Sodom and Gomorrah, Texas

R. A. Lafferty's Sodom and Gomorrah, Texas is a wildly inventive tale of bureaucratic chaos colliding with frontier eccentricity. When Manuel, an unqualified census taker who can't read maps and counts animals alongside people, is dispatched to document his assigned sector, disaster unfolds in the most unexpected ways. Armed with nothing but a nice round handwriting style, Spanish fluency, and his companion Mula, Manuel sets out to faithfully execute his duties—interpreting his vague instructions with literal precision. This fantastical literary fiction presents a delightfully surreal exploration of how miscommunication and ambiguous rules can spiral into absurdity. Set in the desolate mountains of Santa Magdalena, the narrative weaves together dark humor, philosophical quirks, and the peculiar characters who inhabit this forgotten corner of Texas. Lafferty's distinctive voice transforms what might seem like a simple government task into something far stranger and more meaningful, examining themes of authority, belonging, and the absurd nature of human classification systems. Perfect for readers who appreciate unconventional storytelling, satirical humor, and speculative fiction that doesn't follow conventional rules, this audiobook offers a refreshingly original listening experience that lingers long after the final page.