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Malcolm Costain
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ADLANDIA: Tales From The Industry Of Persuasion Kindle Edition

by Malcolm Costain (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 49
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MAD MEN. DRIVEN WOMEN. WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

In ADLANDIA, the men and women are talented, ambitious and self-obsessed. They dream of success -- of their ads appearing on television, billboards and on the screens of a billion smartphones. They tell themselves the exhausting hours are worth it, and the disappointments merely temporary. But when success fails to arrive, dark surreal comedy steps in instead.

Follow ten people struggling to succeed in the bizarre other-world of the big advertising agencies. As their careers fail to launch, some try to coax help from the universe. Others make deals with the devil. One travels back in time to the Man Men days of the 1950s. Sometimes they succeed.

Readers describe ADLANDIA as, "An absolute blast," and "a mixture of Mad Men, Stephen Kingand Roald Dahl's Tales of The Unexpected."

If you love advertising, or loathe it, if you work in the business, or are curious about it, you'll love the characters and excruciating predicaments in ADLANDIA.

So pick up a pencil, smooth out your layout pad, and click the link to go to ADLANDIA now!
Previous page
  1. Print length
    276 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    May 13, 2017
  5. File size
    1657 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An absolute blast of a read." -- Paul Chan
"Even if you HATE advertising you should read this book." -- Kerry Fitzgerald.
"These tales have way too much of a ring of truth to them. Loved the book - very funny." -- AlexisInStKilda
"Take Luke Sullivan's 'Hey Whipple, Squeeze this' and Roald Dahl's 'Tales of the Unexpected'. Will it blend? These imaginative and insightful short stories do just that." -- Mat Owen
"Love Signs and The God In The Details and finally Springtime; are all must reads."
"Another gripping page turner." -- RufRuf
"Adlandia meets the brief." -- Jeff Bartholomeusz.

"I highly recommend this as just a great little collection to fire up your brain synapses." -- Carol P

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071Z5SJXX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (May 13, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 13, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1657 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 49

About the author

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Malcolm Costain

Malcolm Costain

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Malcolm writes short stories, humorous novels about the advertising industry and time-travelling historical mysteries.

He was born and raised in Australia but for many years lived and worked in Hong Kong, Germany and the UK.

In a previous career he worked as a creative director for several international advertising agencies.

Find out more at malcolmcostain.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
49 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rick T
5.0 out of 5 stars Love Signs and The God In The Details and finally ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book was a major surprise. At it's core it is about the world of advertising and I am sure you are thinking 'Well, that has to be dull' but I assure you that would be the wrong thought process to have when considering this book. Love Signs and The God In The Details and finally Springtime; are all must reads. Each one is a fresh and creative take on some very real concepts. This book is one that is a quick read and one you will tell your friends about due to how each story takes a unique approach on the world of advertising. I look forward to seeing what else this author will churn out in the future. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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philip taffs
4.0 out of 5 stars Advertising turned inside out and upside down
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
Facing billboards that are alive and fall in love with each other...

The devil doing his own art direction...

Emails that can be magically retracted...

Travelling back in time to meet a famous adman from the 50s...

Bringing a Russian astro-dog home from space...

This is 'Crazy People 2'.

This is 'Mad Men' on magic mushrooms.

Welcome to a fabulous, feisty collection of poignant advertising fables...

Welcome to Adlandia.
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JB - Phils
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and well written. Very enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
A fun read. Especially, I am sure, if you have worked in the advertising industry. Costain's background and knowledge of the industry is clearly evident - as is his clear and uncluttered writing style that has been honed, no doubt, from years of writing copy for unappreciative bosses and dreadful customers. I particularly like the way Costain is able to quickly and simply set the scene for each story, placing you right in the room almost. The imagery of the Adlandia wannabe in 2159 travelling on public transport and watching advertising holograms (to avoid paying the fare) stayed with me for several days as did several other scenes for other stories. Well done. .
One person found this helpful
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sean okihiro
5.0 out of 5 stars I went into this expecting a collection of true stories from the ad industry but after I got over the initial surprise of findin
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2017
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Each story is engaging and hard to put down but they are short enough that you can complete one on the way to work. I went into this expecting a collection of true stories from the ad industry but after I got over the initial surprise of finding that they are completely fictional (some of them are actually wildly fictional) I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. Malcom's advertising industry experience comes across in sharp focus but Adlandia is a book most anyone can enjoy.
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RufRuf
5.0 out of 5 stars He just gets better and better
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2017
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Another gripping page turner from Mr Costain. He just gets better and better. No sooner have I succumbed to his pony tales. Than I am drawn into his take on the ad industry and the terrifying Leona Lee in Natural Grace - the first story in Adlandia. I really mean it. You simply cannot stop turning the pages. A great read. Maybe a little too close to home for anyone who has ever banged off an e-mail and later regretted it. But a lot of fun.
2 people found this helpful
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JB
5.0 out of 5 stars A light hearted take on an industry that takes itself too seriously - highly entertaining!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
A riveting series of whimsical stories from the ad-world, crafted with eclectic characters that can only be created from real insights. I couldn't put this book down. The bite size stories made me chuckle, an extension of Costain's witty sense of humor. My favorite line in the book is 'I see one nasty woman writing about another nasty woman,' he said 'They cancel each other out like Optimus Prime and Megatron.' Enough said. Can't wait for his next book!
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars and I'm happy that the author told his
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2017
As an ad person, the stories made me laugh. And you have to learn to laugh and laugh at yourself in order to survive in the industry. You certainly relate to some if not all of the scenario depicted in the book. We all have our stories to tell, and I'm happy that the author told his.

If you are looking for a productive and entertaining way to spend a few hours, pick up the book (again and again). The stories never grow old.
One person found this helpful
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Texoz
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable and easy read
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
The world of business and advertising with all the ups and downs, and the pressures to get a deal done were set out in an enjoyable way. It's an easy book to read in short bursts. For people that have been there, we all have an Augusta Chan in our lives that has made life interesting! Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from other countries

CONSTANT READER
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave it too long before taking us on another trip to Adlandia, Mr C!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
Bought this on a recent trip to HK while waiting the 12 hours or so between getting kicked out of my hotel and catching my flight back to Europe (now there's a possible story for Adlandia Vol 2!) and positively loved almost every story.

You ultimately don't have to work in advertising to love this, just love short, economically told stories that have a start, a middle and very often a Roald Dahl-like twist at the end.

Strongly recommended for those who've spent time being devoured by the corporate world or just adore well crafted tales as told by the likes of Philip K Dick or Ray Bradbury.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Lace up the Converse boots and step into a Godless ...
Reviewed in Australia on May 17, 2017
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Lace up the Converse boots and step into a Godless world where the omnipresent clicks, vibrations, whirrs & beeps of digital reality heightens anxiety amongst anxious people. Where acquaintance with celebrity is a seriously intimidating currency. Where Faustian pacts are tawdry and where the ads themselves offer greater humanity than the creators. Either thank your stars that you do not inhabit this world or cry out 'Mein Gott Im Himmel' if you do. Mr Costain turns a wry, wicked eye on the industry and tears at it with gentle savagery. He confirms that they control the horizontal and the vertical: down to the last Red Spot Special banana you chose to buy. Amusing. Frightening.
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Mat Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful tales from ad land with a twist
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2017
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Take Luke Sullivan's 'Hey Whipple, Squeeze this' and Roald Dahl's 'Tales of the Unexpected'. Will it blend? These imaginative and insightful short stories do just that. These accounts of the ad world will ring true for anyone who's worked in the industry, with the added plus of an unexpected twist or two. I found this book really entertaining and a great read.

If you're reading these reviews as you're not sure whether to purchase – Think Different. Just Do It. Because You're Worth It.

Ok, that's enough of that.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this!
Reviewed in Australia on June 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
An original and very funny collection of short stories in the (to me) unknown world of advertising. Read on the tram if you dare, but be aware, you will laugh out loud and people will stare! Absolutely worth it - your commute to work will fly by and the stories can be read again and again.
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Lynne Lowenstein
5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous easy to read stories with a touch of darkness and ...
Reviewed in Australia on September 18, 2017
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Humorous easy to read stories with a touch of darkness and whimsy to keep them interesting. I loved them !!
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