MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has released her latest novel, "Last Days in Two Nations (A History in Eighteen Minds)", a dystopian work serialized on the Substack platform. The book, which became available on August 8, presents a fragmented narrative exploring a partial fascist takeover of the United States.
The novel is structured from multiple perspectives and is set in a fictional two-state conflict between the "Still United" States and a breakaway territory in the Dakotas. Among its characters are two rival leaders: an unnamed figure referred to as "President priss," who is described as a daydreamer, and a "sex-crazed" South African surgeon, identified as President Damian Paxton. Paxton, based in Rapid City, is depicted as having a voracious sexual appetite, with the text detailing his boasts of engaging with multiple women daily.
Scott, who received $38 billion in Amazon stock following her 2019 divorce from Bezos, is publishing the 320-page novel for free to subscribers. This marks her third published book and her first since the divorce. Her previous works of fiction include "The Testing of Luther Albright: A Novel" and "Traps."
Scott studied creative writing at Princeton University under acclaimed author Toni Morrison. The current novel's release eschews traditional promotion, with Scott not engaging in public relations or interviews for the project. Her agent has not responded to requests for comment.
Early installments of "Last Days in Two Nations" have garnered approximately 6,000 subscribers on Substack. The book's publication strategy on the subscription platform allows for free access to its content, a model that removes financial pressure related to sales. Scott has previously donated a significant portion of her wealth, having given away approximately $26 billion to various charitable causes.