The U.S. has 'come undone' in Emily St. John Mandel's latest : NPR

Key Points:

• Emily St. John Mandel, known for her prescient novel Station Eleven, explores a dystopian future in her latest book, Exit Party, set after the collapse of the United States following a coup d’état and ensuing civil war.
• The story follows Ari, a woman recently released from prison, as she navigates a tense Los Angeles marked by uneasy peace and mysterious occurrences, including a party where guests appear to have duplicates and a disappearance that hints at otherworldly elements.
• Exit Party introduces a dual-theme of doppelgängers, not only among people but also between two versions of America: one fractured by conflict and another controlled by a tranquil surveillance state with hereditary leadership.
• The novel weaves in complex subplots, such as a mysterious painting called "Swan Dive" that appears across time and space, and an action-driven escape plot involving gun smugglers, adding layers to its eerie and intricate narrative.
• Mandel’s work suggests a universe where time is fluid and identities multiply, leaving open the possibility of a new America emerging from the ruins of the old.