Overlay fraud for the bedside table
Industry Thriller: What makes this thriller about numerical and human manipulation in the media market so compelling is its realism.
What makes this thriller about numerical and human manipulation in the media market so interesting is its realism: The Standard did not review the novel, but at least it was worth an inquiry to Springer Verlag. And the company spokeswoman promptly confirmed to the Viennese daily "certain irregularities in the recording of circulation in the magazine sector - around ten years ago". These were of course rectified immediately. Nevertheless, the accusations made in "Kokoschansky's move" will be investigated.
The book is based on true events. In fact, some well-known actors and companies involved in dubious machinations surrounding the above-mentioned major German publishing house, bogus invoices from a distribution company and - of course - the obligatory murder, appear in the opus with hardly any ciphers. This makes the industry burlesque thoroughly entertaining and occasionally exciting.
In literary terms, however, despite repeated references to Stefan Zweig's "Schachnovelle", the text either has no claim or is unable to fulfill it. The unequal pair of protagonists, consisting of the businessman Lichtenhagen, degraded to the status of pawn victim, and the investigative journalist Kokoschansky, simply remain too clichéd and calculable in their actions and reflections. Even the all-too-obvious borrowings from the "Tatort" legend Schimansky (hard shell, soft core and snappy mouth type) and the flirtation with insider knowledge don't help.
The lurid storyline of this now time-barred scandal is also somewhat transparent and shakily constructed. Unfortunately, Zäuner couldn't resist packing the whole of contemporary history into his third Kokoschansky, including 9/11, the re-founding of the RAF and wild conspiracy theories. Less (artificial excitement) would have been more (real drama) here. Perhaps the Springer spokeswoman thought so too - and is waiting with the promised review until the next Kokoschansky adventure, which will hopefully also be made a little more credible in narrative terms.
> Kokoschansky's chess move or money doesn't matter by Günther Zäuner. Schmidt Verlag, Freiburg i.Br. 2004. 252 pages, 20 francs.
Oliver Classen
The book is based on true events. In fact, some well-known actors and companies involved in dubious machinations surrounding the above-mentioned major German publishing house, bogus invoices from a distribution company and - of course - the obligatory murder, appear in the opus with hardly any ciphers. This makes the industry burlesque thoroughly entertaining and occasionally exciting.
In literary terms, however, despite repeated references to Stefan Zweig's "Schachnovelle", the text either has no claim or is unable to fulfill it. The unequal pair of protagonists, consisting of the businessman Lichtenhagen, degraded to the status of pawn victim, and the investigative journalist Kokoschansky, simply remain too clichéd and calculable in their actions and reflections. Even the all-too-obvious borrowings from the "Tatort" legend Schimansky (hard shell, soft core and snappy mouth type) and the flirtation with insider knowledge don't help.
The lurid storyline of this now time-barred scandal is also somewhat transparent and shakily constructed. Unfortunately, Zäuner couldn't resist packing the whole of contemporary history into his third Kokoschansky, including 9/11, the re-founding of the RAF and wild conspiracy theories. Less (artificial excitement) would have been more (real drama) here. Perhaps the Springer spokeswoman thought so too - and is waiting with the promised review until the next Kokoschansky adventure, which will hopefully also be made a little more credible in narrative terms.
> Kokoschansky's chess move or money doesn't matter by Günther Zäuner. Schmidt Verlag, Freiburg i.Br. 2004. 252 pages, 20 francs.
Oliver Classen
