review: the electric state
Title: The Electric State
Series: N/A
Author: Simon Stålenhag
Translator: Martin Dunelind
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Art
Publishing Date: 6 September 2018
Original Language: Swedish
Pages: ~144
CW: Death, Addiction, Gore, Child death, War, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse
My Rating: 5 / 5
Read if you’re looking for:
A dystopian, sci-fi art book + a novella length story
A young woman & a robot traveling across the post-apocalyptic California desert of the 1990’s
The most beautiful illustrations, that evoke feelings of nostalgia & unease
Visuals that you want to climb inside of
It’s giving Twin Peaks
This book is a little different than what I usually pick up, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The Electric State is like an art book with a novella length story added in to the breathtaking illustrations. The story follows Michelle, a young woman who’s traveling with a cute robot named Skip through the dystopian wastelands of the California desert. It’s set in the 1990’s, but in this world it seems that some sort of apocalyptic war has occurred, with abandoned, hulking war machines littering the landscape. Seemingly, a neurolink device was invented to aid in warfare so that pilots could better control drones, but now it is, literally, the opiate of the masses, with people’s physical bodies withering away as they stay longer and longer in the virtual world. Michelle and Skip are traveling through this ruined landscape on the search for her little brother, who is also being sought by a mysterious government agent.
The art in this book is drop dead gorgeous. The illustrations are haunting, yet nostalgic and comforting somehow. They manage to be futuristic and retro at the same time. I just want to climb inside of them. I’ve been following the art of Simon Stålenhag for many years now, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to read one of Stålenhag’s books, and it was a sheer delight for me. Not only is the art style right up my alley, but I also love the type of stories Stålenhag tells, which are self-described as “kitchen sink sci-fi.” This book is a haunting vision of a past-future that I want to linger in as long as possible, feeling the eerie and beautiful atmosphere. The feeling and art style are reminiscent of Twin Peaks or The X-Files. As an added bonus it’s a quick read, taking me only about an hour, although I wanted more when I got to the end. This book will definitely appeal to those who enjoy nostalgic sci-fi and gorgeous dystopian landscapes. And if you do pick it up, I recommend listening to the companion album, also created by Stålenhag, while you’re reading to get the full immersive experience.
