The Electric State by Simon Stalenhag

The Electric State

by Simon Stalenhag

"A teen girl and her robot embark on a cross-country mission in this illustrated science fiction story, perfect for fans of Ready Player One and Black Mirror. In late 1997, a runaway teenager and her small yellow toy robot travel west through a strange American landscape where the ruins of gigantic battle drones litter the countryside, along with the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society addicted to a virtual-reality system. As they approach the edge of the continent, the world outside the car window seems to unravel at an ever faster pace, as if somewhere beyond the horizon, the hollow core of civilization has finally caved in"--

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

5 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

A runaway teenager is on a strange trek across the country. She has only a mobile toy robot for company, making the ruins of the country feel all the more bleak. Everywhere she goes, she sees the effects of this technological apocalypse.

The farther she goes, the closer she gets to the coast. The closer she gets to the coast, the worse the world seems. What will she find when she gets there? Moreover, what is it she's looking for?

My Review:

If there's one thing I can say about The Electric State, it would be that it is so utterly haunting. Haunting and beautiful. The artwork is stunning, perfectly complementing this runaway teen's tragic and concerning story.

It's safe to say that there are bleak undertones in The Electric State. That should be obvious, from the description to the cover art. But it's also oddly human, showing how hard one person can hold onto hope, even against all the odds. There's the beauty.

The atmospheric artwork occasionally stole the show. That is, until the words made a critical strike, hitting my right in the heart and pulling me back into the story. It was perfectly balanced, deeply emotional, and utterly unique. Seriously, I don't think I've ever read anything quite like The Electric State, and I doubt I ever will.

Highlights:
Stunning Artwork
Science Fiction
Post Apocalyptic
Dystopian - Technology

Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Depictions/Implications

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 July, 2023: Finished reading
  • 3 July, 2023: Reviewed