"Another Country" is a profound exploration of racial, sexual, and creative issues in 1950s Manhattan. The story follows the lives of various characters, including a jazz drummer, a Southern white woman, and a black playwright, among others. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into their struggles with identity, prejudice, and interpersonal relationships, offering a raw and unflinching portrayal of America's social and cultural landscape during a time of intense change and conflict.

Chuck Burgoyne is a houseguest at the Graveses' summer home. At first he wins them over with polite manners and gourmet breakfasts, but after an absence he returns aggressive and abusive toward the family, sparing only Lydia. After he rescues Lydia from a dangerous undertow she feels obligated to him, even after an uninvited advance while she is half asleep. The family realizes Chuck is a stranger who wormed his way into their lives, and though they fear offending him they secretly plot his undoing.

Don Carpenter's Turnaround goes inside the motion-picture industry and into the lives of its producers, writers, actors, and deal makers. Its central characters are Jerry Rexford, a naive young writer, and Rick Heidelberg, a filmmaker trying to escape being a one-hit wonder. Alexander Hellstrom is a middle-aged mogul whose passionate affair prompts him to question his life. The novel follows how their ambitions and relationships unfold amid Hollywood pressures.

"Martian Time Slip" is a science fiction novel set in a future where humans have colonized Mars. The story follows a group of characters, including a repairman, a government official, and a schizophrenic boy, as they navigate the complexities of Martian society and the challenges of living on a harsh and unforgiving planet. Through their experiences, the book explores themes of time manipulation, mental illness, and the struggle for survival in an alien environment.

"The Gambler" is a novel that explores the psychological implications of addiction, specifically gambling. The story is narrated by a young tutor working in the household of a wealthy Russian general. He becomes obsessed with roulette and falls in love with a beautiful but cruel woman in the general's employ. The narrative delves into his descent into addiction, his tumultuous relationship with the woman he loves, and the impact of his destructive habits on his life and those around him.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Portland's underground queer scene in the 1990s, this novel follows Andrea Morales, a young artist who finds solace and identity within a close-knit community of friends. After a brief, unexpected affair with a man, Andrea becomes pregnant, leading her to navigate the complexities of motherhood while maintaining her connection to the LGBTQ+ world she cherishes. Through a tapestry of humor, heartache, and self-discovery, the story explores themes of belonging, family, and the multifaceted nature of love.

The book revolves around a bank clerk who wakes one morning to find himself under arrest for an unspecified crime. Despite not being detained, he is subjected to the psychological torment of a bizarre and nightmarish judicial process. The story is a critique of bureaucracy, exploring themes of guilt, alienation and the inefficiency of the justice system.

Set against the backdrop of 1960s Los Angeles, this novel explores the cultural clash and personal dislocation experienced by a young couple, Paul and Katherine Cattleman, who move from the East Coast to California. As Paul becomes increasingly absorbed in his work and the allure of the city's vibrant yet superficial lifestyle, Katherine struggles with feelings of isolation and alienation. The story delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world, capturing the essence of a city that is both enchanting and elusive.

The novel follows private detective Lew Archer as he investigates the disappearance of a young boy named Ronny Broadhurst amidst a backdrop of family secrets, environmental devastation, and social unrest in Southern California. As Archer delves deeper, he uncovers a tangled web of deceit, betrayal, and long-buried grievances that link the boy's disappearance to a series of violent events. The story explores themes of human frailty, the consequences of past actions, and the pervasive impact of hidden truths on the present.

This novel tells the story of Seymour "Swede" Levov, a successful Jewish-American businessman and former high school athlete from Newark, New Jersey. Levov's happy and conventional upper middle class life is ruined by the domestic social and political turmoil of the 1960s during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, which in the novel is seen through the eyes of the narrator, Nathan Zuckerman, a budding writer who idolizes the Levovs. The novel portrays the impact of this turmoil on Levov and his family, particularly his rebellious daughter who becomes involved in revolutionary political activities.

The novel explores the tumultuous life of a radio actor and fervent communist named Ira Ringold, whose marriage to a wealthy and sophisticated woman, Eve Frame, ultimately leads to his downfall. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II America and the Red Scare, the story is narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, who learns about Ira's rise and fall through his brother, Murray. The narrative delves into themes of betrayal, political ideology, and personal destruction, as Ira's passionate beliefs and personal relationships collide, resulting in public disgrace and personal ruin.

The Human Stain is a novel that explores the life of Coleman Silk, a classics professor in a small New England town who is forced to retire after accusations of racism. The story delves into Silk's personal history, revealing that he is a light-skinned African American who has been passing as a Jewish man for most of his adult life. His affair with a much younger, illiterate janitor further scandalizes the community. The novel examines themes of identity, race, and the destructive power of public shaming.

A sharp, witty novel that follows a circle of left-leaning New York intellectuals and artists as their lofty political ideals collide with private desires, domestic entanglements, and petty rivalries; through lively dialogue and incisive observation it exposes the hypocrisies, compromises, and ultimately human vulnerabilities of a bohemian community trying to reconcile theory with everyday life in the 1930s.

After the Great Depression, American journalist Emily Wilkes travels to a Europe scarred by World War I and meets Stephen Howard, a wealthy Communist who converts her to his ideals. They return to the United States, marry, and become darlings of the American left in Hollywood, where Emily writes for film and as a novelist while Stephen follows the Party line. When their radicalism falls out of favor they retreat to Paris and tragically unravel. It was published posthumously by literary executor Ron Geering.

"Earth Abides" is a post-apocalyptic novel that follows the story of a geography student who returns from a solo trip in the mountains to find that most of humanity has been wiped out by a deadly plague. As one of the few survivors, he navigates through the deserted world, eventually forming a small community with other survivors. The novel explores themes of survival, the fragility of civilization, and the importance of community in the face of adversity.

"The Day of the Locust" is a novel set in 1930s Hollywood, portraying the dark side of the American dream through the lives of its desperate characters. The protagonist, a young artist from the East Coast, finds himself disillusioned by the superficiality and decay of Hollywood society, which is filled with failed actors, charlatans, and lost souls. The narrative culminates in a violent riot, symbolizing the destructive power of frustrated dreams and the harsh reality of the American dream.