Arthur Nersesian's Five Books of Moses
A New Series by the Author of the Cult-Classic The Fuck-Up
The series is a departure from the mix of gritty realism and dark humor of his previous novels of individuals struggling against social forces in the face of an unforgiving city. It revolves around an alternate New York; New York, Nevada, aka "Rescue City," and it's seemingly dual identity as both refugee camp and penal colony following a terrorist attack on the real New York that required it's evacuation. Divided into political gangs, the citizens of this alternate New York wage war on one another for control of the city.
Alternate History
In addition to creating a fictional New York in the Nevada desert, the Moses Series also creates a fictional history of New York, and it's denizens in the 70s and 80s. Chiefly among these are the fictionalized life stories of Robert Moses, the urban planner and developer whose construction projects radically changed the face of real-life New York, and his brother Paul Moses, for whom the series is named.
Protagonist
The ongoing Protagonist of the series is Uli Sarkisian, a character who Todd Dills in his review of the second book, considered a hero in the epic tradition and equated his story to that of Homer's Odysseus in The Odyssey.
The character can also be seen as the author's literary alter-ego, fictionalizing the feeling of being trapped in a city one no longer recognizes as home. Nersesian expressed some of this feeling in an interview-conversation with author friend Kate Christensen at the 21st annual Indie & Small Press Book Fair, saying "I kind of feel like I don't know present day New York anymore...It's like a whole different city...I just don't recognize it." Nersesian shapes these feelings of alienation into the character of Uli as he encounters the fictional New York, Nevada and the counter-factual history of New York, NY.
The Power of Memory
The power of memory, and our perceptions and understandings of history are called into question in the series. Throughout the first two books, the protagonist Uli struggles to overcome amnesia and recover his identity, while at the same time trying to piece together the history of New York and it's corrupted Nevada twin. Uli must also cope with his connection to the Moses brothers, and struggle to realize just what the nature of that connection might be, and how it might play a part in the roles he and everyone else trapped in Rescue City find themselves playing.
Five Books, Five Boroughs
Each of the books in the series is named after, and the plot revolves around, one of the five Boroughs of New York. They are:
- Part 1: The Swing Voter of Staten Island
- Part 2: The Sacrificial Circumcision of the Bronx
- Part 3: (Title Forthcoming) Brooklyn
- Part 4: (Title Forthcoming) Queens
- Part 5: (Title Forthcoming) Manhattan
Note that while the third book has been rumored to focus on Brooklyn, the precise order of the final three books, and their focus boroughs remains unknown.
For More Information
To read more, or to purchase books in the series, check out Arthur Nersesian's website.
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