Landscape with Invisible Hand

De: M. T. Anderson

Narrado por: M. T. Anderson

National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson returns to future Earth in a sharply wrought satire of art and truth in the midst of colonization.

When the vuvv first landed, it came as a surprise to aspiring artist Adam and the rest of planet Earth - but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Can it really be called an invasion when the vuvv generously offered free advanced technology and cures for every illness imaginable? As it turns out, yes. With his parents' jobs replaced by alien tech and no money for food, clean water, or the vuvv's miraculous medicine, Adam and his girlfriend, Chloe, have to get creative to survive. And since the vuvv crave anything they deem classic Earth culture (doo-wop music, still life paintings of fruit, true love), recording 1950s-style dates for the vuvv to watch in a pay-per-minute format seems like a brilliant idea. But it's hard for Adam and Chloe to sell true love when they hate each other more with every passing episode. Soon enough, Adam must decide how far he's willing to go - and what he's willing to sacrifice - to give the vuvv what they want.

©2017 M. T. Anderson, original book published by Candlewick Press. (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"M.T. Anderson's narration shows deep knowledge of his invented world.... Anderson provides plenty of vocal variety for a compelling story that dramatizes the social injustice of wealth disparity." (AudioFile)

Haunting ideas

I had to read the book because the movie was haunting me. They go to very different places. In many ways, I prefer the film, but the ending of the book gave me some closure that the film lacked.

Interesting Story, but…

There are a couple of very disturbing indications of American “public education” in this. The word is surveil, not survey. Surface, not service. Normally I would attribute such mistakes to the narrator, but in this case, the author read it, as well. When I have encountered such things with my students, a few questions revealed that they had not even done the reading, let alone written the paper. Their sister did it for them. I’m not sure what is actually going on in this case, but it is strange. It IS a very interesting metaphor for automation and extreme wealth, with aliens as a thinly veiled metaphor for personified capitalism.

A Fun and Strange Little Story

It’s a fun concept that doesn’t overextend itself. Worth spending the time on, especially since it’s not much time.

Brilliant book and amazing performance!

This idea has been on my mind sense I read the book recommended by my mother. We both love stores like these I wish it had gone on forever!