Name: Landscape with Invisible Hand
ISBN: 9780763687892

M. T. Anderson

When jobs typically done by humans are replaced with alien technology from the vuvv, Adam's parents have no money for food, clean water, or medicine. Adam and his girlfriend Chloe are forced to get creative. Since the vuvv love anything of "classic" Earth culture they begin recording 1950s-style dates which the vuvv watch in a pay-per-minute format. As the money rolls in, how far will Adam be willing to go to give the vuvv what they want?

Landscape with Invisible Hand

Monicap

National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson returns to future Earth in a sharply wrought satire of art and truth in the midst of colonization. When the vuvv first landed, it came as a surprise to aspiring artist Adam and the rest of planet Earth — but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Can it really be called an invasion when the vuvv generously offered free advanced technology and cures for every illness imaginable? As it turns out, yes. With his parents’ jobs replaced by alien tech and no money for food, clean water, or the vuvv’s miraculous medicine, Adam and his girlfriend, Chloe, have to get creative to survive. And since the vuvv crave anything they deem classic Earth culture (doo-wop music, still life paintings of fruit, true love), recording 1950s-style dates for the vuvv to watch in a pay-per-minute format seems like a brilliant idea. But it’s hard for Adam and Chloe to sell true love when they hate each other more with every passing episode. Soon enough, Adam must decide how far he’s willing to go — and what he’s willing to sacrifice — to give the vuvv what they want.

Cindy Lieberman

I picked this up having learned that it is in development as a movie. Supposedly Tiffany Haddish is attached. After reading it, I’m guessing she would play the lead’s mother. It’s not a large part in the book, nor is the character at all funny. But in the hands of the right screenwriter and actor, this larger, funnier role could enhance the story overall. It’s a sad, post-alíen-invasion world where jobs and money have dried up for most natives (Earthlings). The mother is routinely looking for work to help feed the family and has taken in borders. To make things even more depressing, the son has a debilitating disease that causes frequent bowel issues. One star deducted for too many graphic details of when and wherever his illness flares up.