Startup
By Glenn Ogura
First off let state that overall this was a good book, unless you don't like sex, profanity, and blasphemy (which I don't). But the basic story was fairly good. Zach Penny has a dream and he is on the verge of taking a chance to achieve said dream when quite literally he runs into the epitome of evil - namely his boss potential future father-in-law (Ouch!)
Allen Henley has got to be the worst boss in the world. You get a hangnail on the wrong day and he will destroy you, your family, your friends, and your life. And if a stray dog walks by you well the pound would be paradise to what Henley would do to it.
One can see how Henley rose to the top and why he stayed there. One can also see why Zach is determined to run his future company in a completely different way.
There is a law of physics that says for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, well you're about to see physics work on the reaction phase. And no one involved with Allen Henley will every be the same - if they survive. And some don't, but I won't say who.
Startup does not make me want to move to Silicon Valley and start a tech company - it is brutal!
I was provided a copy of this book in conjunction with this PUYB tour in exchange for my participation in this tour and for my honest review.
About the Book:
Set in California’s Silicon Valley, STARTUP follows a young idealist/entrepreneur, Zack Penny, as he strives to achieve his dream of creating a new company that will launch an international revolution in technology through the creation of wallpaper-thin displays that will completely surround a viewer. Zack works for a highly successful company called Display Technik, run by CEO Allen Henley, whose vision is based on a success-at-all-costs philosophy. Zack sees Henley as a mentor, but Zack’s philosophy favors high morals and values over Henley’s ruthless, end-justifies-the-means model of doing business.
Zack’s dream takes root one morning when he discovers an important paper has been taken from his office. Someone has exposed Zack’s secret plan to break away from Display Technik and start his own company. Henley gives Zack another chance to pledge his loyalty to the firm, but Zack resigns instead, more determined than ever to realize his vision. Soon, the optimistic if naive Zack steps into his new facility with high hopes for success. Henley, however, has already launched a plan to destroy Zack, his company, and Zack’s relationship with Henley’s daughter, Mary Anne.
Praise for Startup:
Kirkus Reviews has hailed STARTUP as “a solid business thriller … reminiscent of John Grisham’s THE FIRM.”
“STARTUP is an intriguing and suspenseful good-versus-evil story set in the cutthroat Silicon Valley culture. STARTUP will appeal to readers who want to root for the little guy.”
ForeWord Reviews
Title: Startup
Author: Glenn Ogura
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 486
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle
Purchase at AMAZON
Book Excerpt:
Upon entering the mirrored-glass and stainless-steel lobby of DisplayTechnik,
most people’s eyes were immediately drawn to the immense mobile hanging
thirty feet overhead. It revolved ever so lazily, its burnished metal dazzling in
the California sun. Ultrathin suspension cables concealed by the mosaic pattern
on the wall behind the display created the illusion that the massive structure
was simply hovering, perhaps by some trick of magnetism.
The mobile reminded Zack of scimitars and guillotine blades. As far as he
was concerned, the truly magnificent work of art in the entranceway was
the vast floor of highly polished black marble. Walking across it was like
stepping into space: looking down at the pinpoints and streaks of glittering
white, one strolled through the stars of the heavens, passing by galaxies, and
the streamers of some gaseous nebula. Beneath the steel and glass homage
to Allen Henley’s vanity was the constancy of the universe—immoveable,
immutable, and terrible in its beauty. A plush burgundy carpet surrounded the
receptionist’s area, which stood like an island in the sea of black.
Engineers like Zack weren’t supposed to use the main lobby entrance, and he
didn’t most days, but it was only six thirty and any of the flock of senior vice
presidents who might care if he were violating company protocol were probably
still in bed. He usually got to work early, though not merely to avoid the crawl
over Highway 680. He liked to take in the surroundings, soak them up, and
breathe in the crisp, mechanically filtered air, knowing that one day his own
company would never, ever look like this.
About the Author:
ethics, he plays tennis. Startup is his first novel.
Visit his website at www.glennogura.com.
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