(W) Mattie Lubchansky. In 1977* a group called The Spiritual Association of Peers decamps to the woods of the Catskills* taking over an abandoned summer camp. They name their new home Simplicity. In 2081* scholar Lucius Pasternak* a fastidiously organized trans man* tries to keep his head down living in the New York City Administrative and Security Territory* which was founded after the formal dissolution of the United States in 2041. Then* he's offered a job by the mayor* billionaire real estate developer Dennis Van Wervel* to complete an anthropological survey of the people of Simplicity for a history museum he's financing. A wary Lucius is nevertheless drawn in by the people of the small wooded community* intrigued by its strange rituals and in particular by the charming acolyte Amity Crown-Shy. Born and raised on the compound* Amity is comfortable in their own skin* a striking contrast to Lucius' repressed reserve. But Lucius' control starts to slip when he begins to suffer visions both terrifying and sensual visits from beautiful but nightmarish creatures.