Dear Committee Members

Professor Jason Fitger inhabits the increasingly precarious world of academia at a struggling Midwest liberal arts college, where his English department faces budget cuts while other programs flourish. Through a series of recommendation letters he writes for students and colleagues, Fitger reveals himself as a curmudgeonly academic whose career disappointments and personal failures have left him bitter yet oddly sympathetic. Each letter becomes an opportunity for him to air grievances about university politics, his stalled writing career, and the general decline of higher education, all while ostensibly advocating for others.

Robertson Dean's narration transforms what could have been a dry epistolary format into a richly entertaining performance. His delivery perfectly captures Fitger's sardonic wit and mounting frustration, giving each letter its own distinct rhythm and emotional weight. Dean navigates the protagonist's passive-aggressive commentary with impeccable timing, allowing the humor to emerge naturally from the character's pompous yet vulnerable voice. The audio format particularly suits this novel's structure, as Dean's performance makes each recommendation letter feel like an intimate confession rather than mere correspondence.