The author of the Stephen Leacock Medal-winning The Best
Laid Plans brings his trademark humour and sharp storytelling
to a new novel set in the high-stakes world of a global public
relations agency.
On his first day at Turner King, David Stewart quickly realizes
that the world of international PR (affectionately, perhaps
ironically, known as "the dark side") is a far cry from his
previous job on Parliament Hill. For one, he missed the office memo
on the all-black dress code; for another, there are enough acronyms
and jargon to make his head spin. Before he even has time to find
the washroom, David is assigned a major project: devise a campaign
to revitalize North America''s interest in the space program -
maybe even show NASA''s pollsters that watching a shuttle launch is
more appealing than going out for lunch with friends. The pressure
is on, and before long, David finds himself suggesting the most
out-of-this-world idea imaginable: a Citizen Astronaut lottery that
would send one Canadian and one American to the International Space
Station. Suddenly, David''s vaulted into an odyssey of his own,
navigating the corporate politics of a big PR agency; wading
through the murky but always hilarious waters of Canada-U.S.
relations; and trying to hold on to his new job while still doing
the right thing.
Equal parts clever and satirical, thoughtful and affecting, Up
and Down is Terry Fallis at his best, confirming his status as
a Canadian literary star.
