In some ways this is a mundane story of a uninspired young person making his way in the world and inadvertently moving through layers of society he didn't know existed. That's the story line in a nutshell, and you've seen that many times before. But the brilliant combination of place (Moscow), time (Yelstin), industry (advertising), and perspective (cockeyed and lonely paranoia) make this a really interesting book.

The main character Tartartsky is in a world seemingly moving from determinism to choice. Of course that choice means western goods and sloganizing – and that means going from failed poet to shop assistant to joining the rest of those making fun in Moscow. As Tartarsky blooms, satire and mania make the writing and story thunderous and engaging – seemingly in the direction of [b:Money|18825|Money|Martin Amis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367084993s/18825.jpg|85999]. But Pelevin keeps returning to long passages of theoretic bilge that reminds you this was written in Russian.