The Electric State
Simon Stalenhag
Set in a dystopian Pacifica (the alternate California) in 1997, The Electric State is a beautifully nightmarish science fiction novel by Simon Stalenhag. The story follows Michelle, a young woman accompanied by her robot, Skip, as they travel westward through the decaying remnants of a barren America.
Landscapes littered with abandoned drones, derelict machinery, and mindless humans wearing VR headsets — victims of an immersive virtual reality system that has eroded the line between the digital and the real. A faux pas to our dependence on mindless technology. Michelle is hoping to navigate through this apocalyptic minefield to find her missing brother.
“They create a vision of a world that words would fall short in describing.”
- Discover Sci-Fi
We see Michelle’s story develop and she is confronted with her past; her traumas and loss. The novel sees themes of isolation and the dangerous repercussions of unchecked advancements in the age of technology. Michelle reflects on the broader implications of the world’s collapse. The illustrations themselves are evocative and powerfully compliment the text; both alien, yet familiar.
“The pictures themselves tell the story. If you don't read the text, your mind will start wondering about the back story for the images you look at. And that's what good art should do. Immerse people and have them think.”
- Teoh Yi Chie
The story climaxes upon the discovery of Michelle’s brother having succumbed to the addictive allure of the neurocaster technology, which plays a central role in the collapse of society. The neurocaster is a virtual reality system that allows users to escape reality, but it also consumes and destroys their minds over time. The exact details of her brother’s final circumstances are deliberately ambiguous, fitting with the book’s overall tone of loss and unresolved questions.
Stalenhag’s dystopian storyline is fascinating and captures the sense of mystery well if presented without his artwork. However, some reviews have suggested that without the artwork, it’s sparse and more of a road narrative than a typical novel. The plot is simple and there aren’t strong senses of character throughout the story.
This begs the question of if we need conclusions from our stories or rather should we take Stalenhag’s graphic novel an allegory to warn us of what technology could impose on our society.
“It seems to function similarly to the paintings, there to make an impression and evoke a purely emotional response, while providing some backstory for this dying world.”
- New York Journal of Books
The incredible graphic novel is soon to be released on the silver screen next year, starring Millie Bobby-Brown, Chris Pratt and Stanley Tucci! Directed by the Russo brothers (The Gray Man, Citadel), this Netflix adaptation is only loosely based, but we’re excited to see what the adaptation will be like in creating the dire consequences of consumption.
“The Electric State is a chilling, unforgettable visual and narrative experience”
- Karen Haber
The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag was shortlisted for two awards in 2019: The Arthur C. Clarke Award (‘Britain’s Top Sci-fi Award’) and the ‘Best Art Book’ from the Locus Awards. Will The Electric State gain more awards as a Netflix movie adaptation?
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