Mickey7
{{Short description|2022 science fiction novel by Edward Ashton}}
{{About|the book|the film|Mickey 17}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Mickey7
| image = Mickey7 book cover.jpg
| caption =
| author = Edward Ashton
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| subject =
| genre = Science fiction
| publisher = St Martin's Griffin
| pub_date = February 15, 2022
| english_pub_date =
| media_type = Print, e-book, Audiobook
| pages = 369 pp. (hardcover)
| isbn = 9783641280543
| isbn_note = (Hardcover)
| dewey =
| congress =
| oclc =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = Antimatter Blues
}}
Mickey7 is a 2022 science fiction novel by Edward Ashton. Its sequel, Antimatter Blues, was released in March 2023.
Mickey 17, a film adaptation directed by Bong Joon-ho, was released in 2025.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Ben |title=The teaser for Bong Joon-ho's Mickey 17, starring space age Robert Pattinson, has landed |date=18 May 2022 |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/mickey7-robert-pattinson-bong-joon-ho |publisher=GQ Magazine |access-date=19 October 2023}}
Premise
Space colonist Mickey Barnes, a.k.a. Mickey7, tries to survive in a beachhead colony on an alien world. The job he reluctantly signed up for is to be "expendable", undertaking all of the most dangerous tasks necessary for a mission to colonize the ice world Niflheim. When one Mickey dies, another is cloned in his place with most of his memories intact, but at significant cost to the colony. Mickey's survival difficulties mount as the colony struggles for resources, native life forms become increasingly threatening, and circumstances result in the accidental creation of two Mickeys.
Creation
Ashton started writing the book in 2015.{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Rosie |title=MICKEY7 AUTHOR TALKS WORLD BUILDING, IMMORTALITY, AND BONG JOON-HO |url=https://nerdist.com/article/mickey7-edward-ashton-interview-bong-joon-ho-sci-fi/ |publisher=Nerdist |access-date=19 October 2023}} Ashton wanted to explore the teletransportation paradox in a shorter novella but was urged to write more by Navah Wolfe.
Discussing the background of the novel, Ashton said: "I wrote a short story a number of years ago that explored...a sort of crappy immortality.... I liked the idea and wanted to see how that could be expanded if you coupled it with an exploitative social structure."{{cite web |last1=Spry |first1=Jeff |title=Edward Ashton discusses his new sci-fi novel headed for Hollywood, 'Mickey7' (exclusive) |date=10 March 2022 |url=https://www.space.com/edward-ashton-novel-mickey7-interview |publisher=Space |access-date=19 October 2023}}
In addition, George R. R. Martin's "Thousand Worlds" universe (setting for Martin's debut novel, Dying of the Light, Sandkings, Nightflyers, A Song for Lya, "The Way of Cross and Dragon", and the stories collected in Tuf Voyaging, among others) was also a major influence.
Reception
NPR included it among its list of the Best Sci-Fi Books of 2022.{{cite web |title=Books We Love : 2022 |url=https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#year=2022&book=68 |publisher=NPR |access-date=19 October 2023}}
Writing for Locus, Gabino Iglesias called the book a "multilayered, wildly entertaining story" and wrote, "Mickey7 has something for everyone while also putting a fresh spin on the idea of clones."{{cite web |last1=Iglesias |first1=Gabino |title=Gabino Iglesias Reviews Mickey7 by Edward Ashton |date=16 April 2022 |url=https://locusmag.com/2022/04/gabino-iglesias-reviews-mickey7-by-edward-ashton/ |publisher=Locus Magazine |access-date=19 October 2023}}
Writing for Transfer Orbit, Andrew Liptak praised it as a "fun sci-fi romp, part Andy Weir's The Martian and John Scalzi's Old Man's War and Sue Burke's Semiosis."{{cite web |last1=Liptak |first1=Andrew |title=The pasts we bury |date=17 August 2022 |url=https://transfer-orbit.ghost.io/mickey7-edward-ashton-scifi-book-review/ |publisher=Transfer Orbit |access-date=19 October 2023}}
Writing for New Scientist, Sally Adee wrote, "Is (uploaded consciousness) a goal that’s worth pursuing, even in theory? Edward Ashton’s Mickey7 is the first novel I have come across that properly explores the philosophy behind that question."{{cite web |last1=Adee |first1=Sally |title=Mickey7 review: If you want to live forever, read the small print |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333730-700-mickey7-review-if-you-want-to-live-forever-read-the-small-print/ |publisher=New Scientist |access-date=19 October 2023}}
It was nominated as one of the Best Science Fiction books of 2022 by Goodreads.{{cite web |title=Best Science Fiction 2022 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-science-fiction-books-2022 |publisher=Goodreads |access-date=19 October 2023}}
Sequel
{{main|Antimatter Blues}}
A sequel, Antimatter Blues, written as a result of a film adaptation of the original novel entering production, was released in March 2023.{{cite web |last1=Eddy |first1=Cheryl |title=An 'Expendable' Faces Major Danger in Mickey7 Sequel Antimatter Blues |date=14 March 2023 |url=https://gizmodo.com/an-expendable-faces-major-danger-in-mickey7-sequel-anti-1850194142 |publisher=Gizmodo |access-date=22 October 2023}}
Film adaptation
{{main|Mickey 17}}
File:Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson in South Korea for "Mickey 17".png
The book was adapted into a film directed and written by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Naomi Ackie and Mark Ruffalo.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Jack |title=The most anticipated movies of 2024 |date=17 October 2023 |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-movies-2024 |publisher=GQ Magazine |access-date=19 October 2023}} When asked about the adaptation, Ashton responded that Bong is "going to change a lot about the book", but said he is not nervous and described Bong as a "genius". Filming began in August 2022 and wrapped in December. The film was scheduled to be released theatrically on March 29, 2024, but had been pushed back due to delays related to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Mickey 17 premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2025,{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2025-01-10 |title=Bong Joon Ho's 'Mickey 17,' Starring Robert Pattinson, to Premiere at Berlin Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/bong-joon-ho-mickey-17-robert-pattinson-berlin-film-festival-1236271799/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} before being theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures in South Korea on February 28, 2025, and later in the United States on March 7.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.edwardashton.com/#mickey7-section}}
Category:2022 science fiction novels
Category:American science fiction novels
Category:Space exploration novels
Category:American novels adapted into films
Category:Novels about survival skills
Category:Novels set on fictional planets