In 'Gods Without Men,' Hari Kunzru weaves a complex narrative that converges in the vast expanse of the Mojave Desert. Jaz and Lisa Matharu's world turns upside down when their autistic son, Raj, mysteriously vanishes during a family vacation. His sudden disappearance draws them into a public nightmare, but the Mojave, a place of ancient and enigmatic energies, adds another layer to their ordeal. After Raj returns as strangely as he left, peculiarly altered, the Matharus' destinies become intertwined with a diverse cast of characters. These include a washed-up British rock star fleeing his own ruins, an ex-cult follower still yearning for alien epiphanies, and a young Iraqi refugee involved in military exercises with a Marine. Their entangled stories unfold near the Pinnacles, a jagged geological marvel, echoing the myriad souls that wandered these surreal landscapes before them. 'Gods Without Men' is a labyrinthine tale of human lives spiraling through chaos, a profound meditation on the elusive patterns of existence.