The Company Man

The Company Man takes place in an alternate 1919 America where the McNaughton Corporation dominates the industrial landscape with its revolutionary technology. The story centers on Cyril Hayes, an investigator for McNaughton who possesses an unusual ability to extract information from people. In the manufacturing hub of Evesden, Hayes must investigate a series of mysterious deaths connected to McNaughton's operations. Working alongside police officer Garvey and secretary Samantha Fairbanks, Hayes navigates through a web of corporate secrets and mounting bodies. The setting combines noir detective fiction with retro-futuristic elements - from impossible machines to glowing streets. The narrative follows Hayes as he confronts both the dark underpinnings of McNaughton's technological empire and his own troubled past. The novel explores themes of corporate power, technological progress, and human connection in an age of industrialization. Through its genre-blending approach, it raises questions about the true cost of innovation and the nature of progress.

Readers describe The Company Man as a noir detective story with science fiction and steampunk elements. The book holds a 3.75/5 rating on Goodreads from 1,900+ ratings and 3.8/5 on Amazon from 80+ reviews. Readers praised: - The detailed world-building and atmosphere - The blend of multiple genres (noir, sci-fi, alternate history) - The complex main character - The original take on labor unions and corporate power Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Too many plot threads that don't fully resolve - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Dark/depressing tone throughout Many readers noted similarities to China Miéville's works. One reviewer called it "Raymond Chandler meets H.P. Lovecraft in an alternate 1919." Several mentioned struggling with the bleak themes but appreciating the unique premise. The most frequent complaint was that the story takes too long to gain momentum, with one reader noting "the first 100 pages are a slog but it picks up after that."

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi Corporations control food production in a future Thailand where bioengineered humans navigate political intrigue and environmental collapse.

River of Gods by Ian McDonald Multiple characters intersect in a near-future India where artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and corporate power reshape society.

Infomocracy by Malka Older Global corporations and information networks create a new form of democracy while operatives work behind the scenes to maintain or destroy the system.

Market Forces by Richard Morgan Corporate executives battle for contracts through literal street warfare in a world where capitalism has evolved into gladiatorial competition.

Jennifer Government by Max Barry Corporations run nations and wage wars against each other while a federal agent investigates marketing campaigns that turn deadly.

✦ Robert Jackson Bennett won the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel in 2010 for his debut work "Mr. Shivers," establishing himself as a master of genre-blending fiction ✦ The industrial setting of Evesden draws inspiration from real early 20th-century company towns like Pullman, Illinois, where corporations controlled every aspect of workers' lives ✦ The labor rights themes in the novel echo the violent labor disputes of the early 1900s, including the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 ✦ The retrofuturistic elements in the story align with the "dieselpunk" subgenre, which reimagines the technological advancement of the interwar period with fantastical innovations ✦ Bennett has cited Fritz Lang's 1927 film "Metropolis" as a major influence on the book's exploration of class struggle and industrial dystopia