First published 2002
Will Farnaby wakes on Pala, a lush island nation untouched by global capitalism and industrial madness. Shipwrecked and initially disoriented, he discovers a society that has engineered a radical alternative to Western civilization—a place where meditation, sexual openness, and collective wisdom replace competition and repression. But Pala faces an existential threat: neighboring oil-rich Rendang wants to exploit the island's resources, and powerful economic interests see this utopian experiment as a dangerous challenge. As foreign powers circle like vultures, Pala's unique culture must defend itself against invasion, commodification, and destruction. Farnaby becomes an unexpected witness to a fragile civilization's potential last stand.
Genres: dystopia, 20th-century, adventure, alternate-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, last-stand
Setting: Pala, Rendang
Period: 20th-Century
354 pages · Paperback · Harper Perennial Classics