If you haven’t heard about Mickey 17, the new film starring Robert Pattinson, you might be missing out! It’s based on a sci-fi novel called Mickey7 by Edward Ashton.
Directed by Bong Joon-ho, a filmmaker known for blending dark comedy with unique storytelling, Mickey 17 is already making waves. The story takes place in a distant space colony, focusing on Mickey Barnes, an “Expendable” who faces risky challenges while battling alien creatures.
Before we get into the details of the book’s storyline, let’s discuss the movie.
Mickey 17 features Pattinson as a man struggling with debt who volunteers for a space mission to colonize a distant planet called Nilfheim. Each time he dies, his clone is created to take his place. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette.
The film premiered at Berlinale on February 15, 2025, and was released in South Korea on February 28, later coming to the USA and worldwide on March 7. Interestingly, the movie’s title differs slightly from the book to reflect the additional challenges Mickey faces, with Bong jokingly mentioning he killed off Mickey more times in the adaptation.
Now, let’s delve into the plot of Mickey7.
Set in a future where humans have left Earth for space, the story follows Mickey Barnes, a historian stuck in a boring life filled with gambling. After getting into serious debt, he signs up as an Expendable for a colonization mission to Nilfheim, accompanied by his pilot friend, Berto.
Expendables are clones whose memories are stored in a database. When one dies, they can be regenerated with their memories intact. This leads Mickey through countless dangerous missions against a species known as Creepers while he navigates the complexities of cloning.
During one mission, Mickey7 is presumed dead after falling into a hole, but he survives with the help of a Creeper, suggesting these creatures may be sentient. The problem? Multiple clones can’t exist at once. If anyone finds out about Mickey7 and his upcoming clone, Mickey8, they risk being killed.
How does Mickey7 conclude?
This gripping tale keeps readers on the edge of their seats, especially as Mickey7 and Mickey8 try to hide their secret from their friends. Eventually, when their duplicity is revealed, the stakes escalate. During a mission where they face the Creepers, tragedy strikes, resulting in Mickey8’s death, leaving Mickey7 with intense guilt.
In a desperate bid for survival, Mickey7 convinces the powers that be he’s negotiated peace with the Creepers, despite hiding the truth about the anti-matter bomb that could threaten all of humanity. This tension leads to a dramatic confrontation, forcing Mickey7 to assert his own worth and take control of his fate.
Main Themes in Mickey7
Ashton explores complex themes like identity and colonization throughout the novel. Mickey’s career as a historian allows him to reflect on the dark parts of human history, including colonization’s often violent nature.
Using the ‘Ship of Theseus’ analogy, the book questions the essence of identity. If every clone has Mickey’s memories, is he really the same person? Nasha, Mickey’s girlfriend, also grapples with the difficulty of loving someone who constantly dies and returns.
The book contrasts science with different belief systems through characters like Marshall, who views Mickey as soulless and exploits his position.
Another critical theme is survival – both of mankind and the clones themselves. Ashton raises questions about what it means to be human. Are some lives more valuable than others?
Reception
Mickey7 is a thought-provoking read that balances humor with deep questions. Critics and readers alike have praised its tight narrative and immersive world-building, giving it a 3.8 rating on Goodreads and recognition from NPR as one of the best sci-fi books of 2022.
Such success has led to a sequel titled Antimatter Blues.
If you’re curious about the thought-provoking world of Mickey7, it’s definitely worth a read!
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Books,Sci-Fi,novels,bong joon ho,Mickey 17,Sci-fi movies,book adaptations
