(3) DOUGLAS COUPLAND –

GENERATION X (1991)

“Kind of scary, kind of sexy, tainted by regret. A lot like life, wouldn’t you say?”

Popularized the term Generation X with its title, as well as numerous other neologisms.

McJob – “a low-pay, low-prestige, low-dignity, low-benefit, no-future job in the service sector. Frequently considered a satisfying career choice by people who have never held one”.

Or ‘veal-fattening pens’ for office cubicles. Or ‘pull-the-plug, slice-the-pie’ for the “fantasy in which an offspring mentally tallies up the net worth of his parents”. I wonder if my mother still pops in here – hi, Mum!)

Essentially a latter day Canterbury Tales on the eve of the second millennium – a framed narrative of a story-telling contest by a group of youths of the titular generation and varying dysfunction.

POETRY (DRAMA)

No poetry ranking as he hasn’t written any poetry, although he does get lyrical in his prose. He does earn a drama ranking as he has written screenplays – although ironically not for this novel, which would seem to be eminently suited to stage at least.

FANTASY & SF (COMEDY)

Coupland hovers on the edge of fantasy and SF – at least in some of the stories his characters tell here. While not the most comedic entry in this top ten, he does have a dry comedic style.

RATING: 5 STARS*****
S-TIER (GOD-TIER)