A city planner hired by a seemingly benevolent Latin despot of a Brasilia-like city is drawn into a web of intrigue as he discovers the horrible secret behind the city's apparent stability. The convoluted and bizarre plot is based on something quite foreign to storytelling (I won't spoil it by revealing what it is), according to the author. It has moments of interest, but is ultimately unsatisfying, as the resolution winds down awkwardly. ( )