{"product_id":"so-you-wanna-run-a-country-9781636141602","title":"So You Wanna Run a Country?","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Holohan's prose pops and crackles as he combines an outlandish yet convincing vision of a tech-dominated future reminiscent of William Gibson with the wry wit of Neil Gaiman, and the result proves exceedingly funny . . . Holohan's silly dystopia, replete with ridiculous place names (\"Newer York\" and \"Grander Central Station\") and winking acronyms (\"Consumer-Responsive Unscripted Drama\"), strikes an utterly enjoyable medium between \u003cem\u003eFuturama\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eInfinite Jest\u003c\/em\u003e . . . A raucous, engrossing, unsettling whirlwind of a story that is as disarmingly novel as it is disturbingly familiar.\" --\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e \u003cem\u003eSo You Wanna Run a Country?\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e is a satirical parable of the perils of authoritarianism, nationalism, and device-dependent group-think. After almost a century of being shut off from the rest of the world in self-imposed isolation, the neo-medieval statelet of Inner Azhuur suddenly volunteers to host the next season of the global streaming sensation \u003cem\u003eSo You Wanna Run a Country?\u003c\/em\u003e The producers must now assemble the next crew of unqualified misfits whose ineptitude as they attempt to run the country will entertain millions across the globe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom Newer York, where homelessness has been rebranded as a lifestyle choice, come our two heroes: Mooney, a vagabond who has pledged his fate to Captain Dude, a mysterious statue attached to a skateboard; and Wendy, a Wall Street rebel on the run. Cast as Regent of Inner Azhuur and Consort to the Regent respectively, they are joined by Skid, a failed Dubliner musician eager to escape his job as a staged street gang member in a fake Glasgow tourist site. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArriving to Inner Azhuur, these three encounter a world of antiquated and indecipherable customs, all meant to return Inner Azhuur to some perceived former glory. As the reality show unfolds, our misfits become enmeshed in a mad power grab of overweening global ambition and find themselves in a struggle against the all-too-real, ruthless, and sinister power brokers of Inner Azhuur. Holohan's mischievous literary voice is sure to please fans of cyberpunk greats like Philip K. Dick and William Gibson. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Akashic Books, Ltd.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50618286604562,"sku":"9781636141602","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7c23e705-1547-4222-b045-0c80f0ba9950.jpg?v=1732530355","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/so-you-wanna-run-a-country-9781636141602","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}