Weekend Guide: Science Fiction Fantasy
spacehog 🪐
Science fiction is not my bag. I understand the merits of world building and applaud those who excel in its unique brand of nonsense — but don’t get it twisted, Weekend Guide is a NDZ. No Dune Zone.
I’ve tried. Gibson, Asimov, even Dune-boy Frank Herbert. For some reason I just can’t untether from my immediate reality. Probably selfish. Maybe even narcissistic. But it is important to note that I do make an effort to work something science fiction into the rotation every now and then. If anything, i’m open-minded!
Now, I don’t have the patience for a sci-fi series. The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy by Liu Cixin was my last go at something hyper ambitious. It was a battle. I also don’t want to get into any world building bullshit… see below.
So when I picked up a nice slim copy of The Employees by Olga Ravn a few weeks back, it hit the sci-fi spot. Quick and pointed. One idea executed to perfection — a beautiful little science fiction appetizer. New Directions never misses.
The Employees is a workplace satire set aboard the Six-Thousand spacecraft that holds inhabitants of a long lost earth. Half are human. Half are humanoid. It’s cold with a foreboding sense of impending doom.
A brief introductory chapter explains the novels unique structure - “Statements collected over a period of 18 months, during which the committee interviewed the employees with a view to gaining insight into how they related to newly introduced objects from Earth and the rooms in which they were placed".
These statements are offered without any description - or any questions or prompts by the committee. Bite sized looks into the story of a new reality. Puzzle pieces 🧩.
What does it mean to be human? How does it feel? How does it smell? What does the future hold? I don't know if I'm human anymore. Am I human? Does it say in your files what I am?
I loved it. You can read it in one sitting. It’s worth checking out if you are sci fi pro (nerd) or if you just want to wet your beak.
Please enjoy my favorite space related song, “In the Meantime” by Spacehog.
But have you tried the Southern Reach trilogy?