Matt Ruff in Conversation With Christopher Moore

Matt Ruff, the critically acclaimed author of Lovecraft Country, returns with 88 Names (Harper), a thrilling and immersive virtual reality epic — part cyberthriller, part twisted romantic comedy — that transports you to a world where identity is fluid and nothing can be taken at face value. John Chu is a “sherpa” — a paid guide to online role-playing games. For a fee, he and his crew will provide you with a top-flight character equipped with the best weapons and armor, and take you dragon-slaying, hunting rogue starships, or battling hordes of undead in the zombie apocalypse. Chu’s new client claims to be a “wealthy, famous person” with powerful enemies, and he’s offering a ridiculous amount of money for a comprehensive tour of the world of virtual-reality gaming. For Chu, this is a dream assignment, but as the tour gets underway, he begins to suspect that Mr. Jones is really North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. What begins as a whirlwind online adventure soon spills over into the real world. Now Chu must use every trick and resource at his disposal to stay one step ahead — because in real life, there is no reset button. Ruff will be joined in conversation by Christopher Moore, author of Shakespeare for Squirrels, Secondhand Souls, and Sacré Bleu.

Register for the Zoom event  /  Buy the Book