review: amatka
Title: Amatka
Series: N/A
Author: Karin Tidbeck
Translator: Karin Tidbeck
Genres: Sci-Fi, Speculative, Dystopian
Publishing Date: 2012
Original Language: Swedish
Pages: ~224
CW: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage
My Rating: 4 / 5
Read if you’re looking for:
An unsettling speculative novel about how language holds the world together
Rebellion against an authoritarian government
A puzzle-like plot, where you slowly put the pieces together as you read
Dangerous fungus
A sapphic love side plot
This sci-fi horror story was very unique, and also unsettling. It’s set on a planet somewhere, it seems like it’s not Earth but it’s not entirely clear. Our main character, Vanja, has travelled from her home settlement to the city of Amatka on a work assignment. The story focuses on the importance of language in shaping the world. The authoritarian government has put many rules in place in order to maintain the literal structure of matter. If the residents do not label their objects, by saying the names of the objects to them every day, then the objects will begin to lose form and disintegrate into a gooey mass. The public seems to respond to this prospect with great fear. Strangely, objects that made the journey with the original settlers do not have this problem. Vanja starts to question some of the rules and regulations, and meets some other people who are dissidents. Then she starts to find out what’s really going on underneath the rules and regulations, and the disturbing truth is revealed.
This book was so interesting, especially this concept of language holding reality together. It also delves into themes of authoritarianism and political oppression. It does a great job of slowly building a sense of unease throughout the novel, until you get to the spectacular ending, which includes some cosmic horror. It also felt like a puzzle; I had a good time trying to put the pieces together while I was reading. Additionally, there is a sapphic love story as a minor part of the plot, with Vanja falling in love with her roommate. This book is a really unique find that I don’t see promoted much, so I would encourage you to pick it up if you enjoy weird speculative fiction, mysterious conspiracies, and other weird fiction like The City and the City by China Miéville or the Southern Reach series by Jeff VanderMeer.