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The Corporation
Michelle Dowling found her dream job. The offer on her desk from Corporate Financial Consultants included a high five figure salary, generous benefits and cushy perks. Finally, after a escaping the psychological abuse of an emotionally cold mother and a series of dead-end jobs she could start planning a future with her fiancé, Donald.
However, Michelle forgot the cardinal rule for any job offer; always read the fine print. She really should have gotten more detail about her overtime hours,company policies, and exactly what they meant when they said “Welcome to the Corporate Financial family”.
Michelle isn’t afraid of hard work. She’s a dedicated employee,the kind any manager would want for his firm. But this Corporation requires much more than just dedication...
However, Michelle forgot the cardinal rule for any job offer; always read the fine print. She really should have gotten more detail about her overtime hours,company policies, and exactly what they meant when they said “Welcome to the Corporate Financial family”.
Michelle isn’t afraid of hard work. She’s a dedicated employee,the kind any manager would want for his firm. But this Corporation requires much more than just dedication...
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
10 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Gonzalez
80 books366 followersJesus F. Gonzalez was an American author, primarily of horror fiction (writing under the pseudonym J. F. Gonzalez). He has written many notable novels and has done collaborations with Bram Stoker Award winners Mike Oliveri and Brian Keene. His novel Survivor has been optioned for film.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 17, 2024
Loved it.
Want to read
July 20, 2017This hardcover slipcased edition is copy 89 of 150 produced and is signed by J.F. Gonzalez.
August 27, 2014
While I was reading THE CORPORATION, I kept thinking of Bentley Little. This novel is very much in the same vein as Little's books. In fact, I would call it a quasi-blend of THE ASSOCIATION and THE STORE. Gonzalez's novel has that same feel and same dread running through its heart; the mood is paranoia and hopelessness. With all the problems in the recent economy and employees feeling stuck or semi-stuck in jobs they should be "lucky to have", the book can also be considered timely. (Or at least timely when it was published as opposed to when I read it.)
The story follows Michelle Dowling as she finds a dream job at Corporate Financial Consultants: excellent pay, generous benefits and the ability to start planning her future with her fiancé. However, she starts to realize that her new company has its fingers in its employee's personal lives a bit more than normal. And that their control over employees is expanding. Michelle quickly finds herself fighting to maintain her privacy while not knowing who to trust.
While Gonzalez did his regular awesome job with his characters and making them come alive, I found elements of the plot a bit much. The degree of control that Corporate Financial Consultants exhibits over other companies and governments, local and international, was a tad much to believe. While reading it I kept fluctuating between "Oh, come on!" and "Oh, crap!" And of course since the corporation's reach was a bit unbelievable, it meant the climax to the book had to be a bit unbelievable also. It made sense and followed logically and was consistent with everything that Gonzalez wrote, but it was a little convenient despite being so difficult to achieve. All told, this is a solid book and will be enjoyed. I would recommend though that after reading this book, read Bentley Little's THE ASSOCIATION. That will build upon your fears and freak you out completely!
The story follows Michelle Dowling as she finds a dream job at Corporate Financial Consultants: excellent pay, generous benefits and the ability to start planning her future with her fiancé. However, she starts to realize that her new company has its fingers in its employee's personal lives a bit more than normal. And that their control over employees is expanding. Michelle quickly finds herself fighting to maintain her privacy while not knowing who to trust.
While Gonzalez did his regular awesome job with his characters and making them come alive, I found elements of the plot a bit much. The degree of control that Corporate Financial Consultants exhibits over other companies and governments, local and international, was a tad much to believe. While reading it I kept fluctuating between "Oh, come on!" and "Oh, crap!" And of course since the corporation's reach was a bit unbelievable, it meant the climax to the book had to be a bit unbelievable also. It made sense and followed logically and was consistent with everything that Gonzalez wrote, but it was a little convenient despite being so difficult to achieve. All told, this is a solid book and will be enjoyed. I would recommend though that after reading this book, read Bentley Little's THE ASSOCIATION. That will build upon your fears and freak you out completely!
November 5, 2018
The Corporation contains a very interesting premise executed only adequately by the late J. F. Gonzalez, who slips into bloated prose and irrelevant details to pad out the page count here. He also misses a grand opportunity to really get into the horror beneath his thinly veiled swipe at the greed driving corporate America.
I was, in all honesty, hoping for a great deal more with this one. Disappointing.
2 Executive Orders that Will Not Be Denied for The Corporation.
I was, in all honesty, hoping for a great deal more with this one. Disappointing.
2 Executive Orders that Will Not Be Denied for The Corporation.
July 2, 2012
Since meeting JF Gonzales. last Summer, at Horror Saturday, at the York Emporium in the quite community of York, PA, I've gone from never having read one of his books to now posting my 4th review of one of his works.
It all started when I asked what he would recommend for someone new to his writing. His quick recommendation was Primitive which turned out to be one of the best books I read in 2011. Second, only to Stephen King's 11/22/63.
Since that time, also read and reviewed Clickers and Clickers II: The Next Wave, the later co-writen with his friend, Brian Keene. Both excellent escapist fare. And I plan on reading the 3rd and 4th entries in that series before years' end.
Needless to say, when it was time to make the June selection from the Kindle Lending Library through Amazon Prime, and I saw The Corparation was available, I jumped at the opportunity.
The idea of the "corporate Zombie" has been around quite a while. Working in the IT Support field, I see this type all the time. I'll get a call from someone in the company, on vacation, who can't get to their company mail and needs to have problem fixed immediately. My thought at that point is to forget about the company for 5 minutes and go do something fun with your family. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It's evident that JF Gonzalez knows the type, as well. He's just added a few extra elements to take that company-centric mindset and twist it into something more evil or even demonic.
Michelle Dowling is looking to re-enter the work force. She'd rather work as an artist, but when the opportunity comes for her to work for the Corporate Financial Consultancy Group, at a very good wage and unheard of benefits, she's quick to accept the position.
Michelle's boyfriend, Donald Beck, MD, is involved with a solid medical group in the Lancaster, PA area. Neither one of them has any idea about how twisted their lives are about to become.
More and more people are burying themselves in their work, forsaking family, friends and themselves. It's been going on for a very long time, but seems to be more prevalent in recent years, particularly as Corprate Financial takes on more and more clients.
Each story about how companies are coercing workers to do more and more on their own time, bringing them back from Vacations, Sick Days, Retirement and basically keeping them from having a life just made me more and more angry. I had to keep repeating, "It's only a book, it's only a book". But it's really just an extension of what's been happening in the corporate world more and more every year. Do more with less, screw the worker, outsource this to China, outsource that to India. All so the pockets of the CEO, the Board of Directors and the Investors are lined with cash, this at the expense of the working class.
True, The Corporation is a work of fiction and there is certainly an element of the fantastic in JF Gonzalez's story, but it's the ring of truth that adds a good deal of horror to the tale. I dare you to read this and not get more than a little angry about the way things are.
While checking on where you might buy The Corporation, I stumbled over the following quote from JF Gonzalez that I thought was interesting...
"Actually, when I wrote that book, I wasn't consulting (I am now). Much of the background of the book was gleaned from working with consultants and high-end corporate types. And yes, they were like a cult. It was kinda creepy. Much of that mind-set influenced the book, including your personal life, which is a big no-no in my book. I'm constantly surprised by how many times people open their personal lives at work and then are shocked when it slaps them upside the head later when it is used against them for something stupid. I have always made it my mission to never really much of anything about my personal life in any kind of day job I have taken. "
If you want a book that's likely to grab you, shake you, maybe even beat you up at bit, then get your copy of The Corporation from one of my favorite writers, JF Gonzalez. Available in a variety of formats from numerous resources, including Amazon.com.
It all started when I asked what he would recommend for someone new to his writing. His quick recommendation was Primitive which turned out to be one of the best books I read in 2011. Second, only to Stephen King's 11/22/63.
Since that time, also read and reviewed Clickers and Clickers II: The Next Wave, the later co-writen with his friend, Brian Keene. Both excellent escapist fare. And I plan on reading the 3rd and 4th entries in that series before years' end.
Needless to say, when it was time to make the June selection from the Kindle Lending Library through Amazon Prime, and I saw The Corparation was available, I jumped at the opportunity.
The idea of the "corporate Zombie" has been around quite a while. Working in the IT Support field, I see this type all the time. I'll get a call from someone in the company, on vacation, who can't get to their company mail and needs to have problem fixed immediately. My thought at that point is to forget about the company for 5 minutes and go do something fun with your family. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It's evident that JF Gonzalez knows the type, as well. He's just added a few extra elements to take that company-centric mindset and twist it into something more evil or even demonic.
Michelle Dowling is looking to re-enter the work force. She'd rather work as an artist, but when the opportunity comes for her to work for the Corporate Financial Consultancy Group, at a very good wage and unheard of benefits, she's quick to accept the position.
Michelle's boyfriend, Donald Beck, MD, is involved with a solid medical group in the Lancaster, PA area. Neither one of them has any idea about how twisted their lives are about to become.
More and more people are burying themselves in their work, forsaking family, friends and themselves. It's been going on for a very long time, but seems to be more prevalent in recent years, particularly as Corprate Financial takes on more and more clients.
Each story about how companies are coercing workers to do more and more on their own time, bringing them back from Vacations, Sick Days, Retirement and basically keeping them from having a life just made me more and more angry. I had to keep repeating, "It's only a book, it's only a book". But it's really just an extension of what's been happening in the corporate world more and more every year. Do more with less, screw the worker, outsource this to China, outsource that to India. All so the pockets of the CEO, the Board of Directors and the Investors are lined with cash, this at the expense of the working class.
True, The Corporation is a work of fiction and there is certainly an element of the fantastic in JF Gonzalez's story, but it's the ring of truth that adds a good deal of horror to the tale. I dare you to read this and not get more than a little angry about the way things are.
While checking on where you might buy The Corporation, I stumbled over the following quote from JF Gonzalez that I thought was interesting...
"Actually, when I wrote that book, I wasn't consulting (I am now). Much of the background of the book was gleaned from working with consultants and high-end corporate types. And yes, they were like a cult. It was kinda creepy. Much of that mind-set influenced the book, including your personal life, which is a big no-no in my book. I'm constantly surprised by how many times people open their personal lives at work and then are shocked when it slaps them upside the head later when it is used against them for something stupid. I have always made it my mission to never really much of anything about my personal life in any kind of day job I have taken. "
If you want a book that's likely to grab you, shake you, maybe even beat you up at bit, then get your copy of The Corporation from one of my favorite writers, JF Gonzalez. Available in a variety of formats from numerous resources, including Amazon.com.
March 2, 2012
What if corporations take over. A frightening read about the vindictiveness of the corporate world.
January 11, 2018
Cool little story with some turns that are pretty predictable, but you end up enjoying it anyway.
February 21, 2012
From the description of this book, I was sure I would enjoy it quite a lot. This novel seems to be Gonzalez's tribute to Bentley Little and The Corporation seems to
shout that over and over. Everything from the bland Little-style name of the novel to the slightly preachy but also very real subject matter is very similar to both The
Policy and The Store by Little. Sadly, while The Corporation is very engaging with well-devoloped characters with detailed histories which make them into colorful
individuals, the plot itself falls well short of the expectations I have for an author of Gonzalez's talents. It doesn't even come close to the horrifying experiences
of Little's books. I always thought of Gonzalez as a horror who would always bring something new to the table and he almost always does. A great example is Gonzalez's
excellent take on zombies in his novel Back From the Dead. The Corporation is nothing new though. Even though well over a decade has passed since Little published The
Store, Gonzalez's novel offers very little new material. Sure, the setting and characters are a bit different but the plot is frightening in its predictability and, if
there is one thing I always count on from Gonzalez, despite minor characters in his books having last names ending in ez, is a shock or surprise ending. Not here. The
Corporation ends with a stereotypical bang but not really in a good way because Bentley Little did it first. I did enjoy the novel but my expectations weren't met at
all and that is always disappointing. I feel the same way about this effort from Gonzalez as I did about Primitive which was just the same damn story without anything
new added other than yet another's version of it.
In short, a fun, quick read but, when compared to books like Survivor, Clickers, or Fetish it falls well short.
shout that over and over. Everything from the bland Little-style name of the novel to the slightly preachy but also very real subject matter is very similar to both The
Policy and The Store by Little. Sadly, while The Corporation is very engaging with well-devoloped characters with detailed histories which make them into colorful
individuals, the plot itself falls well short of the expectations I have for an author of Gonzalez's talents. It doesn't even come close to the horrifying experiences
of Little's books. I always thought of Gonzalez as a horror who would always bring something new to the table and he almost always does. A great example is Gonzalez's
excellent take on zombies in his novel Back From the Dead. The Corporation is nothing new though. Even though well over a decade has passed since Little published The
Store, Gonzalez's novel offers very little new material. Sure, the setting and characters are a bit different but the plot is frightening in its predictability and, if
there is one thing I always count on from Gonzalez, despite minor characters in his books having last names ending in ez, is a shock or surprise ending. Not here. The
Corporation ends with a stereotypical bang but not really in a good way because Bentley Little did it first. I did enjoy the novel but my expectations weren't met at
all and that is always disappointing. I feel the same way about this effort from Gonzalez as I did about Primitive which was just the same damn story without anything
new added other than yet another's version of it.
In short, a fun, quick read but, when compared to books like Survivor, Clickers, or Fetish it falls well short.
February 1, 2018
The Corporation by J.F. Gonzalez has been posthumously rereleased, along with many of his other works. This is good news for horror fiction fans. Gonzalez was a Master and being able to purchase his books in electronic or paperback format again is a gift to us all, especially those of us who did not partake of his works during initial publication.
I read some older reviews of this book and was shocked to find low ratings based on it being unrealistic. If one finds any of this unrealistic, even for the time it was written, then one is delightfully oblivious to and out of touch with the realities of business, law, health insurance, and basically the world. The realism that The Corporation is based on is terrifying because it reflects many real-world scenarios from the past decade as well as the past week. J.F. Gonzalez nailed it.
I actually found it so unsettling, I became scared to finish the book.
The story is in the same vein as the works of the master Bentley Little, but with a signature darkness that is J.F. Gonzalez. The ebb and flow of the tempo creates a creeping creepy tension as the mind processes both the action and implications. The relatable characters and realistic references both enthralled and repelled me. This was almost believable. Too believable.
I love this book.
I debate giving an in-depth analysis of The Corporation. It would almost be an insult to the work. The plot is quick revealed in the first half of the book, but the story is about the progression of events, the horror of the real world, the darkness in ourselves. This is not light reading. Prepare yourself. And, maybe take a day off work BEFORE you begin. The Corporation does not allow personal time.
I read some older reviews of this book and was shocked to find low ratings based on it being unrealistic. If one finds any of this unrealistic, even for the time it was written, then one is delightfully oblivious to and out of touch with the realities of business, law, health insurance, and basically the world. The realism that The Corporation is based on is terrifying because it reflects many real-world scenarios from the past decade as well as the past week. J.F. Gonzalez nailed it.
I actually found it so unsettling, I became scared to finish the book.
The story is in the same vein as the works of the master Bentley Little, but with a signature darkness that is J.F. Gonzalez. The ebb and flow of the tempo creates a creeping creepy tension as the mind processes both the action and implications. The relatable characters and realistic references both enthralled and repelled me. This was almost believable. Too believable.
I love this book.
I debate giving an in-depth analysis of The Corporation. It would almost be an insult to the work. The plot is quick revealed in the first half of the book, but the story is about the progression of events, the horror of the real world, the darkness in ourselves. This is not light reading. Prepare yourself. And, maybe take a day off work BEFORE you begin. The Corporation does not allow personal time.
April 9, 2018
A great novel that was a little different than I expected. Having previously read Survivor I was expecting some more in your face horror. This novel is not that, though there is some violence. The Corporation is more of a psychological thriller with a lot of existential dread. Gonzalez is talented at creating sympathetic characters in a cruel world. There are explorations of the excesses of capitalism and how those excesses affect everyday individuals. The main monster in this story is corporatism and what it can do to our minds, both collectively and individually. I recommend this for fans of Bentley Little or Thomas Ligotti. I was disappointed to learn that Mr. Gonzalez has passed but luckily he gets to live through his words, which I plan to read. I will continue to work my way through his catalog, as of now I know the author can do extreme horror and thrillers well.
November 22, 2025
Its a simple enough premise, workers are mind controlled to devote their lives to working. Its an interesting concept. The novel takes awhile to find its momentum, but later it picks up the pace. It's like a corporate invasion of the body snatchers , to best sum it up. Ive given this 3 stars as i have read much better horror books. Took ages to finish.
July 1, 2024
This came out before Bentley Little’s The Consultant, but I think of the two books in conversation with one another. They are different—for example, this is less sophomoric than The Consultant, for better or worse. But both explore the outsized influence of corporate life upon the wellbeing of Americans, as well as the tensions that arise for employees balancing corporate priorities and nuclear families. Also like the Consultant, this book could have used a second draft to adjust pacing and eliminate repetitive descriptions and exposition. However, I admire the author’s intent.
One interesting scene features a man accosted by agents from his health insurance company. They break into his house and essentially accuse him of getting over his cancer too quickly…then they do something nasty to ensure he stays their “customer.”
One interesting scene features a man accosted by agents from his health insurance company. They break into his house and essentially accuse him of getting over his cancer too quickly…then they do something nasty to ensure he stays their “customer.”
October 7, 2019
I liked the story, but somehow it missed the real extra's to make it 4 stars. Still enjoyable
October 4, 2022
This book reads like a conspiracy theory but I guess it could happen if all the ingredients were meet. I enjoyed it.
April 23, 2025
The Corporation by J.F. Gonzalez has a great concept, likeable characters, and is at times an entertaining read, but unfortunately, it often gets bogged down by a rambling, annoyingly repetitive, and sometimes even clumsy narrative. (I audibly groaned on more than one occasion.) As a staunch free-market advocate I take no issue with Corporatism being portrayed as evil (it is) and was actually looking forward to this particular portrayal as such, but dissapointedly, it came across more like Karl Marx writing a horror novel in a drunken stupor. I've read two other novels by J.F. Gonzalez and enjoyed them and I'm confident I'll enjoy others, but for me, this one missed the mark.
June 22, 2016
This book starts out fantastic. Scary, unimaginable and it makes you really think. Then it goes a bit downhill. It could have been a way shorter book, I felt the last quarter dragged for me. I just wanted it to get to the point and be over.
July 10, 2012
Frightening!!!!!!!!
July 4, 2015
A modern day satrical horror statement about todays corperate world. I'm just glad I don't live/work in an office after reading this one!
July 13, 2025
DNF@26%.
April 12, 2013
Scarey!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews