Vernon Rivers is told the date of his death: his first anniversary. Faced with a situation that parallels that of Victor Frankenstein, Vernon must navigate his final year balancing his needs with the needs of those who depend on him, all while none of them know the reality of his dilemma.

In this homage to Mary Shelley's classic story, Vernon shares the spotlight with Autumn, his optimistic and practical wife who is fighting an uphill battle with her community; Miles, the hesitant teacher who is searching for any sign of success; Eudora, the cunning principal who finds herself at a crossroads in her career; Ernie, a soul trapped in the American South who has nothing left to lose; and Janecia and Ambrose, two students whose stories are just beginning to be told.

These characters are woven into a tale that pits time against memory, greatness against mediocrity, and supernatural elements against the familiar and disenchanting burdens the setting presents.

I think Mr. Mahoney has tapped into a nuanced narrative position that echoes David Foster Wallace's fiction. Salute.

--John Mauk