THE COUNCIL

Boyner’s literary novella centers on the internal struggles of a small civic group.

An organization called simply “the Council” is set to select their new leader. The catch is that there’s only one candidate: Maksim. Another member of the Council, Sasha, is not so sure that Maksim is the right person for the job. Specifically, she’s suspicious of a speech that Maksim gave—one that stoked fear because it “consisted of a discussion of the powers that could threaten or even destroy the Council.” Maksim is elected nonetheless, and at first, he makes some pleasant changes, such as having an air conditioner installed in the Council meeting room. He even puts a coffee machine in the hallway. Soon, though, Maksim takes actions that aren’t so innocuous; for one, he proposes a law that Council members may only make speeches lasting 30 seconds or less. Sasha is thoroughly opposed to this move, but one person can’t stop the Council’s leader alone. When Maksim warns about possible enemies within the Council, it seems clear that the situation could lead to a form of tyranny. Boyner’s entire narrative clocks in at fewer than 100 brisk pages. One Council member, Makar, is described only as “an older gentleman close to his eighties,” and much of the dialogue comes off as bland. The focus, though, is not on characterization, but on Maksim’s rise to power and its repercussions. Along the way, the author effectively delves into philosophical concepts: “Passions and dreams are all transcendental properties of a free individual.” The book gets across these ideas in clear, simple prose, which is welcome, and readers will find that there’s excitement in watching just how far Maksim is willing to go—and if Sasha, or anyone else, will be able to stop him.

A studied, minimalist, and fast-paced look at the mechanisms of political control.