The Californer - New Novel @UGMAN Exposes the Emotional Toll of Social Media

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Acclaimed author Mark Sarvas delivers an urgent exploration of social media's psychological impact through the voice of an internet troll

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- Itna Press announces the June 24, 2025 release of @UGMan a darkly humorous and unsettling new novel that examines social media's broader impact on mental health and human connection.

In this urgent work of literary fiction, Mark Sarvas, the acclaimed author of Harry, Revised and Memento Park, introduces readers to UGMan—a character whose online trolling behavior masks deep sensitivity and growing alienation from an increasingly fractured world. Through UGMan's compelling monologue, the novel masterfully weaves together literary references spanning from Dostoevsky to the Beatles, creating a narrative that is both intellectually rich and devastatingly relevant to contemporary life.

Early praise has highlighted the author's exceptional ear for language and his ability to capture the psychological landscape of our hyperconnected era:

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"The real power of @UGMan is Sarvas's language and his ear for the brutalist logic that governs a life lived on the Socials," notes Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead.

Music historian and Producing the Beatles podcast creator Jason Kruppa calls the work "brisk and lacerating, with important insights regarding an affliction now common to us all."

Author Maud Newton, whose Ancestor Trouble garnered widespread critical acclaim, describes the novel as "scathing, hilarious, addictive."

"#DIGITALWASTELAND" combines strong commercial appeal with literary sophistication, making it ideal for readers of Ben Lerner, Joshua Ferris, Lauren Oyler, and Haruki Murakami. The novel's timely exploration of technology's impact on the human psyche positions it perfectly for book club discussions and classroom adoption.

Itna Press's media campaign includes readings throughout the U.S. to support the launch, recognizing the novel's potential to spark important conversations about digital culture, mental health, and human connection in the 21st century.

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About the Book: @UGMan by Mark Sarvas | Publication Date: June 24, 2025 | Format: 5.5" x 8.5", 236 pages Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9882829-5-2 | $18.00 Digital ISBN: 979-8-9882829-9-0 | $9.99 Distributed by Ingram

About the Author: Mark Sarvas is the award-winning author of Memento Park and Harry, Revised, with Memento Park garnering multiple accolades including a 2019 American Book Award and being shortlisted for several other prestigious awards. His debut novel Harry, Revised was published internationally to critical acclaim, drawing comparisons to Updike and Roth. A prolific literary critic whose work has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, the Threepenny Review, and numerous other publications. He lives on the Monterey Peninsula.

About Itna Press: Itna Press is committed to publishing queer, alternative, and avant-garde literature that engages with the pressing issues of our time. It was founded in New York City by author Christopher Stoddard in July 2013.