The Immigrants, a tour de force in narrative style, deftly weaves the stories of its several families against the backdrop of burgeoning California culture. In a series of swiftly changing, short scenarios, linked by chance and by compulsion, family history intertwines itself with that of the community and the world at large. The families are tied together personally, economically, and romantically, as are the fortunes of society and the culture as a whole.

What unifies Fast's technical flair, however, is the way his conception of history is embodied not only in narrative, but in character as well. Characters are developed and their motivations are revealed objectively, through scenes of dialogue. People define themselves through commitment and choice, revealed by their actions, which often occur with striking swiftness, creating a frenzied quality which matches the whirlwind, hyperactive quality of life on this particular roller coaster.

The novel is not...