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A review by indoorkeith
The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The world Stålenhag creates overtop our own memory of the 90s is so vast and expansive even through the limited perspective of a single character making her way across Pacifica (California) with her mute kid drone brother.
With little words and lots of grim and grotesque art, the Electric State holds a mirror to technological advances and the pain they can cause from both as a consumer grade appliance and as a weapon of war. It paints a dark alternate past that increasingly feels like a not so distant possible future given current events.
The only thing that I wanted out of this book was more of the same, but enough was provided for readers to come up with their own conclusions or create completely new stories within the same desolate and morbidly beautiful world.
With little words and lots of grim and grotesque art, the Electric State holds a mirror to technological advances and the pain they can cause from both as a consumer grade appliance and as a weapon of war. It paints a dark alternate past that increasingly feels like a not so distant possible future given current events.
The only thing that I wanted out of this book was more of the same, but enough was provided for readers to come up with their own conclusions or create completely new stories within the same desolate and morbidly beautiful world.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Sexual content