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{"id":7560100413499,"title":"We Are Underlings","handle":"we-are-underlings","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeath is only the beginning.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eZita Chang, Associate Marketing Manager at the Nine Circles, the only theme park devoted to dying, death, and the afterlife, is just another cog in a corporate machine. Determined not to let her grief over her father’s death interfere with work, she takes advantage of an employee perk: asking the Afterlife team to replace Siri with his voice so he can dispense the advice she never wanted while he was alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\tBut when the Executive Director dies under mysterious circumstances weeks before the company’s grand opening, Zita and her coworkers are tasked with programming his reanimated body to keep the launch on schedule. As more colleagues turn up dead, Zita must untangle the mystery in this strange, beautiful celebration of life and death, revolt and redemption.\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2026-03-16T09:00:03-04:00","created_at":"2026-03-13T14:45:20-04:00","vendor":"House of Anansi Press Inc","type":"","tags":["Adult BIPOC Voices","Adult Humor","Adult New Releases","By (author) Lau Doretta","Literary Fiction","pub date: 2026-10-20","Spiderline"],"price":1999,"price_min":1999,"price_max":2699,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43279117221947,"title":"trade paperback","option1":"trade paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781487014308","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"We Are Underlings - trade paperback","public_title":"trade paperback","options":["trade paperback"],"price":2699,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781487014308","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}},{"id":43279117287483,"title":"epub","option1":"epub","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781487014315","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"We Are Underlings - epub","public_title":"epub","options":["epub"],"price":1999,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781487014315","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/houseofanansi.pro\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_c426c4ff-bdde-4d46-a6a4-c1aae7c3efb0.jpg?v=1773427543"],"featured_image":"\/\/houseofanansi.pro\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_c426c4ff-bdde-4d46-a6a4-c1aae7c3efb0.jpg?v=1773427543","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"A red anatomical heart illustration on a black background. Large mint-green dripping text at the top reads We Are Underlings. Pink dripping text at the bottom reads Doretta Lau. A small anatomical label pointing to the bottom of the heart says A Novel.","id":26480730013755,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2400,"width":1575,"src":"\/\/houseofanansi.pro\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_c426c4ff-bdde-4d46-a6a4-c1aae7c3efb0.jpg?v=1773427543"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2400,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/houseofanansi.pro\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_c426c4ff-bdde-4d46-a6a4-c1aae7c3efb0.jpg?v=1773427543","width":1575}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeath is only the beginning.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eZita Chang, Associate Marketing Manager at the Nine Circles, the only theme park devoted to dying, death, and the afterlife, is just another cog in a corporate machine. Determined not to let her grief over her father’s death interfere with work, she takes advantage of an employee perk: asking the Afterlife team to replace Siri with his voice so he can dispense the advice she never wanted while he was alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\tBut when the Executive Director dies under mysterious circumstances weeks before the company’s grand opening, Zita and her coworkers are tasked with programming his reanimated body to keep the launch on schedule. As more colleagues turn up dead, Zita must untangle the mystery in this strange, beautiful celebration of life and death, revolt and redemption.\u003c\/p\u003e"}
{"AlsoRecommendedISBN_0":"9781487004835","AlsoRecommendedISBN_1":"9781487011116","AlsoRecommendedISBN_2":"9781487011116","AlsoRecommendedISBN_3":"9781487006990","BASICMainSubject":"FIC141000","BASICMainSubjectLiteral":"FICTION\/Death, Grief, Bereavement","BiographicalNote":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDORETTA LAU\u003c\/strong\u003e started watching horror movies at age nine and sketch comedy at eleven, which was probably why she ended up completing an MFA in Writing at Columbia University. She spent her days in New York working in children’s publishing and her nights watching musicians work out their inner demons. As a journalist in Hong Kong, she wrote about arts and culture for \u003cem\u003eArtforum\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWall Street Journal Asia\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSouth China Morning Post\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/em\u003e named her short story collection, \u003cem\u003eHow Does a Single Blade of Grass Thank the Sun?\u003c\/em\u003e, as a best book of 2014. The title story was shortlisted for the 2013 Writers’ Trust McClelland \u0026 Stewart Journey Prize. She is currently developing projects for film and television. \u003cem\u003eWe Are Underlings\u003c\/em\u003e is her first novel. Visit dorettalau.com.\u003c\/p\u003e","BISACSubjectLiteral_0":"FICTION \/ Death, Grief, Bereavement","BISACSubjectLiteral_1":"FICTION \/ Literary","BISACSubjectLiteral_2":"FICTION \/ Absurdist","BISACSubject_0":"FIC141000","BISACSubject_1":"FIC019000","BISACSubject_2":"FIC064000","ContributorBio_0":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDORETTA LAU\u003c\/strong\u003e started watching horror movies at age nine and sketch comedy at eleven, which was probably why she ended up completing an MFA in Writing at Columbia University. She spent her days in New York working in children’s publishing and her nights watching musicians work out their inner demons. As a journalist in Hong Kong, she wrote about arts and culture for \u003cem\u003eArtforum\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWall Street Journal Asia\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSouth China Morning Post\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/em\u003e named her short story collection, \u003cem\u003eHow Does a Single Blade of Grass Thank the Sun?\u003c\/em\u003e, as a best book of 2014. The title story was shortlisted for the 2013 Writers’ Trust McClelland \u0026 Stewart Journey Prize. She is currently developing projects for film and television. \u003cem\u003eWe Are Underlings\u003c\/em\u003e is her first novel. Visit dorettalau.com.\u003c\/p\u003e","ContributorRole_0":"By (author)","Contributor_0":"Lau, Doretta (CA)","Description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeath is only the beginning.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eZita Chang, Associate Marketing Manager at the Nine Circles, the only theme park devoted to dying, death, and the afterlife, is just another cog in a corporate machine. Determined not to let her grief over her father’s death interfere with work, she takes advantage of an employee perk: asking the Afterlife team to replace Siri with his voice so he can dispense the advice she never wanted while he was alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\tBut when the Executive Director dies under mysterious circumstances weeks before the company’s grand opening, Zita and her coworkers are tasked with programming his reanimated body to keep the launch on schedule. As more colleagues turn up dead, Zita must untangle the mystery in this strange, beautiful celebration of life and death, revolt and redemption.\u003c\/p\u003e","EAN":"9781487014315","excerpt_0":"https:\/\/biblioshare.org\/BNCservices\/BNCServices.asmx\/Samples?token=fcf85c1c1b298e99\u0026amp;ean=9781487014315\u0026amp;SAN=\u0026amp;Perspective=excerpt\u0026amp;FileNumber=0","Height":"8","HeightCode":"in","Imprint":"Spiderline","NumberOfPages":"336","OtherText_Accolades_0":"\u003cp\u003e“A biting workplace satire, where humanity’s deepest fear becomes the hottest new business venture.” —\u003cstrong\u003eMaria Reva, author of \u003cem\u003eEndling\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_1":"\u003cp\u003e“An original voice—darkly hilarious and kaleidoscopic.” —\u003cstrong\u003eSouvankham Thammavongsa, author of \u003cem\u003ePick a Colour\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_2":"\u003cp\u003e“Part examination of workplace ethics, part zany madcap mystery, \u003cem\u003eWe Are Underlings\u003c\/em\u003e crackles and dazzles with wit, irreverence, and savvy pop culture references.” —\u003cstrong\u003eShashi Bhat, author of \u003cem\u003eDeath by a Thousand Cuts\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_3":"\u003cp\u003e\"A zany romp...[and] a fun murder mystery.\" —\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLiterary Review of Canada\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_4":"\u003cp\u003e“A diabolically entertaining and hilariously disturbing vision of the postmodern hell we just might deserve.” —\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Gordon, author of The Bouncer series and \u003cem\u003eBehind Sunset\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_5":"\u003cp\u003e“A delicious satire of workplace hierarchy in all its dysfunction … and a whodunnit with heart.” —\u003cstrong\u003eClea Young, author of \u003cem\u003eWelcome to the Neighbourhood\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_6":"\u003cp\u003e“With mordant intelligence, wild imagination, and genuine heart, Doretta Lau asks us to take stock of our lives: what we sacrifice, what we miss, and what matters to us most. An essential read for the age of reckless optimization.” —\u003cstrong\u003eThéodora Armstrong, author of \u003cem\u003eWelcome to Sunny Town\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eClear Skies, No Wind, 100% Visibility\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_7":"\u003cp\u003e“I couldn’t love this book more.” —\u003cstrong\u003eEboni Booth, author of \u003cem\u003ePrimary Trust\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_8":"\u003cp\u003e“As a longtime Doretta Lau fan, I'm happy to report that her debut novel is funny and sad and strange in the best possible ways. A revelation from one of Canada's best writers.” —\u003cstrong\u003eEd Park, author of \u003cem\u003eSame Bed Different Dreams \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Long_description_1":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eFRESH AND HIGH-CONCEPT: For fans of Ottessa Moshfegh, Sally Rooney, and Halle Butler, this debut novel satirizes corporate culture, tech fetishism, and our obsession with branding — even in death.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eSHARP AND RELATABLE POV: Zita Chang is a witty, overworked millennial trying to survive late capitalism and her own grief. Her voice balances dark humour and tenderness, making her both absurd and deeply human.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eGENRE-BENDING APPEAL: A darkly comedic whodunnit mixed with equal parts existential absurdism, corporate satire, and emotional depth, \u003cem\u003eWe Are Underlings\u003c\/em\u003e is \u003cem\u003eSorry to Bother You\u003c\/em\u003e meets \u003cem\u003eSeverance\u003c\/em\u003e meets \u003cem\u003eWeekend at Bernie’s\u003c\/em\u003e delivered like a roller coaster.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","OtherText_Review_0":"\u003cp\u003e“Inventive and absurdist … Lau matches clever worldbuilding with dry humor and a sturdy mystery to deliver something truly unique. It’s a ride worth taking.” —\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e, STARRED REVIEW\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_1":"\u003cp\u003e“A hilarious supernatural novel wrapped up in the minutiae of a hellish corporate landscape.” —\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e, STARRED Review\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_2":"\u003cp\u003e“A sharp satire of modern workplaces.” —\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eToronto Star\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_3":"\u003cp\u003e“A blast.” —\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eVancouver Sun\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_ShortDescription_0":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong \u003eA provocative dark workplace comedy of mystery, hijinks, and absurdist despair set at the only theme park devoted to death, dying, and the afterlife.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","ProductFormDescription":"epub","PublicationDate":"2026-10-20","Publisher":"House of Anansi Press Inc","ShortDescription":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong \u003eA provocative dark workplace comedy of mystery, hijinks, and absurdist despair set at the only theme park devoted to death, dying, and the afterlife.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","Subtitle":"A Novel","Width":"5.25","WidthCode":"in"}
We Are Underlings
A provocative dark workplace comedy of mystery, hijinks, and absurdist despair set at the only theme park devoted to death, dying, and the afterlife.
