Syrup is a satirical comedy of marketing and consumerism written by Max Barry, under the name Maxx Barry. Published in 1999, it is Barry's debut novel.

Plot introduction

A young marketing graduate named Scat comes up with an idea for a new product for Coca-Cola called Fukk (the main innovation is the black can it comes in and the extra-carbonation causing the can to hiss when opened). This propels him into a world of backstabbing, ladder-climbing marketers including his former roommate Sneaky Pete and 6, a beautiful and intelligent executive at Coca-Cola and alleged lesbian that Scat falls in love with. It also sends him through repeated stretches of homelessness, constant insane demands, dire poverty, and even a brush with the Hollywood movie machine (including Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow and Winona Ryder).

Characters in "Syrup"

• Scat--Protagonist and Recent Marketing Graduate, original creator Of FUKK.
• Sneaky Pete--Scats College and former Roommate and eventual boss.
• 6--Marketing Executive and Scat's Partner and Love Interest.
• Cindy--Scat's On again Off Again Girlfriend, Later Named Babe-a-licious
• Tina--6's Roommate and Film Student.
• @--Sneaky Pete's Assistant who is a Negative version of 6

Life imitates art

In 2006 Coca-Cola introduced a coffee-flavored soft drink called Coca-Cola Blāk. It was first released in France in a black can. Barry commented on the similarities of this and his fictional Coca-Cola Fukk from the novel on his blog.

Release details

• 1999, UK, Viking Press (ISBN 0-670-88640-8), Pub date ? July 1999, hardback (First edition)
• 2000, UK, Penguin Books (ISBN 0-14-029187-3), Pub date ? July 2000, paperback

References

External links

• Syrup at Max Barry's website