Tree of Smoke

Tree of Smoke -- the name given to a ‘psy op’ that might or might not be hypothetical and might or might not be officially sanctioned -- is Denis Johnson’s most gripping, visionary and ambitious work to date. Set in south-east Asia and the US, and spanning two decades, it ostensibly tells the story of Skip Sands, a CIA spy who may or may not be engaged in psychological operations against the Viet Cong -- but also takes the reader on a surreal yet vivid journey, dipping in and out of characters’ lives to reveal fundamental truths at the heart of the human condition.

Denis Johnson is the author of several novels, including Already Dead (published by Picador), Resuscitation of a Hanged Man, Fiskadoro,The Stars at Noon, Angels and The Name of the World, plus a collection of short stories, Jesus' Son, and four volumes of poetry. He lives in northern Idaho.