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The Gestalt Switch Alan Devey's brexit novel is scary as fuck

The Gestalt Switch

Alan Devey's brexit novel is scary as fuck

by Hamilton High,
first published: January, 2020

approximate reading time: minutes

Devey approaches the serious question of how a country can slide into chaos while embarrassing itself on the way to embracing fascism

If the people who work as actuaries know that statistically speaking, their loved ones have a 60% chance of dying before the new year, they don’t bring that up over Christmas dinner. Or at least not until the washing up is done.

Therein lies the dilemma of The Gestalt Switch. It approaches the serious question of how a country can slide into chaos and embarrass itself on the way to embracing fascism. Those lessons are already writ large across history of course, and the answer is, all too easily.

There's something about Alan Devey I like. A serious person, in unserious times. Just what's not needed. After all, we blithely assured, there's nothing really to worry about. An odd bump in the road. Devey isn't having that and he's probably fretting and testing out how his internet connection goes in a power cut and weaponizing his cats. Arming them, teaching them to forage through the pet food shortages that won't happen, so there's nothing to worry about. Anyway. 

It’s good to be reminded that we must stand up to fascist doctrine, and while it’s also true that while the UK is a wafer thin mint away from the hideous vision presented in the book, actually reading this book was at times like being stuck on a long car journey with your racist uncle. As we know too well this is a relentless trip and your only recourse to action is to fake a bladder infection and run for it, or jimmy the locks and hurl yourself onto the carriageway.

Where does The Gestalt Switch land right now? We’re all so sick of Brexit, it’s happening and it hasn’t happened yet – the last thing any one of us realistically has the energy to do is read a novel about it – especially one told from the nationalistic point of view of a man you might only meet shouting at the librarians in your local branch library about the old days… 

Yet as it turns out, that shouty man  is shouting in the mainstream.


Essential Info
Read the Gestalt Switch now at Amazon

Hamilton High

Hamilton High was born on Doheny Ave in the gutter, is a poet, writer and observer of popular culture. Likes fashion and cares less for style. He's on the move, he's an alter ego and we hardly ever hear from him.
about Hamilton High »»

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