Tim O'Brien Releases "America Fantastica", His First Novel in Two Decades, Satirizing Consequences of Misinformation
"America Fantastica" Highlights Societal Damage of Rampant Disinformation; Fictitiously Explores US Struggles Post-Trump Era Through Satirical Crime Caper and Unexpected Characters.
- Tim O'Brien's novel 'America Fantastica' satirizes the impact of misinformation in the US, spotlighting a society deeply affected by the widespread dispersal of untruths, especially in the post-Trump era.
- The protagonist, Boyd Halverson, a compulsive liar and disgraced journalist, embarks on a crime caper across America, intended as a pursuit of revenge on the man who ruined his journalism career.
- Throughout his journey, Halverson confronts a life built on lies and deception, grappling with an epidemic O'Brien refers to as 'mythomania': the interchangeability of truth and falsehood that has pervaded American society.
- O'Brien's narrative contends with the undermining of democracy through this widespread dissemination of lies, as he charts the journey of Halverson's escapades and the consequences of his actions.
- Through the daring escapades of his unlikely bandits, O'Brien delivers a dark yet comedic exploration of American society, reflecting on the potency of fantasy, delusion, and the necessity of superbly crafted lies for survival in today's world.
Associated Press 