How is the novel, Emperor of America, satirical?

The Emperor of America is a satire, and as such, it exaggerates the weaknesses of its subjects, so that readers can see what Condon thinks are the real ills in American society.

Condon excels at ridiculous descriptions. For instance, he allows Chay to design his own military uniforms so that he may appear in some scenes with bizarrely tailored, multicolored uniforms, with rows of medals on the left side. These medals glow like Christmas tree lights, and they weigh so much that the small Chay must counterbalance them with weights hidden in the right side of his uniform. His figure is topped with the sideways homburg, creating a notably funny, satirical picture.