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Novels Navigating Loneliness & Authenticity in the Digital Age

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Saturday, November 16

Capitol Extension Room: E2.016 (1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701)

In a world increasingly defined by disconnection, the characters in Five-Star Stranger and Loneliness & Company navigate the complexities of identity and relationships through unconventional means. Kat Tang's protagonist on the Rental Stranger app explores the blurred lines between pretense and reality as he confronts his past and present, meanwhile Charlee Dyroff's protagonist becomes entangled in a secret government project aimed at combating loneliness through the use of an AI “friend.” Both of these unique debut novels focus on the profound effects of isolation, the quest for belonging, and the challenges of forging authentic connections in a fragmented society.