Telecom technology (pay phones, cordless phones, giant car phones!), the always reliable marker of a story's era, is the only element that prevents us from assuming this novel isn't set in 2025. I'm not sure I needed more reasons to feel rage towards my own race -- and even political leanings -- but TC Boyle expertly skewers all of us, hypocritical liberals in particular, in the context of immigration, brown people, unhoused people and humanity. Incredible writing. Thoroughly gripping.