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Raise the Gipper!
At the August 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Republican delegates are in open mutiny against their party's own nominee, and many of the pledged delegates are refusing to vote for Mitt Romney on the first ballot, because of three important
1) they don't feel he adequately represents their conservative views,
2) they feel that a dull gazillionaire has no real chance in November,
3) they'd rather work at an old folks home cleaning underwear by chewing it.
Then Dr. Bayle Brazenydol, political guru deluxe and extreme, presents them with an alternative ... their dream candidate ... a man who is perfectly what they want except for three little
1) The candidate has already had two terms as president
2) The candidate happens to be very, very dead
3) Dr. Brazenydol himself is secretly controlled by a monstrous alien bent on taking over the Earth and devouring every living thing.
Will Brazenydol's scheme bring the Mitt Mutiny to fruition, denying the world's dullest rich dork in a suit a chance to complete a really great résumé?
Or will the convention perceive in time that it is better to be dull than evil?
And what of the forces trying to stop him?
Joe and Aura are both nice young political activists, friends united by a love of cats, pizza, and a good argument – and that's a good thing because he's a hustling young Tea Party activist and she's a passionate Occupier.
Can family values, old-fashioned courtship, and affection defeat politics, media, the internet, and the forces of evil?
Can true love find a way through evil space bats, a zombie Reagan, a tricky Rosicrucian, the arms of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum in a cheap wig, a gigantic moose-grinder, and vast amounts of pink slime?
Can Joe and Aura do all that with only the help of a stressed out grad student, two complacent cats, and a first-rate waiter? Or is it going to take divine intervention?
The clock is ticking.
But then, they do that, you know. If you wind them. They tick.
To take your mind off that clock, you might want to read this book.
1) they don't feel he adequately represents their conservative views,
2) they feel that a dull gazillionaire has no real chance in November,
3) they'd rather work at an old folks home cleaning underwear by chewing it.
Then Dr. Bayle Brazenydol, political guru deluxe and extreme, presents them with an alternative ... their dream candidate ... a man who is perfectly what they want except for three little
1) The candidate has already had two terms as president
2) The candidate happens to be very, very dead
3) Dr. Brazenydol himself is secretly controlled by a monstrous alien bent on taking over the Earth and devouring every living thing.
Will Brazenydol's scheme bring the Mitt Mutiny to fruition, denying the world's dullest rich dork in a suit a chance to complete a really great résumé?
Or will the convention perceive in time that it is better to be dull than evil?
And what of the forces trying to stop him?
Joe and Aura are both nice young political activists, friends united by a love of cats, pizza, and a good argument – and that's a good thing because he's a hustling young Tea Party activist and she's a passionate Occupier.
Can family values, old-fashioned courtship, and affection defeat politics, media, the internet, and the forces of evil?
Can true love find a way through evil space bats, a zombie Reagan, a tricky Rosicrucian, the arms of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum in a cheap wig, a gigantic moose-grinder, and vast amounts of pink slime?
Can Joe and Aura do all that with only the help of a stressed out grad student, two complacent cats, and a first-rate waiter? Or is it going to take divine intervention?
The clock is ticking.
But then, they do that, you know. If you wind them. They tick.
To take your mind off that clock, you might want to read this book.
- GenresFiction
211 pages, ebook
First published April 20, 2012
20 people want to read
About the author
John Barnes
258 books198 followersJohn Barnes (born 1957) is an American science fiction author, whose stories often explore questions of individual moral responsibility within a larger social context. Social criticism is woven throughout his plots. The four novels in his Thousand Cultures series pose serious questions about the effects of globalization on isolated societies. Barnes holds a doctorate in theatre and for several years taught in Colorado, where he still lives.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bar...
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bar...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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November 23, 2021Speculative fiction with aliens, magic and supernatural forces. Set during the 2012 US presidential election year. Conservative Republicans are dissatisfied with the pending GOP nomination of Romney. Evil aliens are controlling certain humans in their efforts to dominate humanity, then destroy Earth and eat people's souls. As part of their plan, they arrange to convince a group of conservatives that they need to agree to have the Devil reanimate Ronald Reagan to become the GOP nominee. The alien's plan is to actually entrap the conservatives while having a Reagan robot be the candidate. But other forces make a change which results in a Reagan zombie instead...
The book depicts aspects of political polarization and makes fun of some aspects of counter-cultural liberals and conservatives, presenting more political satire of the conservatives.
It's a short, entertaining book.
The book depicts aspects of political polarization and makes fun of some aspects of counter-cultural liberals and conservatives, presenting more political satire of the conservatives.
It's a short, entertaining book.
April 4, 2013
Raise the Gipper by John Barnes.
I think a lot of people fantasized about having different options to vote for last election, especially on the republican side, where it seemed like their primary consisted of a desperate plea to find the “anybody but Romney” candidate. Set during the 2012 Republican National Convention, “Raise the Gipper” offers what might have been, if they had access to dark forces and extra dimensional aliens.
As republicans lament their choices, Dr. Bayle Brazenydol gives them what they really want: A chance to have their dream candidate, not a new Ronald Reagan, but the original one in the resurrected flesh. Zombie Reagan, or as he prefers, a “room temperature risen American”, immediately takes control of the convention and literally pushes Romney out the door. Commentators on Fox News are ecstatic and quick to overlook minor details like 1) He’s dead and 2) Having already served two terms as president; Reagan is ineligible to run again.
Of course Brazenydol isn’t what he seems. He’s one of the Faceless Ones, ancient beings from another dimensional bent on destroying humanity. But is Zombie Reagan here to help them in their plan or does he have plans of his own? And will Nancy return his calls?
Opposing Zombie Reagan and the Faceless Ones are Joe, a Tea Party conservative, and Aura, a self-described witch and member of the Occupy Movement. Despite their political differences, Joe and Aura are friends, living in the same apartment building and having bonded over their mutual love of their cats. Helping Aura is a carpenter named Jessie who is also dating Aura’s roommate.
“Raise the Gipper” is a light, relatively short novel full of political satire. While it does poke fun at democrats and liberals, the focus is clearly on the republicans. Some of the best scenes involve Newt Gingrich making the mistake of tell Reagan, “The best thing I can offer your campaign is my brain,” a pregnant Rick Santorum, and a hapless aide who has to explain to Sarah Palin that “literally” doesn’t mean, “figuratively, but more intense.” There’s a lot of fun here.
The main weakness of the book is that the ostensible protagonists are almost superfluous. They spend more time watching events unfold on TV than taking action and even when they’re in the thick of things, they’re often little more than observers. Plus, there never is any mystery surrounding Jessie’s real identity.
Still, the political humor is what sells this book, with the best satire on par with The Daily Show or a good Saturday Night Live sketch. If you like political satire that reads like a love child of H. P. Lovecraft and George Romero, I’d recommend picking this one up.
I think a lot of people fantasized about having different options to vote for last election, especially on the republican side, where it seemed like their primary consisted of a desperate plea to find the “anybody but Romney” candidate. Set during the 2012 Republican National Convention, “Raise the Gipper” offers what might have been, if they had access to dark forces and extra dimensional aliens.
As republicans lament their choices, Dr. Bayle Brazenydol gives them what they really want: A chance to have their dream candidate, not a new Ronald Reagan, but the original one in the resurrected flesh. Zombie Reagan, or as he prefers, a “room temperature risen American”, immediately takes control of the convention and literally pushes Romney out the door. Commentators on Fox News are ecstatic and quick to overlook minor details like 1) He’s dead and 2) Having already served two terms as president; Reagan is ineligible to run again.
Of course Brazenydol isn’t what he seems. He’s one of the Faceless Ones, ancient beings from another dimensional bent on destroying humanity. But is Zombie Reagan here to help them in their plan or does he have plans of his own? And will Nancy return his calls?
Opposing Zombie Reagan and the Faceless Ones are Joe, a Tea Party conservative, and Aura, a self-described witch and member of the Occupy Movement. Despite their political differences, Joe and Aura are friends, living in the same apartment building and having bonded over their mutual love of their cats. Helping Aura is a carpenter named Jessie who is also dating Aura’s roommate.
“Raise the Gipper” is a light, relatively short novel full of political satire. While it does poke fun at democrats and liberals, the focus is clearly on the republicans. Some of the best scenes involve Newt Gingrich making the mistake of tell Reagan, “The best thing I can offer your campaign is my brain,” a pregnant Rick Santorum, and a hapless aide who has to explain to Sarah Palin that “literally” doesn’t mean, “figuratively, but more intense.” There’s a lot of fun here.
The main weakness of the book is that the ostensible protagonists are almost superfluous. They spend more time watching events unfold on TV than taking action and even when they’re in the thick of things, they’re often little more than observers. Plus, there never is any mystery surrounding Jessie’s real identity.
Still, the political humor is what sells this book, with the best satire on par with The Daily Show or a good Saturday Night Live sketch. If you like political satire that reads like a love child of H. P. Lovecraft and George Romero, I’d recommend picking this one up.
May 21, 2012
Raise the Gipper is crazy, perceptive political satire, and if you’re going to buy it, you should buy it now because I have the feeling that it might just be about what’s happening in US politics right now. As a not-particularly-interested-in-politics Australian, who knows little about the US system and even less about the actual candidates, a lot of the subtlety of this book is lost on me. Nevertheless I found it a delightful tale of a reanimated president, a couple on different sides of politics who are falling in love despite their ongoing political arguments, a couple of possible vice president nominees and their spouses and Josh who is, well, Josh. This book made politics a lot more interesting than it actually is, at least for me.
I’m guessing that Americans will find it hilarious. Some of the writing reminded me of that wonderful British farce, Yes Minister, where politicians and their minions make long speeches that go around and around and never actually say anything. I particularly enjoyed Reagan’s thought processes and his relationship with his minions –yes, he’s back, deader than ever and very, very hungry.
The book is well written. I recommend it for everyone interested in US politics, give it 4 stars (though if I were more politically aware, it would probably be 5) and a place in the Awesome Indies listing.
I’m guessing that Americans will find it hilarious. Some of the writing reminded me of that wonderful British farce, Yes Minister, where politicians and their minions make long speeches that go around and around and never actually say anything. I particularly enjoyed Reagan’s thought processes and his relationship with his minions –yes, he’s back, deader than ever and very, very hungry.
The book is well written. I recommend it for everyone interested in US politics, give it 4 stars (though if I were more politically aware, it would probably be 5) and a place in the Awesome Indies listing.
July 1, 2016
Ridiculously silly and fun political satire (aimed more at the GOP, but liberals and the Dems get skewered regularly too) revolving around the 2012 Republican National Convention that in a number of ways may actually be even more relevant to the current election cycle. If Barnes ever writes another book in this vein I'd love to see what he makes of Donald Trump.
June 5, 2012
A delightful romp. Here is Barnes being both political and cheery. Lovable characters, and he even made me sympathize with Rick Santorum!
March 1, 2013
Very silly, very fun. A bit of Barnes' obligatory depravity, but the real problem is Barnes' complete failure to reconcile true believer nice guy Tea Party Joe with the loudly evil GOP.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews