/lit/ - Literature

Regarding what's been in the air recently I just picked up this book the other day (pic related) and damn it's an awesome read.
It makes me recall what a badass metal country Russia is.
From what I've gathered so far the book basically posits that modern day Russia retains the ethos of the Soviet imperialism but not the content, and has combined it with this this vaguely hypercapitalist yet highly nationalistic system under the direction of Putin and high level government officials. Russia's state is directly supported through a partnership between the nouveau riche business class and Putin's government.
So long as the business oligarchs conduct their affairs in a manner that doesn't interfere with the interests of the state they have the virtual powers of feudal lords to conduct themselves with complete legal immunity and autonomy. Those that don't comply are often ostracized, exiled, have assets seized or frozen, arrested or assassinated.
With "the Russians" in the news again it makes for a timely and revealing read about the cultural, political and ideological maneuverings the Russian state is engaging. Russia's the bear in the room nobody wants to talk about or make sense of.