Oval

Wilk’s provocative if flawed debut highlights the difficulties of idealism and the dangers of corporations co-opting progressive goals. In a near-future Berlin with astronomical housing costs, 20-something scientist Anja and her artist-turned- “disruption consultant” boyfriend Louis live in an experimental sustainable community. The perpetual malfunctions of the house compound their struggles with strict rules such as composting all trash they produce (they surreptitiously discard it offsite), limiting their use of climate control, and not smoking. When Louis returns from his mother’s funeral in Indiana, Anja worries about his ostensible lack of grief. Howard, an ex-boyfriend and the slick PR face of the mega-corporation where Anja works, suddenly announces her project on self-constructing cartilage-based architecture has been canceled, but she will be immediately rehired as a consultant with hazy duties. Anja, who works despite having a large trust fund, suspects a conspiracy and enlists her former lab partner Michel and unfocused quasiactivist friends Laura and Dam for emotional and investigative support. As Anja grows increasingly cold to him, Louis reveals he has been feverishly developing a drug designed to make people more generous. Before launching distribution through Berlin’s clubs, he convinces Anja to try it out with spiraling, unexpected consequences. While the parts do not gel into a satisfying novel, Wilk’s wry satire poses pressing questions. (June)