Darryl and Kanga are brothers with a deep, dark secret that could get them killed. You see, the boys are robots, hiding in plain sight among their robophobic human neighbors in 1990’s small-town Michigan. Darryl—the “mom” of the pair—is content for he and his brother to fly under the radar as forgettable weirdos, avoiding any undue attention. But when Kanga shows a preternatural talent for basketball and makes the junior varsity team, both of the boys are thrust into the spotlight and the danger of being discovered increases exponentially. Don’t miss this darkly funny, charming story of brotherhood, xenophobia, and the age-old question of free will versus…programming.
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"The Obsoletes is inventive, moving, and funny, a perfectly weird and weirdly perfect novel about basketball, fitting in, and the robot in all of us."
Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins
"This weird poignant novel will resonate with anyone who loved Grasshopper Jungle - or ever had a secret - or known that they're different from the fine ordinary upstanding folks they see every day - and that the difference could get them killed. Raw and unforgettable."
Sam J Miller, award-winning author of The Art of Starving
"Alternating between antic comedy, freak-out horror, and existential angst, The Obsoletes does the seeming impossible: it makes the joys and terrors of adolescence seem fresh and new."
J. Robert Lennon, author Broken River
"If this book were a robotic rocket ship, I couldn’t have enjoyed the ride more. Crisp, laugh-aloud hilarious, and deeply thought-provoking, The Obsoletes is a clear, smart lens for our corner of history."
Michael Poore, author of Reincarnation Blues