Hystopia

In David Means' highly anticipated novel Hystopia, set in a twisted version of America at the end of the 1960s, a re-elected President John F. Kennedy has established the Psych Corps to manage the mental health of veterans returning from the Vietnam War. As soldiers have their traumatic memories erased, some veterans struggle with their unresolved pasts, leading to chaos in Michigan. The narrative follows 22-year-old Eugene Allen, a Vietnam veteran, as he endeavors to write a meaningful novel that honors his fallen comrades while confronting his family's tragic history. With a blend of humor and violence, Means explores the complexities of trauma and its aftermath in a story that challenges the notion of overcoming pain.