Pohl and Kornbluth's The Space Merchants
This book was in many ways a surprise. It was written by two authors and is seamlessly written, so that you cannot tell where one writer leaves off and another begins. I expected some sort of Heinleinesque adventure of Space Merchants plying the space ways and trading amongst the stars. It is nothing like that and is a satire on commercialism that is both sharp and prophetic and reminds me a but of Dick crossed with Swift.
The main character is an advertising executive in a world where advertising firms rule. The plot is a complex mixture of events and conspiracies with a strongly anti-commercialism tone. It is withering satire and intelligently written. With sharp albeit humourous characterizations. It is a kind of absurdist Mad Men set in a science fiction universe.
Its really very good. Its considered by hard core science fiction fans to be a classic, quite rightfully and it is a good example of the many little known science fiction novels, which deserve a much greater readership.
