Big Machine : A Novel
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
Ricky Rice is a middling hustler with a lingering junk habit, a bum knee, and a haunted mind. A survivor of a suicide cult, he scrapes by as a porter at a bus depot in Utica, New York, until one day a mysterious letter arrives, summoning him to enlist in a band of paranormal investigators comprised of former addicts and petty criminals, all of whom had at some point in their wasted lives heard what may have been the voice of God.
Infused with the wonder of a disquieting dream and laced with Victor LaValle's fiendish comic sensibility, Big Machine is a mind-rattling mystery about doubt, faith, and the monsters we carry within us.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
This wonderfully strange and funny novel is like nothing you’ve ever heard. Down on his luck and just barely scraping by, former addict Ricky receives a cryptic invite to leave his old life behind and join a group of Black paranormal investigators in rural Vermont. The self-proclaimed Unlikely Scholars have a specific job in mind for Ricky: catching an elusive higher being. Victor LaValle creates a mesmerizing metaphysical adventure as his lovably flawed band of ex-cons, hoodlums, and scammers attempt to reinvent themselves and their world. Inspired by a real-life co-worker of LaValle’s, Ricky is the perfect reluctant hero—his cynical nature, sarcastic wit, and startling personal history make him immensely sympathetic. Narrator Sean Crisden brings out the unique personality of each character, making for a fun listen. This mind-bending mystery of faith and redemption will make you laugh and think at the same time.
