Selling LipService

by Tammy Baikie

I was one of them - just as stroke-stricken, equally lost for words. We were as kinbled as our brain MRIs pinned up, on the wall of the ward. Each one with an almost identical inkblot lesion - a black mark against our names and the naming of all things.'

Since coming of haemorrh-age, Frith must wear a LipService patch to write or speak. The words the patch produces are not her own. Scripted by copywriters, they promote one sponsoring brand or another. With them, 'You' - a voice in her head that is the patch's brand persona and her conformist alter ego - appears.Through the noise of You talking a variety of different LipService brands, Frith struggles to find her way back to speaking for herself. She believes her tastures - her ability to taste things she touches - are the key. But other elements of this consumerist society are equally interested in tastures for commercial gain.

Genres: Speculative Fiction

184 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an amazing - and challenging - read. The dexterity with which Baikie plays with language is both dazzling and intriguing. I cannot imagine anyone being brave enough to translate it, but guarantee that if anyone does then numerous academic papers and short dissertations will be written on that process and the result/s. The narrative is dense and compelling and deserves - or demands - to be read more than once. I would have liked to care more about the characters, but the fact that it is hard to empathise with them seems to be a direct effect of the particular use of language. This is no ordinary book and not easy to read, but worth the effort.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already the winner of one prize, and under consideration for another, Baikie's book is a scintillating exploration of language, the idea of popular culture, commercialisation, the body and the senses. It is one of a new generation of dystopic fiction coming out of South Africa, and in its inventiveness and prose is, perhaps, better than the work of Lauren Beukes, and comparable to the speculative fiction coming out of Australia. It is definitely worth a read for anyone who enjoys a challenging read that works on many levels.

[Andy – And The Plot Thickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating debut by the winner of the Dinaane Debut Fiction Award.

This speculative fiction novel is set in a world in which language and speaking are regulated, and have become commodities. In this world, when someone turns 18, they undergo a 'haemorr-age' when there is a cut between the brain and the ability to speak. In order to communicate, people wear transdermal patches that are sponsored by various corporates. The language contained within various patched are written by copywriters so whenever someone opens their mouth to speak, it is inevitably in a way that will promote that particular brand.

The protagonist, a young woman called Frith, is trying to rebel against this. She wants to speak in her own voice, the voice she can hear in her head. Knowing that the consequences can be deadly, Frith risks everything in order to rid herself of 'You', the voice of the brand that drowns out her own.

This book is comparable to Lauren Beukes' "Moxyland", George Orwell's "1984" and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World".

Baikie is a translator by profession and her relationship to language shows. Baikie creates the most marvelous portmanteau like "lexicool" and "ebrangelist" in a story that is a brilliant commentary on brand culture, consumerism and semiotics.

[Lost in a Good Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever, phenomenal book which richly deserves the award it received. Baikie does tend towards a more cerebral word-play in this novel, which I personally felt blunted the emotional connection a little, but it's really a small gripe in a work which is so accomplished. Some revealing social truths, very cleverly explored. An excellent debut! I look forward to more of Tammy Baikie's remarkable, creative, insightful work.

[Fatima Sarder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Speculative fiction - A study in ways expression can be stifled.

The book made me do mental gymnastics and I only wonder about the author's fertile imagination and wit in creating this piece. Not only the setting (rife with brand consumerism and suppressing thought and natural expression) but the prose - while not purple per se, is delightfully heavy in alliteration and made up words.

It was a challenge to read and I sympathize with the main character who longs for unfiltered language and experiences and despite her hardships, embarks on it. In a novel rich with novel descriptions - the main character's timeless quest keeps the reader anchored.

[Nkhensani]

Put this down at 38%

It was an interesting concept: a world ruled by copywriting, marketing and an ominous kind of "brand loyalty". I just couldn't concentrate long enough to really get immersed in the story.

Maybe I'll read the last few chapters, to see how this ends.

For creativity alone, however, I'm okay with giving this a 3.5

[Mkittysamom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about Words yet it reminds me of George Orwell’s 1984, because of the corporations and surgeons that are competing to rule the world. No one can speak freely, they have to use “branded speech”. Great example of consumerism going waaay tooo far! The ending confused me.. I felt like this was an intellectual book as sometimes I strained to look up words. But then also.. words were made up too because of the ban on words. I swear the book explains it way better than me and is also more interesting. I just got lost figuring out what the conclusion was or if it was a book where nobody wins.. and we all run off the rails.. which is depressing.. So I enjoyed the beginning and the budding romance while it lasted..*traitor*
I wish that the Scapel selling theatre was described better.. that part I couldn’t tell if the words were made up to sound latin like or they were real. Getting used to so many different types of “brand speak” was hard. But I felt that I got the gist of the story. Probably a book I’ll need to read Again because the world building was pretty awesomely (not a word lol) detailed. Anyways if you are looking for a bizarre book about where the future is taken over by business and things get all f*cked Up.. this is right up your alley and specifically if you like words.