Hystopia is a 2016 novel by David Means. Literary critic Christian Lorentzen described the novel as "a counterfactual narrative by a Vietnam veteran, named Eugene Allen about his experience in a therapeutic, psychedelics-based trauma recovery program initiated, in the novel's alternate history, by John F. Kennedy."[1] In July 2016, it was longlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize.

Hystopia
AuthorDavid Means
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherFarrar, Straus and Giroux
Published in English
April 19, 2016
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
ISBN9780865479135

Summary edit

Hystopia begins with a framing device to the narrative, presented as a manuscript, also titled 'Hystopia, left by Edward Allen, a Vietnam War veteran who has committed suicide. In this world, a hallucinogenic drug called Tripazoid can trigger a process called "unfolding", which can either help or (more reliably) worsen the PTSD of the Vietnam veterans who take it.

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Best Books of 2016 (So Far)". Vulture. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  2. ^ Alice (July 27, 2016). "Man Booker Prize announces 2016 longlist". Man Booker. Retrieved July 27, 2016.