Summary

Less attends a meeting of the Prize Committee from inside the conversion van while he is in Alabama. The other authors spoke over him as they gave their own opinions of the novels that were nominated for the prize. Finley, the only other queer author on the committee argues that they should not nominate Overman because he disagrees with how the author writes “about queers” (169). When Arthur asks if Finley is suggesting that the author is a “bad gay” the Zoom call shuts off (170). Later, Peter Hunt calls to tell the protagonist that he booked “a lecture tour of the East Coast” (171). Less is confused when his agent suggests that he has already spoken with Balanquin Agency who is organizing the tour but agrees to it when he learns that the fee will be enough to cover the rest of the back...