Not only is he a wealthy contract lawyer who specialises in the caveats and loopholes that exempt companies from any and all responsibility to their customers, his clauses are so watertight they have become the industry standard throughout the world. Such a man should be ruthless, amoral and completely indifferent to the effects of his work on particular individuals or society at large. The fact he is none of these things is what makes this story possible.
When we first meet Frank he has just awoken from a coma with no idea of where or who he is, rendering him as much a stranger to himself as he is to us.
Over the course of the next few months he begins to rebuild his life, and as his memories return he starts to realise how much he hates his job, his wife, and, most especially, his brother Oscar, the head of the family law firm for which he works.
But whereas Frank 1.0 was too biddable and eager to please his wife, colleagues and family to protest, Frank 2.0 is determined to change things. And when he discovers a campaign of small but significant acts of sabotage his previous self had carried out, he finds the perfect escape clause, if only he is brave enough to use it.
Although I was not quite sure what to expect when I picked the novel up, I immediately found myself thoroughly engaged and in sympathy with Frank and his plight. In part it is because he is the ultimate underdog, bullied and taken advantage of by his nearest and dearest, but if that was all there was to him, I think I would havebecome frustrated by his passive acceptance of his lot. But by creating a ''new'' Frank, Glancy provides us with a potential champion who can right the wrongs inflicted in the past.
The novel itself is laid out as a legal document, with chapters detailing the terms and conditions of Frank's life, punctuated by a series of footnotes in which he addresses us directly. These not only provide additional detail to or ironic commentary on events, but also create a sense of intimacy between narrator and reader.
Although some readers may be dissatisfied by the black-and-white nature of the characters, and the implausible (if ingenious) nature of Frank's revenge, a little suspension of disbelief is all that is required to thoroughly enjoy his story.
With its dysfunctional but endearing central character, and its unusual take on a classic story, Terms and Conditions reminded me of The Rosie Project, one of my other favourite debuts from last year.
I am intrigued to find out where Glancy will go next, and in the meantime, I really will read the details before accepting that Microsoft or Facebook update.
- Cushla McKinney is a Dunedin scientist.
Win a copy
The ODT has five copies of Terms and Conditions, by Robert Glancy (RRP $29.99), to give away courtesy of Bloomsbury and Allen & Unwin. For your chance to win a copy, email helen.speirs@odt.co.nz with your name and address in the body of the email, and ''Terms and Conditions Book Competition'' in the subject line, by 5pm on Tuesday, March 11.
