This novella has been sitting on my kindle forever and I don’t know why it took me this long to read it but I’m so glad I finally did! I think I’ve talked before about my struggles with short fiction, I always want more. This one wasn’t any different.
I don’t know if reading any of Gailey’s other novellas would help clear up some of the background on this story. It’s set in a dystopian America torn apart by war with most people reduced to 19th century technology, there’s an authoritarian government of some sort that approves reading materials and Librarians who distribute it throughout the territories, and it’s a more dangerous occupation than you’d imagine. It’s all very vague, but enough to get a feel for this world, especially if you’ve read this sort of story before.
I don’t want to get into the plot, it’s a novella and very tightly written, so everything feels spoilery. I will say it’s queer as heck, features a diverse cast, has humor and action and drama and romance and a goldang message. It’s a little subversive and a lotta fun. I appreciated the hopeful tone – that even in this future where this country has fallen to a really bleak place, a place that feels all too possible if you spend any time watching the news – there’s still love and possibility and a community ready to fight. It’s an excellent morale booster in a time when queer existence is under assault – we’re here, always have been, always will be.
