Mask for the General

Though published in 1987, this book felt to me like it came straight from the late 60's. It's an interesting blend of near future dystopia SF and magical realism. The dystopia is standard, almost to the point of cliche: a post-Collapse America run by the General. The magic revolves around masks, maskmaking, tribalism and animism. These elements provide a serviceable framework for the story, but what makes the novel work is the rich set of very real characters, doing their best but never sure, often wrong, and the ways in which we wear masks even we are not aware of.

I read this when it first came out; I've forgotten most everything but the general feel, and my initial opinion: elegiac; and . . . this book is very, very good.