Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities

BookLife
Mysteries of Game Theories and Other Oddities begins with a well-researched essay on David Bowie that focuses on the time Bowie spent in Berlin…and the monumental trio of late ‘70s albums that resulted. Bowie’s edgy, mercurial sensibility infuses the rest of the collection’s novellas and short stories that run the gamut from espionage thrillers and dystopian political novellas to intimate and deeply felt coming-of-age stories set in 1970s California.

Raffetto is at his most creative in his novella “The Mysteries of Game Theory.” Raffetto’s compelling portrait of a Los Angeles emerging from a devastating pandemic is thought-provoking, and main character James’s struggles to navigate post-pandemic life and society will surely resonate with readers of contemporary literary fiction.

Through essay, novella, and short story, this vivid collection explores conflict, alienation, perseverance, and David Bowie.

Seattle Book Review
Joseph Raffetto’s Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities is an intriguing and timely collection of writings inspired by the dichotomy between freedom and oppression as well as questions concerning the feasibility and form of a more equal society. It includes an essay, two novellas, and two short stories, which all explore these issues and more. Given the seemingly precarious nature of contemporary society and the increasing distance between the haves and the have-nots, the included works are relevant and thought-provoking, in addition to being entertaining.

Kirkus Reviews
Raffetto’s prose is controlled but always surprising, illustrating vividly ominous scenes for readers. The novellas (The Mysteries of Game Theory and Venice to Venice) are the strongest pieces in the collection. The author’s muscular prose and penchant for forging puzzling narratives find a home inside the genre’s grittiness.

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Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities explores the ever-present tension between freedom and oppression and the desire to build a functional, sustainable world. The new work includes Bowie and the Berlin Wall, a fresh look at David Bowie’s impact on Berlin and the fall of the Wall; Venice to Venice, a novella about sacrifice, martyrdom, and civic redemption; The Mysteries of Game Theory, a post-pandemic thriller; and Inside ’75 / Seeds from ’79, two coming-of-age stories about a young man who fights to escape and find himself.

Bowie and the Berlin Wall
David Bowie’s connection to the Cold War and Berlin goes deeper than the legendary concert he played at the Wall or even the fact that his song “Heroes” was the anthem of divided Berlin. Bowie and the Berlin Wall takes a fresh look at Bowie’s impact on Berlin and the fall of the Wall.

The Mysteries of Game Theory
The Mysteries of Game Theory pits the Western need for freedom and transparency against a shadowy dictatorship that emerges post-pandemic. After two years in quarantine, James discovers it’s a zero-sum game when he must choose between his mysterious new love and his sister, who disappeared during the chaos before the lockdown that threatened to separate them forever.

Venice to Venice
Brian’s opposition to the Iraq war ended his CIA career, but eleven years later he finds himself on the front lines of a new conflict, whose source is jarringly familiar. Venice to Venice captures the consequences of the rush to war as dark forces converge on the two Venices to destroy what they represent.

Inside ’75 / Seeds from ’79
A teen discovers evil, courage, loyalty, first love, and the complexity of breaking out of small-town life in the 1970s. Inside ’75 / Seeds from ’79 delves into teenage life and the importance of Bowie in the 1970s.