Genre Fiction
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The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer
New York Times bestseller!
In The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer, singer-songwriter, actor, fashion icon, futurist, and worldwide superstar Janelle Monáe brings to the written page the Afrofuturistic world of one of her critically acclaimed albums, exploring how different threads of liberation-queerness, race, gender plurality, and love-become tangled with future possibilities of memory and time in such a totalitarian landscape…and what the costs might be when trying to unravel and weave them into freedoms.
Whoever controls our memories controls the future.
Janelle Monáe and an incredible array of talented collaborators have crafted a collection of tales comprising the bold vision and powerful themes that have made Monáe such a compelling and celebrated storyteller. Dirty Computer introduced a world in which thoughts-as a means of self-conception-could be controlled or erased by a select few. And whether you were human, AI, or other, your life and sentience were dictated by those who'd convinced themselves they had the right to decide your fate.
That was until Jane 57821 decided to remember and break free.
Expanding from that mythos, these stories fully explore what it's like to live in such a totalitarian society . . . and what it takes to get out of it. Building off the tradition of speculative fiction writers such as Octavia E. Butler, Ted Chiang, Becky Chambers, and Nnedi Okorafor-and filled with powerful themes and Monáe's emblematic artistic vision-The Memory Librarian serves to readers tales that dissect the human trials of identity expression, technology, and love, reaching through to the worlds of memory and time, and the stakes and power that pulse there.
In The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer, singer-songwriter, actor, fashion icon, futurist, and worldwide superstar Janelle Monáe brings to the written page the Afrofuturistic world of one of her critically acclaimed albums, exploring how different threads of liberation-queerness, race, gender plurality, and love-become tangled with future possibilities of memory and time in such a totalitarian landscape…and what the costs might be when trying to unravel and weave them into freedoms.
Whoever controls our memories controls the future.
Janelle Monáe and an incredible array of talented collaborators have crafted a collection of tales comprising the bold vision and powerful themes that have made Monáe such a compelling and celebrated storyteller. Dirty Computer introduced a world in which thoughts-as a means of self-conception-could be controlled or erased by a select few. And whether you were human, AI, or other, your life and sentience were dictated by those who'd convinced themselves they had the right to decide your fate.
That was until Jane 57821 decided to remember and break free.
Expanding from that mythos, these stories fully explore what it's like to live in such a totalitarian society . . . and what it takes to get out of it. Building off the tradition of speculative fiction writers such as Octavia E. Butler, Ted Chiang, Becky Chambers, and Nnedi Okorafor-and filled with powerful themes and Monáe's emblematic artistic vision-The Memory Librarian serves to readers tales that dissect the human trials of identity expression, technology, and love, reaching through to the worlds of memory and time, and the stakes and power that pulse there.
Editorial Reviews
"A reminder for those who've ever been told they don't fit in that there's a world beyond this harsh one and a set of tools that can help them get there. . . The Afrofuturist collection feeds both Monáe's fan base, who will be hungry to delve deeper into her work, and sci-fi fans looking for another book in the burgeoning Black speculative fiction genre."
- Washington Post
"A poignant commentary on the power of technology, the preservation of queer identity and the commodification of time. . . The Memory Librarian shows us the future can be an unnerving reflection of our unexamined vices, but we can also plant the seeds for a brighter tomorrow." - USA Today
"In her book, Monáe offers us a warning, but also a way out. . . Flawed, dirty, proudly glitching, the queer robots of Monáe's vision refuse to be so easily boiled down into 1s and 0s. The Memory Librarian might not be the answer to the social and political upsets of our time, but it is an answer, and a fiercely inspiring one: a deepening of Afrofuturism's potential to weaponize our dreams for a freer, more joyous world." - Wired
"Each story in this collection is a searing but ultimately hopeful glimpse into how marginalized groups can hope and create in a world set against them. Written with a group of collaborators, including award-winning authors and sociologists, this book is reminiscent of the anti-racist and community-building themes present in N.K. Jemisin and Nnedi Okorafor's work, as well as the utopian philosophy of Ursula K. Le Guin and the dystopian technological vision of Philip K. Dick. It's a stunning collection of stories." - Buzzfeed
"Blistering, hopeful, and richly written. . . All readers will finish the book craving more of these extremely queer, bold stories that battle gatekeeping and erasure, digging into both the worst potential of a surveillance state and the gritty glimmer of the rebellion that can defeat it." - Booklist (starred review)
"A moving, triumphant collection...This is a knockout." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Monáe's collection speaks to both the sf tradition of mind-control tyranny and the way that the powerful marginalize individuals in order to control the whole. Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought...
- Washington Post
"A poignant commentary on the power of technology, the preservation of queer identity and the commodification of time. . . The Memory Librarian shows us the future can be an unnerving reflection of our unexamined vices, but we can also plant the seeds for a brighter tomorrow." - USA Today
"In her book, Monáe offers us a warning, but also a way out. . . Flawed, dirty, proudly glitching, the queer robots of Monáe's vision refuse to be so easily boiled down into 1s and 0s. The Memory Librarian might not be the answer to the social and political upsets of our time, but it is an answer, and a fiercely inspiring one: a deepening of Afrofuturism's potential to weaponize our dreams for a freer, more joyous world." - Wired
"Each story in this collection is a searing but ultimately hopeful glimpse into how marginalized groups can hope and create in a world set against them. Written with a group of collaborators, including award-winning authors and sociologists, this book is reminiscent of the anti-racist and community-building themes present in N.K. Jemisin and Nnedi Okorafor's work, as well as the utopian philosophy of Ursula K. Le Guin and the dystopian technological vision of Philip K. Dick. It's a stunning collection of stories." - Buzzfeed
"Blistering, hopeful, and richly written. . . All readers will finish the book craving more of these extremely queer, bold stories that battle gatekeeping and erasure, digging into both the worst potential of a surveillance state and the gritty glimmer of the rebellion that can defeat it." - Booklist (starred review)
"A moving, triumphant collection...This is a knockout." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Monáe's collection speaks to both the sf tradition of mind-control tyranny and the way that the powerful marginalize individuals in order to control the whole. Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought...
Readers Top Reviews
MoniqueMoniqueMtb
I'm not alone. And this book proves it. There's a place for us, the bullied, the hurt, the "never enoughs". The different. If you listened to any of Mx. Janelle's music, this book is for you. My heart is whole because I'm not alone. If you like page turners, you're in for a treat. ☺
AnakinLosophi GMo
While these 5 stories weren't page-turners and could get boring from time to time, they all made me think and will all stick with me. It was worth the read especially if you are a fan of the Dirty Computer album. The book enhances the album and I like the album even more than I did before reading the book. The album I absolutely love.
Edwin K.AnakinLos
As a white male whose parents raised me to respect my teachers and influencers, accepting their viewpoints as deepening my education, Ms Monáe and her collaborators gave me a new and challenging perspective to digest. I have never understood why racial animosity is so prevalent in US societies, as I have been mentored in my career by people of color, both enriching my knowledge and prompting my career advancement. My empathetic life-partner and the two brilliant daughters burnished me in kind, as they are quite accepting of everyone regardless of politic, status or wealth (we are well off, but not wealthy). I have been a sci-fi fan since 5th grade across a wide spectrum of the form, but found the Memory Librarian newly challenging and thought provoking. I look forward to more from Ms Monáe Ann her collaborators! By the way, I was first acquainted with Ms Monáe via her excellent music releases.
