In Jack Fringe’s satirical novel “Get Rid of Glenda”, the eponymous Glenda Nail is the monstrous head of HR at Silvermax Television. Ruling through manipulation and bullying, Glenda embodies the worst excesses of corporate dysfunction. When Peter Silver inherits control of the once-great network after his uncle’s scandalous death, he faces the herculean task of rebuilding the creative spirit while fending off Glenda and her entrenched cabal of corruption. But how can you get rid of the HR Manager?
The plot centers around Peter’s efforts to reform Silvermax with the aid of a colorful cast of allies, including his partner Tek, the irrepressible secretary Deborah, and the plucky producer Oonagh. But Glenda and her sordid cohorts, including the lecherous news director Lance Bellows and the fraudulent weatherman Charles, scheme to undermine the new regime.
Fringe keeps the action moving at a madcap pace, piling on the outrageous scenarios and sharp quips. The dialogue snaps with cutting wit as the larger-than-life personalities collide. Beneath the laughs, the novel skewers corporate culture at its most inept and unethical. It’s a scathing but humorous takedown of egos run amok.
While the tone occasionally becomes a bit broad and bawdy, Fringe succeeds in crafting an entertaining farce with an undercurrent of justice. We can’t help but root for the flawed but likable heroes as they struggle to vanquish the wicked Glenda and her minions. In the end, we pray that karma prevails in fitting fashion.
“Get Rid of Glenda” is an amusing, fast-paced lampoon that will especially resonate for anyone who has ever endured a toxic workplace. With its quirky characters and absurdist situations, it’s an promising debut novel from Jack Fringe. The monstrous HR manager is an archetype many will recognize, and the novel’s over-the-top exploits offer a cathartic release from the daily grind.
CONTENT GUIDANCE. Please be aware that this is a tragicomedy. Some of the characters’ language would not be tolerated in certain worlds. Not suitable for children.
