The Butt

Hardcover.

Following the critically acclaimed The Book of Dave, Will Self's latest novel examines moral certitude in the post-9/11 era.
When Tom Brodzinksi tries to give up smoking, he inadvertently sets off a chain of events that threaten to upset the tenuous balance of peace in a not-too-distant dystopian land. Flipping the butt of his final cigarette off the balcony of his vacation apartment, it lands on the head of elderly Reggie Lincoln, lounging on the balcony below. Lincoln suffers a burn, and the local authorities charge Tom with assault--in a country with draconian anti-smoking laws, a cigarette is a weapon of offense. To make matters worse, Lincoln's wife is a member of a mystical tribe, whose customary laws are incorporated into the civil statute. For reparation, Tom must leave his family behind and wander through the arid heat of the clan's deserted territory. Joining Tom on his journey is Brian Prentice, a mysteriously sinister presence, who has his own sins to make up for. Inevitably, the two men encounter violence, forcing them to come together despite their seething mistrust.
A profoundly disturbing allegory of global politics in a post-9/11 world, The Butt showcases Self's talents as a writer of darkly comic social commentary.

Ficção / Literatura Estrangeira / Romance