Lions

Nadzam’s (Lamb) somber and memorable novel is a tale of a small, dying American town, a victim of economic despair, bad weather, and population apathy. Lions, Colo., is an arid high-plains farming community with barely a pulse. It’s 2013 and most businesses and farms are gone, along with most of the people. Those who remain, including the Walker family, see their lives circling the drain. Teenager Gordon Walker and his girlfriend, Leigh Ransom, plan a happy future together anywhere but in Lions. When a stranger walks into town, their future evaporates, and a series of strange disasters befalls the town. Lions’s population is 117, but it won’t take long for that number to shrink drastically; residents can’t even drink the water. Meanwhile, with his father on his deathbed, Gordon is asked to perform a peculiar task that will forever change the boy’s life. Gordon becomes more and more withdrawn and morose, and Leigh worries they will never leave Lions. Nadzam weaves a strange and mesmerizing story, and by the end, the community of Lions reaches mythic status. Agent: Kate Johnson, Wolf Literary. (July)