Bubblegum

In an alternate reality where the internet never existed, flesh-and-bone robots called Curios have shaped society since the 1980s. Belt Magnet, a thirty-eight-year-old man still living with his widowed father in greater Chicago, navigates this strange world through his relationship with his beloved Curio companion and the uncertain voices in his head. When his father disappears on a fishing trip, Belt's sheltered existence unravels during what begins as a routine bank visit, ultimately forcing him to confront both the intimidating outside world and his estranged childhood friend Jonboat, now a famous astronaut and billionaire.

The stellar trio of narrators brings remarkable depth to Levin's ambitious alternate universe. Mark Deakins, Michael Crouch, and Julia Whelan skillfully navigate the novel's complex blend of humor and pathos, giving distinct voices to Belt's fragmented perspective and the eccentric characters surrounding him. Their performances capture both the absurdist elements of this technology-warped society and the genuine emotional core of Belt's journey toward human connection. The audio format proves ideal for this densely layered narrative, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness reflections and the bizarre yet oddly familiar world Levin has constructed.