[4] Various other characters in the novel include Billy Idaho, who is a Utah Beach veteran and narrates the history of Los Angeles to Walker.

Another veteran Frank, known as "Glassface", was the victim of torture by Nazi Party's Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth).

Pike is a reporter and his character is used to represent the future youth and internet culture of selfies.

[6] The Washington Post's Sibbie O'Sullivan calls the novel "a propulsive verbal tour de force" comparing it with works of Homer and T. S.

[8] It won the 2018 Goldsmiths Prize with Adam Mars-Jones, who chaired the judging committee, calling it "a film noir verse novel full of blinding sunlight and lingering shadows, technically accomplished, formally resourceful and emotionally unsparing".