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Product Description
Book Description
The ad man sets his sights on the gravy train that is Venus: unconquered and waiting to be populated by Earth's capitalist-driven consumers.
Product Description
It is the 20th Century, an advertisement-drenched world in which the big ad agencies dominate governments and everything else. Now Schoken Associates, one of the big players, has a new challenge for star copywriter Mitch Courtenay. Volunteers are needed to colonise Venus. It's a hellhole, and nobody who knew anything about it would dream of signing up. But by the time Mitch has finished, they will be queuing to get on board the spaceships.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I first read this book twenty years ago and have just re-read it. It was written in the early fifties and describes what could arguably be described as the inevitable consequences for society of capitalism. Frederick Pohl, having been an advertising copywriter, writes in a simple style which suits his subject matter perfectly. Basically, the advertising agencies rule the world - 2 advertising agencies to be precise. In order to be a part of society, and there is enormous pressure to be so, you have to be a "good consumer" - buying and becoming addicted to whatever the agencies sell to you. The "baddies" are the consies - conservationists who endeavour to fight this most terrifying system where wood is the most valuable commodity as there is hardly any left. I have often thought what a good film this would make, but then having read the book again I realise that nobody in our 'system' would be brave enough! I can't recommend this book highly enough.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
After appearing as a serial titled "Gravy Planet" in "Galaxy Science Fiction" from June through August in 1952, "The Space Merchants" by Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth was published in book form in 1953. Today the work is clearly regarded as a classic, and its satirical look at what society would look like in a future where consumerism becomes the major driving force is both humorous and a bit profound in terms of how close we have come to it.
There were few awards back in 1952 so it is not too surprising that "The Space Merchants" didn't win the first Hugo when measured against Bester's "The Demolished Man", but it is a little surprising that it wasn't considered for the International Fantasy award in 1952 when Kornbluth's much inferior "Takeoff" was one of the nominees, or in 1953 when "The Demolished Man" was considered and lost out to Sturgeon's "More Than Human". Perhaps it is the humorous premise on which the future society is based, and/or the light-hearted feel of the narrative which resulted in the work not gaining favor with those who select which works are worthy of consideration for awards. It was the fans who first recognized the book with the Astounding/Analog polls of 1956 where it tied for 22nd on the list of books, and in 1966 where ten years later it still finished 22nd on the list of books, and in 1975 when the Locus poll where it was tied for 24th for all-time novel. That is a pretty impressive feat to finish in roughly the same spot in polls taken over a twenty year period.
The story is told from the point of view of Mitch Courtenay, an employee in the Fowler Schocken advertising agency and a star-class copysmith. Mitch receives a promotion to take on the job of selling Venus to people, an account which Schocken has stolen from his rival Taunton. Mitch is in love with Dr. Kathy Nevin, but is having difficulty convincing her that they should stay together. There is also the illegal political group, the Consies (short for conservationists) who threaten the consumerism-based framework of the society.
Mitch's promotion and new project have him targeted by someone to be killed, and if that is not enough he is kidnapped and his identity stripped and he is placed in a position from which he might never escape. He is forced to create his own game to escape, gain his life back, and take on not only his own personal and professional enemies, but deal with the entire conflict between the Consies and society. The book is not all that long, and the pace is quite fast, but what a great ride it is from beginning to end.
There were few awards back in 1952 so it is not too surprising that "The Space Merchants" didn't win the first Hugo when measured against Bester's "The Demolished Man", but it is a little surprising that it wasn't considered for the International Fantasy award in 1952 when Kornbluth's much inferior "Takeoff" was one of the nominees, or in 1953 when "The Demolished Man" was considered and lost out to Sturgeon's "More Than Human". Perhaps it is the humorous premise on which the future society is based, and/or the light-hearted feel of the narrative which resulted in the work not gaining favor with those who select which works are worthy of consideration for awards. It was the fans who first recognized the book with the Astounding/Analog polls of 1956 where it tied for 22nd on the list of books, and in 1966 where ten years later it still finished 22nd on the list of books, and in 1975 when the Locus poll where it was tied for 24th for all-time novel. That is a pretty impressive feat to finish in roughly the same spot in polls taken over a twenty year period.
The story is told from the point of view of Mitch Courtenay, an employee in the Fowler Schocken advertising agency and a star-class copysmith. Mitch receives a promotion to take on the job of selling Venus to people, an account which Schocken has stolen from his rival Taunton. Mitch is in love with Dr. Kathy Nevin, but is having difficulty convincing her that they should stay together. There is also the illegal political group, the Consies (short for conservationists) who threaten the consumerism-based framework of the society.
Mitch's promotion and new project have him targeted by someone to be killed, and if that is not enough he is kidnapped and his identity stripped and he is placed in a position from which he might never escape. He is forced to create his own game to escape, gain his life back, and take on not only his own personal and professional enemies, but deal with the entire conflict between the Consies and society. The book is not all that long, and the pace is quite fast, but what a great ride it is from beginning to end.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is amazing. It is a keen satire on the rise of advertising and rampant consumerism, writen nearly 50 years ago.
Fair enough, the ending is slightly limp but the whole story and the vivid characterisation, (lovely use of the unsympathetic protagonist), all add up to a really fantastic read. It isn't boring, I could have finished it the day I started if I hadn't been doing anything else.
If you like astute well writen intellegent and exciting fiction (science fiction or otherwise) you'll like this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The best of SF?
I am not usually a reader of science fiction, but I was persuaded to read this book because it was described as one of the best of its kind. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Brian R. Martin
Very prescient story
The authors wrote a book in the 1950's whose main point on consumerism seems more true than even.
People who are not good consumers, are not good citizens and are shunned by... Read more
People who are not good consumers, are not good citizens and are shunned by... Read more
Published 9 months ago by AlexisB
Short and sweet - 4.5 stars!
The Space Merchants is a superb little novel that can be enjoyed relatively quickly by all ages. It is a fast-paced, lesser-known book that is rightly part of the SF Masterworks... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2006 by A. Morley
Alright, but not really my thing
This book was OK, but I probably found it one of the least of the enjoyable of the 'SF masterworks' series. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2003 by Johnny London
Excellent Criticism of Modern Consumer Society
Like the title of this review says the book is excellent. It is a critic of modern society but it avoids politicizing the issue and just makes some thoughtful remarks. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2003 by Luke Diaz
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