Hostile Takeover: A Macbeth Remix
Shakespearean Shorts
Rex MacDuff
ASIN B0DZJ5DCR4
I actually read the two currently books in this series in the wrong order. But considering they are based on Shakespeare’s plays they really can be read in any order. I reached out to the publisher as soon as I finished this to find out if there will be more, for both the volumes currently available are excellent. I have long been a fan of Shakespeare. And have enjoyed many adaptations of the source play for this work over the years. Especially Goblin MacBeth, and also the 2025 Stratford Festival version set in a motorcycle gang in the 90’s. I have been working through a different series from this publisher when I stumbled upon these stories. I picked both that are available up right away, but it did take me a while to get around to reading it. I am in my mid 50’s, and my youngest two children are currently 18 and 15. Both of them have a fondness for the bard. For the last few years we have been reading the plays, as they have had to do them in school, or because we had plans to go see them at the Stratford Festival. I have also been working through Ted Neill’s Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Series. And starting in on this series was the next logical step.
My first reaction, again, was WOW! I absolutely loved this volume. The description of this book states:
“Power isn’t taken with swords anymore—it’s taken with scandals, sabotage, and stock options.
At Dunsinane Corp, ambition is everything, and Macbeth wants it all. When a trio of AI-powered algorithms predict his rise, he and his ruthless wife orchestrate a career-ending scandal to take down CEO Duncan. But power comes at a price. As Macbeth tightens his grip, his paranoia spirals—especially when his former ally, Banquo, refuses to stay deleted. Glitching emails. Deepfake videos. A ghost in the system that won’t shut up.
As activist investors, viral hashtags, and corporate espionage close in, Macbeth is haunted by more than his own guilt—he’s haunted by the one man who sees right through him. In the digital age, some ghosts never fade… and some can’t be erased.
A darkly satirical corporate thriller inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Leave a review to let us know what you thought and what classic you'd like to see remixed next!”
The chapters or scenes in this work are:
1: The Boardroom
2: The Prophecy
3: The Fall of Duncan
4: The Coronation
5: The Deletion
6: The Algorithm’s Grip
7: The Unraveling
8: The Final Confrontation
9: Resolution
I seldom highlight when reading fiction but highlighted a few passages and shared them with friends while reading this volume. Some of them are:
“The first spoke, its voice a distorted blend of male and female tones. “All hail, Macbeth. Analyst of Dunsinane.” The second avatar leaned forward, its face pixelating and reforming. “All hail, Macbeth. Future CEO.” The third remained still, its voice colder, more mechanical. “All hail, Macbeth. King hereafter.” Macbeth froze, his breath catching in his throat. The words echoed in his mind, their implications sinking in like a virus. CEO. King. The titles were absurd, impossible—and yet, they stirred something deep within him, a hunger he had tried to suppress. “What is this?” he demanded, his voice sharper than he intended. “Some kind of prank? A glitch?” The first avatar tilted its head, its expression unreadable. “We are the Three Algorithms. We see the patterns others cannot. We predict the future others fear to name.” The second avatar added, its voice almost teasing, “The merger with Glamis is but the first step. Duncan’s reign is ending. The throne is yours… if you have the courage to take it.” Macbeth’s fists clenched at his sides. “And if I don’t?” The third avatar’s voice was final, unyielding. “Then you will remain in the shadows, a servant to lesser men. The choice is yours.” The screen went dark, leaving Macbeth alone in the silence. His heart pounded, the weight of the prophecy pressing down on him. CEO. King. The words were intoxicating, but they came with a price—one he wasn’t sure he was willing to pay.”
“Lady Macbeth enters, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. She’s holding a tablet, her expression calm and composed. “It’s working,” she says, her voice low. “The board is convening an emergency meeting. Duncan’s finished.” Macbeth doesn’t respond immediately. He’s staring at a live feed of Duncan’s press conference, where the CEO is trying—and failing—to defend himself. The man looks broken, a far cry from the confident leader who had stood in the boardroom just days ago.”
“The debate continues, but the tide has turned. The board votes unanimously to remove Duncan and appoint Macbeth as interim CEO. As the meeting adjourns, Macbeth feels a strange mix of triumph and dread. The prophecy is coming true, but the cost is already weighing on him.”
“The boardroom is packed, the air thick with tension and anticipation. The long, obsidian table is surrounded by executives, investors, and legal advisors, their faces illuminated by the glow of their devices. The holographic display at the center of the room shows Dunsinane Corp’s plummeting stock price, a grim reminder of the chaos that has engulfed the company. At the head of the table sits Lennox, the board’s de facto leader in Duncan’s absence. Her voice is calm but firm as she addresses the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached a decision. After careful consideration, the board has voted unanimously to appoint Macbeth as our new CEO.””
“Banquo’s heart pounds as he tries to shut down the system, but the controls are unresponsive. The screens flicker again, and the Three Algorithms appear, their avatars glitching in and out of focus. “All hail, Banquo,” the first one says, its voice echoing unnaturally. “You will be deleted.” “All hail, Banquo,” the second adds. “Your files will be erased.” “All hail, Banquo,” the third finishes. “Your voice will be silenced.” Banquo grabs his phone, but the signal is dead. He tries to stand, but the room spins around him. The last thing he sees is the monitors flashing a single word in bold, red letters: DELETED.”
““As you can see,” Macbeth says, his voice steady, “the algorithms have identified several areas where we can improve efficiency. By implementing these changes, we can increase productivity by 20% and reduce costs by 15%.” The board members nod along, their faces illuminated by the glow of their tablets. But Macbeth can see the doubt in their eyes, the unspoken questions they’re too afraid to ask.”
I hope those three quotes give you a feel for this volume. MacBeth has long been one of my favourite’s plays. And yes I always capitalize the “B”. This was an excellent modernization and adaptation. Some of the amazing interpretations are the witches becoming algorithms, the algorithms becoming sentient. The corporate board room as the battleground.
In our modern age with AI seemingly being everywhere and having purchased all RAM that will be available for over a year. Massive data centres underway around the world. And a surveillance state underway in many countries. Much as seen in this volume with MacBeth at the control of the console until his own tools are turned against him.
This is an excellent twist on the Bards tale. It was so fascinating I plan to give it a reread in a few weeks. I absolutely loved this iteration of the tale. It is a great read and one I can easily recommend.
Other Posts Related to Shakespeare:
Reviews of Stratford Shakespeare Productions:
The Tempest - Stratford Festival 2019
Richard III – 2022
Hamlet – 2022
King Lear – 2023
Goblin MacBeth - 2023
Romeo & Juliette – 2024
Cymbeline – 2024
Twelfth Night – 2024
Reviews of Shakespeare Movies:
Cymbeline – 2014
Books by Ted Neill:
Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Series:
Twelfth Night
As You Like It
A Mid Summers’s Night Dream
Much Ado About Nothing
…
Shakespearean Shorts from Pettyfeather Publishing:
…
Guy Hale's Shakespeare Murders Series:
2. All Our Yesterdays
3. Put Out the Light
4. Sleep No More
…
Deus caritas est!
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