In a world where the horror of nuclear war has been superseded by a bomb that literally makes the physical world — and its contents — disappear, Gonzo Lubitsch and his nameless best friend head up the Haulage and HazMat Emergency Freebooting Company, a ragged band of troubleshooters who take care of problems in the aftermath of the Gone Away War. Through their lives pass ninjas, mimes, pirates, parents and specters surpassing the most active imagination, leading to revelations that shock the reader and stun the soul — but permeating all is the unmistakable stamp of love in its many and varied forms. The Gone-Away World is a literary masterpiece, and Nick Harkaway is a genius practitioner.

Literary trivia: Harkaway is the son of British spymaster John le Carré.