Starvation and plagues have emptied American suburbs as survivors flee to cities where they don't need cars or gasoline. People cook soybeanloaf dinners in infrabakes. Although some might enjoy wielding such power, George is terrified of dreaming something catastrophic and destroying the world. The psychiatrist sees George as his ticket to a prestigious job and maybe to world peace if there's time. Unfortunately, George dreams about aliens landing on Earth, and they do.
People feel lucky if they eat pig liver for dinner.
In this future, people carry around karma cards with magnetic strips on which karma can be added or subtracted. A karma card registering zero or less is a death sentence. Lethem's other big product innovation is a class of drugs called Acceptol, Forgettol, Believol and Avoidol, which can be brewed to order for an individual's psychological needs. I'm not a believer myself. Playgs kilt peopl off and naminals nor there werent nothing growit in the groun.