and frightening reign is little more than a memory. Not that any lesson has really been learned, at least not permanently.
Briefly and frighteningly recommended. show less
"What Al is trying to say?" said a second Advisor, who had three identical smiles, one beneath the other on his perfectly round face. "Is that he is not, by pulling you aside like this and denying that the President is growing ever more batty, implying in any way that the President is in fact growing ever more batty."
Absolutely," said the mirror-faced Advisor. "That is ex-actly what I am not saying. And furthermore, I am also not saying that we should work together to ensure that the en-tirely false news of the President's alleged recent battiness not travel beyond these walls. On the contrary, I encourage you to think and say whatever you like, once you leave here, bearing in mind, please, that a weak, infirm, half-crazed President show more would not at all be the worst thing that could happen to a country that finds itself threatened by a hostile bordering power."
"If we had that sort of President," said the very smiley Advisor.
"Which we don't," said the mirror-faced Advisor.
"Unless you notice that we do," said the very smiley Advisor.
"In which case we might," said the mirror-faced Advisor.
"We could discuss that," said the very smiley Advisor.
Surprisingly, this satirical novella was published in 2005. Maybe the author had a prophetic dream. show less
Absolutely," said the mirror-faced Advisor. "That is ex-actly what I am not saying. And furthermore, I am also not saying that we should work together to ensure that the en-tirely false news of the President's alleged recent battiness not travel beyond these walls. On the contrary, I encourage you to think and say whatever you like, once you leave here, bearing in mind, please, that a weak, infirm, half-crazed President show more would not at all be the worst thing that could happen to a country that finds itself threatened by a hostile bordering power."
"If we had that sort of President," said the very smiley Advisor.
"Which we don't," said the mirror-faced Advisor.
"Unless you notice that we do," said the very smiley Advisor.
"In which case we might," said the mirror-faced Advisor.
"We could discuss that," said the very smiley Advisor.
Surprisingly, this satirical novella was published in 2005. Maybe the author had a prophetic dream. show less
This is a parable of a strange land, populated by even stranger people - the land is called Outer Horner, and within its boundaries, a country called Inner Horner is set. Inner Horner is small - it can only hold one citizen at a time (although it is quite scenic with an apple tree and a small stream) - So, when the boundary of Inner Horner suddenly decreases in size, now only fitting 1/4 of a resident, Outer Horner takes action... Its a strange story, about politics, narrow-mindedness, jealousy, strength, everything that makes a democracy run. The ending is quite odd, I'm not entirely sure what to make of it, but the ending makes it feel like a scene from the Lego Movie, with the world being manipulated by a God-Like Creature
But all in show more all, its a cute, fast read. show less
But all in show more all, its a cute, fast read. show less
I would give this book lots more than 5 stars, if they were available in Goodreads' rating system.
It is so short that to describe it would almost be to re-write it. But I was hooked at the very first page. It should be made into a movie, a cartoon, a billboard, a meme, an inspirational poster . . . you get my drift. Laugh out loud satire, appropriate for ages from toddler to grandma, that should make us all continually look closely at ourselves and our thoughts about others.
It is so short that to describe it would almost be to re-write it. But I was hooked at the very first page. It should be made into a movie, a cartoon, a billboard, a meme, an inspirational poster . . . you get my drift. Laugh out loud satire, appropriate for ages from toddler to grandma, that should make us all continually look closely at ourselves and our thoughts about others.
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Books Read in 2023
5,638 works; 147 members
To Read (Prospector)
86 works; 1 member
Top Five Books of 2023
767 works; 317 members
Books Read in 2024
4,727 works; 128 members
Author Information
50+ Works 25,490 Members
George Saunders is the author of CivilWarLand in Bad Decline and Pastoralia. (Publisher Provided) George Saunders was born in Amarillo, Texas on December 2, 1958. He received a bachelor's degree in geophysical engineering and a master's degree in creative writing from Syracuse University. He is a professor at Syracuse University and a writer of show more short stories, essays, novellas, and children's books. He won the National Magazine Award for fiction in 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2004 His books include CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, Pastoralia, The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, In Persuasion Nation, and Tenth of December: Stories, which won the inaugural Folio Prize in 2014. His debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, received the Man Booker Prize in 2017. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Notable Lists
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil
- Original publication date
- 2005; 2005-09-06
- People/Characters
- Phil; Freeda
- Dedication
- To Joe and Sheri Lindbloom, brilliant teachers, beautiful friends.
- First words
- It's one thing to be a small country, but the country of Inner Horner was so small only one Inner Hornerite at a time could fit inside, and the other six Inner Hornerites had to wait their turns to live in their own country w... (show all)hile standing very timidly in the surrounding country of Outer Horner.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)She does not find The Phil monstrous, but strangely beautiful, and sometimes sits in the thicket for hours, dreaming, for reasons she can't quite explain, of a better world, run by humble, compressed, ball-shaped people, like her and Sally, who speak, when they speak at all, in short sentences, of their simple, heroic dreams.
- Blurbers
- Pynchon, Thomas; Kakutani, Michiko; Wolff, Tobias
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 981
- Popularity
- 26,977
- Reviews
- 34
- Rating
- (3.51)
- Languages
- English, German, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
- ASINs
- 4
