Lies divide the world - but so does the truth. Tom Larsen once devoured the outlandish stories of the Bolingbrook Babbler, mesmerized by tales of UFOs and monsters lurking in the shadows. Now a member of the skeptical movement, he's more interested in debunking the garish lies he once believed. When a drunken incident allows a woman to publicly humiliate him, Tom doubles down on a career of antagonistic commentary. Then, three years later, a chance to confront her and expose her anti-skeptic agenda falls into his lap. Determined to publicize the truth as he knows it, Tom unwittingly unearths rifts that go beyond his town's - and even the galaxy's - borders. As he pursues his goal, he forges new alliances with old enemies, and encounters weredeer, secret societies, and even time travel. But each encounter changes Tom's perspective more than the last. And the closer he gets to the truth, the less simple it looks... Aliens, gender politics, and conspiracy theories collide in this X-Files meets Fargo urban fantasy sci-fi set in Chicagoland.
Autorentext
In William Brinkman's world, suburban sidewalks lead to secret conspiracies, emotional reckonings, and the occasional enraged weredeer. He writes urban fantasy with a blend of satire and heart, offering humanistic views of the real world through a supernatural lens.
Since 1999, he's published the Bolingbrook Babbler blog, which inspired?but remains separate from?his fiction. One of his novels was shortlisted for a 2024 Indieverse Award.
A former Bolingbrook resident, William now lives in suburban Chicagoland with his wife and two cats.