We Are Satellites, by Sarah Pinsker

I am a huge fan of Sarah Pinsker's work. Her novella "And Then There Were (N-one)" is one of the most clever and entertaining things I've read, and I took a lot away from it. "Song For a New Day" is terrifyingly prescient.

The scale of this book is about the same, and I liked it a lot, but I have to say it just doesn't quite measure up to my favorites. We have a very interesting speculation that ties a technical advance to a social change--a company invents a device that stimulates the brain in a specific way, allowing people to multitask and be more productive. And they advertise that they have it with a blue LED on their temple. Pretty soon if you don't have one you're left behind.

The real driver of the story is the family--two moms, a son and a daughter (the daughter is neurodivergent--seizures--and cannot get a Pilot). They all get a lot of attention and build the story together, so that by the time the book is over you know these people. The moments of tension and tenderness are perfectly balanced, so that even with their significant flaws you can't help but love them. The book is worth reading for that.

The plot feels like we've been there before--brain controlling devices aren't super new. In fact they're going commercial next year. There is some plot tension around whether or not the parent company (Balkenhol) is aware that someone's Pilot has been disconnected. Umm...there's an app to control your Pilot, and the home screen gives a big old error message if you disconnect it. You really think Balkenhol doesn't know? More plot tension around whether they have exact records of the brain activity they are enhancing/controlling. Of Course They Do. And users willingly traded that information for the advantages. That could have been a believable plot driver.

When I said it felt like we've been there before, it's because we really have--with cell phones. They went from curiosity to advantage to necessity in 10-15 years. If you don't have a smart phone now you are at a disadvantage, and it's considered rude not to carry one so that people can find and communicate with you at all times. Some refuse, and I wonder if someone who will not carry a phone is employable beyond a menial job? And they're pretty good at tracking us. So the plot in this story is dressed-up nonfiction. Pinsker could have written a history of the smart phone.

I struggled with whether to round this up to a four. I think not. It's beautifully executed but the world has passed it by.

My Goodreads Review