The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe and others

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe and others

331 pages

★★★

Singer and actress Janelle Monáe brings the Afrofuturistic world presented in her album Dirty Computer to life in this collection of science fiction stories written in collaboration with Yohanca Delgado, Eve L. Ewing, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Danny Lore, Sheree Renée Thomas. 

Memories are controlled by a totalitarian government and anyone with memories or self expressions that the New Dawn doesn’t approve of are “wiped” and memories are erased. A memory librarian is a keeper of everyone’s memories, but one librarian breaks free from the shackles of the government and this begins a revolution.

Despite being a little difficult to follow at times, this collection of short stories had an interesting perspective on politics, race, and LGBTQ+ struggles.