GoKawiilEmily St. John Mandel releases new novel Exit Party exploring two dystopian US futures
Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven, has published a new novel called Exit Party, which follows characters living through two divergent near-future American scenarios: one marked by post-civil-war chaos and another by an oppressive surveillance state. She began writing it in 2022, before recent political developments like intensified ICE enforcement and expanded tech surveillance, yet the book's themes resonate strongly with current events.
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Mandel's earlier pandemic-themed novel made her a cultural touchstone during Covid, and this new work arrives as anxieties about political division and authoritarianism are running high in the US. The book's uncanny timeliness underscores how speculative fiction can capture societal undercurrents before they fully surface, prompting readers to reflect on their own values and choices in turbulent times.
- Emily St. John Mandel's new novel Exit Party depicts two dystopian near-future American scenarios.
- The book was written starting in 2022, predating recent surveillance and immigration enforcement controversies.
- Despite its dark premise, the novel emphasizes hope and community resilience.
Source: wired.com — Katie Drummond, 2026-09-15
Published there as: “If the US Collapses Soon, Don’t Blame Emily St. John Mandel”
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