First published in Harpers in 2010, Hammer and Sickle is the longest story in the collection, running to 34 pages and comprising 18 short(ish) sections (in my Picador paperback). It unfolds from/alongside real-world events (the global economic crash of 2007-8 and the ensuing downturn) and revolves around a similar central theme to Cosmopolis, namely the relationship between technology and capital. I've started the discussion by introducing six salient elements/concepts, adding a note on my favourite aspect of Delillo's writing at the end, language.

Summary:

**(Seems to be the norm to include a summary but please skip ahead to ‘Discussion’ if you generally recall what happens in the s

The event is in an exhibition centre on the outskirts of the city, where patchwork fields are veined by the approaching sprawl. I debark the Luas and cross the concrete plaza in a stream of ticket holders. They’re lively, smelling of pre-drinks and sour aftershave. The venue looms ahead, a modernist assortment of spikes and curves that has me thinking of molluscs while I scan the place for Rodney. It’s that grey evening hour just before the lamps come on and the colours are fading with the daylight. The queue for admission is a chain of upright shadows. Rodney stands alone beside the entrance, sweeping the scene with wide eyes, swivelling his whole body to alter the direction of his head. I