Mars
Mars showcases a series of unique and twisted universes, where every character is tasked with making sense of their strange reality. One woman will be freed from purgatory once she writes the perfect book; another abides in a world devoid of physical contact. With wry prose and skewed humor, an emerging feminist writer explores post-Soviet promises of knowledge, freedom, and power.
Author: Asja Bakić | Publisher: The Feminist Press
Rating: 4.5/5
Thank you to The Feminist Press for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book! It's out March 19th.
I'm not sure where they had me: "short stories," "speculative fiction," or "feminist lit." Because I love all of those things. And I was supremely ~not disappointed~. These were make-you-squint-and-think stories. I carried a pencil with me when I was reading it and underlined or circled a significant portion of the words on each page.
Short stories are one of my favorite formats because they can put an idea in your head and do something with it in such a short timeframe. Bakić is no different, and her prose is striking. What I especially loved was that she was straightforward enough that you got the theme she intended and some of the imagery, but you had to work a little harder for the details of her metaphor. She led you to it instead if giving it to you, which was incredibly fun and engaging (and intriguing).
I know it might be a dark horse, but don't miss this one!