King John of Canada
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Book Overview
A hilarious political satire in the tradition of Mordecai Richler. This is a funny, biting political satire set in the not-too-distant future. A series of minority governments, and endless Quebec referendums (designed to lose narrowly, to keep the money coming) have left Canada almost ungovernable. When the Governor General resigns in disgrace and the House of Windsor implodes in London, a media baron launches the idea of a Canadian king or queen elected by lottery. It starts as a joke -- except that the lucky winner, King John, a bright and charismatic guy from Toronto, knows exactly what people want. Soon Quebec is gone, while Toronto's surprise bid to leave Canada is averted by shifting his official residence, the new seat of power, to the Toronto waterfront. Many good things happen, and the politicians go along for the ride. And the blockades of Native lands are ended for good, after John is heroically wounded keeping the peace at risk to his life. His popularity soars and Canadian morale soars with it. Soon the rest of the world is taking notice of this model leader. In the United States, the blue states look enviously northward. Then Canada's king, ignoring assassination threats, goes on a formal visit to Washington. . .
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0771033095
ISBN13:9780771033094
Release Date:February 2007
Publisher:Douglas Gibson
Length:322 Pages
Weight:1.42 lbs.
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Excellent & biting Political Satire
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I found the book an enjoyable read. It cut to the chase of the political malaise that is Canada, and did so by introducing a character that by chance - literally, a lottery - and his own timing and intuition, changes (fictional) Canadian history. The story is all told after the fact, by an involved observer, and thus we have the device of "foreshadowing" used throughout the read, but still- what a read! For instance, it seems "un-Canadian" to consider inviting the entire natio to vote on Quebec separation, or calling the First Nations bluff.(Canadians wouldn't dream of calling them what Amercians call them - "Indians") It could never happen - our politic persona is too apologetic and fearful of giving offence even when it is called for, but in this story a series of fateful twists allow Canada to become the Nation it deserves to be. Kudos to Scott Gardiner for this novel, and for the glass of water tossed into not only into the face of the Saudi prince, but into all "political correctness".
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