Gold Fame Citrus

More about the book

In this highly anticipated debut novel from a celebrated short fiction writer, a love story unfolds in a hauntingly imagined near future ravaged by relentless drought. Southern California has transformed into a surreal landscape, with the Central Valley barren and water sources depleted. Most "Mojavs," hindered by armed vigilantes and bureaucratic indifference, have been evacuated to internment camps. Amidst this chaos, Luz and Ray, two young Mojavs, find refuge in an abandoned mansion in Los Angeles' Laurel Canyon. Once a conservation icon, Luz and Ray, a veteran turned surfer, struggle to survive on rationed cola and scavenged supplies. Their fragile love flourishes in this desolate environment, providing a glimmer of hope. However, their lives change when they encounter a mysterious child, igniting a desire for a better future. They embark on a perilous journey east, facing dangers such as sinkholes, patrolling authorities, and bandits, all under the relentless sun. Rumors of a visionary dowser and his followers, said to have formed a colony near a sea of dunes, haunt their path. This profoundly moving and original narrative delves into the myths we create about ourselves and others, exploring the complex power of relationships and the shape of hope in an uncertain future.