What if the apocalypse comes slowly? And what if technology will let you hide from it?
On Wednesday, April 9, the Future Tense Book Club will meet in Washington, D.C., to discuss Shovel Ready. The novel, by New York Times Magazine culture editor Adam Sternbergh, imagines a near-future New York City that is decaying while the wealthy who remain take refuge in an alternate reality. Our guide to Sternbergh’s engrossing dystopia: a garbage man turned hit man. In a conversation on Slate, Sternbergh’s editor, Zack Wagman, described the book as “noir, detective, sci-fi world-building, speculative dystopia, and just out-and-out thriller.”
The doors will open at 6 p.m., with the conversation starting at about 6:30.You’ll enjoy free drinks and snacks while we talk about issues raised in Shovel Ready, like the digital divide, escapism, and urban resilience.
The Future Tense Book Club is free, but limited seating is available, so RSVP now to futuretensedc@gmail.com with your name, email address, and any affiliation you’d like to mention. You can RSVP for yourself and a guest, and we’ll send you the top-secret address if you get a ticket.
