Nisbet has written more than once about the schisms in our modern society between the high tech go-go world of dot-coms and the drug- addicted losers and what happens when their paths cross. Here, he takes an unemployed Indian-American scientist whose career was ripped up by corporate downsizing and resizing and the like. He feels lost as he tries to keep up appearances, wandering into open houses in California's steroid fueled housing market. The scientist and his wife are pretty sure the neighbors quietly deal drugs. At least, they appear to only be concerned with getting stoned and working on their tans: the stoner and his ex-stripper girlfriend. This story is a bit like Breaking Bad where a buttoned down straight laced guy gets swept up into a world he barely knew about. There's a lot of stream of consciousness here and commentary on everything from chemical warfare to cable boxes to manners to 9/11. It's an odd book and it is an interesting read. It's shortcomings include the fact that the storyline isn't necessarily compelling and though the main character is drawn well, it's really hard to care about what is happening and, as a reader, you keep waiting for something more.
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