A dystopian, post-apocalyptic graphic novel, Simon Stålenhag's The Electric State tells the story of a teenage girl and her robot as they embark on a journey across the United States. Traveling west, the duo come across the ruins of massive battles that have wreaked havoc on the countryside. Additionally, they see evidence of a society that was addicted to buying things, particularly virtual reality. As the duo get closer to the Pacific Ocean, they see just how bad society has gotten. And with that, their personal safety is increasingly threatened.
NPR Called Stalenhag's novel one of the best books of 2018. Other reviews echoed NPR's feelings, including Craig DiLouie of the New York Journal of Books, who wrote that "Simon Stålenhag’s The Electric State matches the notable Swedish artist’s futuristic digital paintings with an original story to produce an awe-inspiring vision.." He also said that the novel is: "a striking and strangely compelling work of science fiction gothic."
