Set against the turmoil of late 1970's Bay Area California, "Karmafornia, I> spins the latest incarnation of a love triangle. When Laura and her boyfriend Walt meet bright arrogant fruitarian Cob at a party, she strikes sparks with him while Walt foresees trouble. Their struggles with history and desire play out against the backdrop of Proposition 13, the Jonestown tragedy, the murders of Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk, the rise of "new wave" punk rock, and the Twinkie defense. 278 pp.

This sequel to Karmafornia finds Walt in Boulder, Colo. in 1981, ready to put down roots. He meets local woman Anna, also recovering from a broken heart, and they fall in love. But he finds himself in the crosshairs of the local narcotics squad, along with his Deadhead housemates, enduring destructive searches of their house.

Laura, last seen killing Cob with a wine-bottle to his head, is out on parole soon, and dreams of re-connecting with Walt. When he learns she's still intent on him, he and Anna form a "coalition of the spineless" as people who believe in the power of humor and...