Invasion of the Spirit People
Juan Pablo Villalobos author Rosalind Harvey translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:And Other Stories
Published:12th Jul '22
Should be back in stock very soon

The future belongs to the migrant, the outsider, the foreigner. Long live our alien masters!
Juan Pablo Villalobos’s fifth novel adopts a gentle, fable-like tone, approaching the problem of racism from the perspective that any position as idiotic as xenophobia can only be fought with sheer absurdity.
In an unnamed city, colonised by an unnamed world power, an immigrant named Gastón makes his living selling exotic vegetables to eateries around the city. He has a dog called Kitten, who’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and a good friend called Max, who’s in a deep depression after being forced to close his restaurant. Meanwhile, Max’s son, Pol, a scientist away on a scientific expedition into the Arctic, can offer little support.
Gastón begins a quest, or rather three: he must search for someone to put his dog to sleep humanely; he must find a space in which to open a new restaurant with Max; and he must look into the truth behind the news being sent back by Pol: that human life may be the by-product of an ancient alien attempt at colonisation . . . and those aliens might intend to make a return visit.
‘Invasion of the Spirit People is a celebration of friendship and of hope, while casting a wry look at reactionary attitudes. Above all, it is a very entertaining novel, moving along with a spring in its step.’ Nadal Suau, El Mundo
* El Mundo *‘An extraordinary novel that you can read in one sitting and which confirms Villalobos’s place among the great writers of the city. Stories of rootlessness like these are as valuable as a sociological treatise, especially when they let you know that there’s always a friend nearby to give you a hand, which is something that never appears in manuals.’ Jordi Garrigós, Ara
* Ara *'This is a book about xenophobia and racism and the conflicted tug between isolation and community. It makes a fine—and deliciously strange—addition to Villalobos’ already grand personal canon. Wrought with tenderness, wit, and a wonderful sense of absurdity, Villalobos’ latest novel is a triumph.’ Kirkus Starred Review
* KirkISBN: 9781913505363
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 264g
224 pages