Description
Babylon, South Dakota: A Novel
From the acclaimed author of The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu comes a sweeping multigenerational novel that blends historical fiction, family drama, and subtle elements of the extraordinary against the backdrop of the American Midwest.
Seeking a fresh start, Saul Keng Hsiu and his wife, Mei Lee, leave China for the United States after inheriting a 160-acre homestead in South Dakota. Arriving with little more than determination, a small cache of gold, and a handful of chrysanthemum seeds, they face the challenges of building a life in an unfamiliar land. Through perseverance and hard work, they transform the rugged property into a thriving farm and welcome their daughter, Mara, into the world.
Their quiet existence begins to change when the U.S. Army acquires a section of their land to construct a missile silo. As the project advances, strange occurrences emerge around the farm. Mara discovers an unusual connection with the animals, Mei uncovers a gift for interpreting signs and omens, and the family’s chrysanthemums begin displaying remarkable resilience. As they learn more about the military installation and its role in America’s nuclear strategy, the Hsius find themselves caught between ordinary life and forces far larger than themselves.
Over the decades that follow, the silo’s presence continues to shape the family’s destiny. Generations of the Hsiu family experience moments of wonder, hardship, mystery, and loss as the consequences of past decisions ripple through time. Their story becomes one of survival, belonging, and the enduring bond between people and the land they call home.
Richly imagined and deeply moving, Babylon, South Dakota explores themes of family, identity, power, and legacy. It is a powerful meditation on how history echoes across generations and a compelling portrait of the connections that unite us despite distance, culture, and time.
Babylon, South Dakota: A Novel
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