David Trent is an aspiring novelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, trying to navigate his ambitions in a place that has writers around every corner. He lives in an apartment above a Very Famous Author named Silas Hale who, beneath his celebrated image, is a bombastic, vindictive monster who refuses to allow his new neighbor even to make eye contact with him.  Until young David wins a prestigious award for his new book.  Suddenly Silas is interested—if intensely spiteful.  But soon, the administrator of the award comes to David with an alarming update, forcing the writer into a desperate set of choices.  Then, fate intervenes—with shocking consequences. . . .  With the wit and psychological wisdom of The Plot and The Winner, The Award is a timely, razor-sharp, and unputdownable novel about writing groups, publishing, ambition, human foibles, and the dangerous things we will do to get ahead