Tropic of Orange

An apocalypse of race, class, and culture, fanned by the media and the harsh L.A. sun.

"Fiercely satirical. . . . Yamashita presents [an] intricate plot with mordant wit." -New York Times Book Review

"A stunner. . . . An exquisite mystery novel. But this is a novel of dystopia and apocalypse; the mystery concerns the tragic flaws of human nature." -Library Journal (starred review)

"Brilliant. . . . An ingenious interpretation of social woes." -Booklist (starred review)

"Yamashita handles her eccentrics and the setting of their adventures with panache. David Foster Wallace meets Gabriel Garcia Marquez." -Publishers Weekly

Irreverently juggling magical realism, film noir, hip hop, and chicanismo, Tropic of Orange takes place in a Los Angeles where the homeless, gangsters, infant organ entrepreneurs, and Hollywood collide on a stretch of the Harbor Freeway. Hemmed in by wildfires, it's a symphony conducted from an overpass, grandiose, comic, and as diverse as the city itself.