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olive_lol's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
One of the things I like most about this collection is that each story is unique, but they come together to create a full image. The collection tackles many topics, and each feels like it gets the attention it needs to be properly addressed. A few of the stories didn't click with me, but those that did really stuck.
In general, the collection has a vibe of contemplative melancholy, but it still keeps good humor at points. Most stories' perspectives and writing styles are noticably different from the last, which kept the same style from getting stale.
My two favorites have to be Everyone On The Moon is Essential Personnel (as in, the story that shares a name with the collection) and The Android that Designed Itself.
If beautiful prose with some experemental storytelling is your thing, give this a try!
In general, the collection has a vibe of contemplative melancholy, but it still keeps good humor at points. Most stories' perspectives and writing styles are noticably different from the last, which kept the same style from getting stale.
My two favorites have to be Everyone On The Moon is Essential Personnel (as in, the story that shares a name with the collection) and The Android that Designed Itself.
If beautiful prose with some experemental storytelling is your thing, give this a try!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, and Transphobia
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Homophobia
One of the stories (Estranged Children of Storybook Houses) can be interpreted as an allegory for a family being abusive toward their neurodivergent child.e_flah's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Everyone on the Moon Is Essential Personnel was a thoroughly enjoyable collection of speculative short stories, which is really saying something as I'm a very hesitant short story reader. I absolutely loved the queerness in this collection -- sometimes it's a main feature of a story, sometimes it's just present. Jarboe's prose had a knack for worming under my skin and placing me inside of the stories. Some of my favorite stories were "The Marks of Aegis," "The Android that Designed Itself," and "I Am a Beautiful Bug!"
“Choosing is extremely powerful magic. Its power derived from the death of what is not chosen.”
Ironically the only story I didn't enjoy was the titular one, which also happened to be the longest story by quite a significant amount. That said, the range of subject matter and style of these stories made for a gripping read. I look forward to recommending Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel to everyone I know who loves delightfully bizarre stories.
“To take shape is to sever the infinite possibilities of wanting into a fragile burden of being.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Transphobia
Minor: Death and Drug use