Synopses & Reviews
With dry wit and psychological acuity, this near-future novel
explores the aftershocks of an economically devastating U.S. sovereign
debt default on four generations of a once-prosperous American family.
Down-to-earth and perfectly realistic in scale, this is not an
over-the-top Blade Runner tale. It is not science fiction.
In
2029, the United States is engaged in a bloodless world war that will
wipe out the savings of millions of American families. Overnight, on the
international currency exchange, the “almighty dollar” plummets in
value, to be replaced by a new global currency, the “bancor.” In
retaliation, the president declares that America will default on its
loans. “Deadbeat Nation” being unable to borrow, the government prints
money to cover its bills. What little remains to savers is rapidly eaten
away by runaway inflation.
The Mandibles have been counting on a
sizable fortune filtering down when their ninety-seven-year-old
patriarch dies. Once the inheritance turns to ash, each family member
must contend with disappointment, but also—as the U.S. economy spirals
into dysfunction—the challenge of sheer survival.
Recently
affluent, Avery is petulant that she can’t buy olive oil, while her
sister, Florence, absorbs strays into her cramped household. An expat
author, their aunt, Nollie, returns from abroad at seventy-three to a
country that’s unrecognizable. Her brother, Carter, fumes at caring for
their demented stepmother, now that an assisted living facility isn’t
affordable. Only Florence’s oddball teenage son, Willing, an economics
autodidact, will save this formerly august American family from the
streets.
The Mandibles is about money. Thus it is
necessarily about bitterness, rivalry, and selfishness—but also about
surreal generosity, sacrifice, and transformative adaptation to changing
circumstances.
Review
"This is a sharp, smart, snarky satire of every conspiracy theory and hot
button political issue ever spun; one that, at first glance, might
induce an absurdist chuckle, until one realizes that it is based on an
all-too-plausible reality.” Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
"A provocative and very funny page-turner..."--Wall Street Journal
With dry wit and psychological acuity, this near-future novel explores the aftershocks of an economically devastating U.S. sovereign debt default on four generations of a once-prosperous American family. Down-to-earth and perfectly realistic in scale, this is not an over-the-top Blade Runner tale. It is not science fiction.
In 2029, the United States is engaged in a bloodless world war that will wipe out the savings of millions of American families. Overnight, on the international currency exchange, the almighty dollar plummets in value, to be replaced by a new global currency, the bancor. In retaliation, the president declares that America will default on its loans. Deadbeat Nation being unable to borrow, the government prints money to cover its bills. What little remains to savers is rapidly eaten away by runaway inflation.
The Mandibles have been counting on a sizable fortune filtering down when their ninety-seven-year-old patriarch dies. Once the inheritance turns to ash, each family member must contend with disappointment, but also as the U.S. economy spirals into dysfunction the challenge of sheer survival.
Recently affluent, Avery is petulant that she can t buy olive oil, while her sister, Florence, absorbs strays into her cramped household. An expat author, their aunt, Nollie, returns from abroad at seventy-three to a country that s unrecognizable. Her brother, Carter, fumes at caring for their demented stepmother, now that an assisted living facility isn t affordable. Only Florence s oddball teenage son, Willing, an economics autodidact, will save this formerly august American family from the streets.
The Mandibles is about money. Thus it is necessarily about bitterness, rivalry, and selfishness but also about surreal generosity, sacrifice, and transformative adaptation to changing circumstances.
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