Eddie Hobson, Sr., father of four, occasional history teacher, quiz master, black humourist, and master invalid, is facing a mysterious ailment. His recurring fainting spells have worsened, and his ingrained aversion to doctors leaves his worried family scrambling to uncover the nature of his sickness. Meanwhile, Eddie secretly works on a project he calls 'Hobbstown', a place he believes will not only save him but the world.

A dazzling novel of compassion and imagination, Prisoner's Dilemma explores the profound power of individual experience and the lengths to which one man will go to protect those he loves and his vision for a better world.