George Saunders-"The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil"
Riverhead Trade
September 6, 2005

This is an interesting look at conformity and manipulation from a very eccentric mind. Inner Horner is so small that only one person can stay there at a time, leaving the other five in the neighboring Outer Horner until it is their turn to stay in their own country (everyone stays in Inner Horner for one day at a time). When Phil, who holds a grudge against them, decides to tax them unfairly after Inner Horner shrinks even smaller, he uses his powers of bullying, persuasion and manipulation to get what he wants. When the Inner Hornerites try to fight back, things only get worse.

While this is a great premise (despite the Divine Intervention ending) and a very thought provoking novella, parts of it are just too out there. People are made out of tuna cans, have several mustaches, have brains that fall off and go through some ridiculous and unbelievable things that take the reader away from the story a bit. Its still a compelling read, but I'd rather have a little normalcy with the characters.

Written by: RF
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