Book Review
Nov. 29th, 2022 07:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer
by Janelle Monáe
This collection of short stories are all set in the Dystopia of New Dawn, a near-future America where the government enforces conformity and controls its citizens via the manipulation and erasure of memories. The stories tended to be on the long side, which made for great world-building. The oppression and liberation of marginalized folks was a major thread and theme throughout the collection, and Monae explored them with varying degrees of directness, metaphor, and subtlety. The variation in approaches was a real strength of the collection. My favorite stories were "Timebox" and "Save Changes". The first was a poignant look at whose time is valued and how it is valued. I may never stop being angry at one of the characters. The second also uses a timeslip, but in this case it is used to examine the nature and forms of resistance and action. The world of New Dawn was fascinating and frightening, and I would love it if Monae wrote a full-length novel set there.
Familiarity with Monae's music is not entirely necessary, but does add a certain resonance to the stories.
by Janelle Monáe
This collection of short stories are all set in the Dystopia of New Dawn, a near-future America where the government enforces conformity and controls its citizens via the manipulation and erasure of memories. The stories tended to be on the long side, which made for great world-building. The oppression and liberation of marginalized folks was a major thread and theme throughout the collection, and Monae explored them with varying degrees of directness, metaphor, and subtlety. The variation in approaches was a real strength of the collection. My favorite stories were "Timebox" and "Save Changes". The first was a poignant look at whose time is valued and how it is valued. I may never stop being angry at one of the characters. The second also uses a timeslip, but in this case it is used to examine the nature and forms of resistance and action. The world of New Dawn was fascinating and frightening, and I would love it if Monae wrote a full-length novel set there.
Familiarity with Monae's music is not entirely necessary, but does add a certain resonance to the stories.
