National Book Award Winner

Fortune Smiles

by Adam Johnson

Summary

Six long stories that range across continents and registers, including a North Korean defector adjusting to Seoul, a programmer building a hologram of a dead president, and a man returning to a hurricane-wrecked New Orleans. Johnson's stories pair speculative premises with sharp psychological detail, exploring guilt, surveillance, and the limits of empathy. The collection showcases his range and his interest in characters caught between systems.

Historical Context & Significance

Johnson won this shortly after winning the Pulitzer for 'The Orphan Master's Son', marking a rare sweep of major prizes.