The year is 2045. An authoritarian president is starting his third term. Protests are severely restricted. Privacy is no longer a right. The teenagers in a New Jersey shore town skirt the new laws recklessly—but their freedom is in jeopardy. Charming Cardo supports himself and his ailing father by selling an illegal app. Conservative Midwestern transplant Bob falls in love, inconveniently, with Danai—an undocumented immigrant from Africa who lives under the constant threat of deportation. Elora, a rebellious artist, attracts a cop's unwanted interest, with disastrous results. More recognizable than the dystopia of Orwell's 1984 , Michael Laser's Futura takes aim at the present by envisioning a darker future—balancing its dread with comedy and moments of surprising heroism. Author’s Note: I finished writing Futura just before the 2024 election. Readers can judge for themselves how many of the changes the book warns of have already become realities. -------------------------- "“Laser takes time to bring real pathos to his characters... The result is a narrative that is both engaging and memorable. A deeply felt novel whose characters will feel familiar and fresh all at once.” — Kirkus Reviews “Futura is the contemporary dystopian novel that is second only to George Orwell's iconic dystopian novel 1984 ... A fascinating and compelling read from start to finish, Futura is especially and unreservedly recommended.” — Midwest Book Review Michael Laser's previous novels include Eulogy, My Impending Death, Cheater, Dark & Light, 6-321, and Old Buddy Old Pal. He is also the author of The Word-Lover's Lexicon: A Whimsical Collection of Uncommon, Amusing, and Useful Words (Including the Ones You Meant to Look Up but Didn't).