-
Publisher: Berkley Books
-
Publication date: 05/11/2021
-
Pages: 400
-
ISBN: 978-1-9848-0260-6
-
Author: SARAH PINSKER
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker is set in the relatively near future when a new medical device, the Pilot, is trending across the country. This brain implant is identifiable by the blue LED light that shines from the temple of those who have had it installed. These devices help people focus and to multi-task.Teenager, David, wants to get one to keep up in school, and to not be left behind. His mother, Val, is not in favor of the devices. His other mom, Julie, thinks it is OK, and even wants one herself. Their daughter, Sophie, has epilepsy and is not eligible for a Pilot, and grows to distrust and protest against them, even after her brother and one of her mothers have them installed.
I really liked this story. I found the concept of the Pilot an interesting device to explore family dynamics and neurodiversity and just to tell an entertaining tale. If you take those with Pilots as a metaphor for ‘neuro-typical’ people, you might be able to empathize a bit with those who have more difficulty focusing. These Pilots do not make one more intelligent, but it does usually make it easier to keep track of multiple tasks, etc. Those without Pilots are almost analogous to folks with ADHD who have to work harder to compensate for distractions. When some of those Pilots cause hyper-focus on everything at once, it is somewhat analogous to the sensory overload that many autistic folks feel in some situations. It also covers some of the anxiety and disconnection of PTSD. It explores the take by many folks that you just have to work harder to overcome your difficulties, or you just have to focus more, or you just have to smile and go along with the crowd, or why can’t you just be like everyone else?
I don’t know that Pinsker was trying to create a metaphor for neuro-divergence, but she succeeded. Read this book and think about how you might react if you were Piloted, or if you were not Piloted in a Piloted world, or if you were overwhelmed with input that you had to really struggle to control.
OK, enough of the whole, story as metaphor for brain function. It is also just a really nice story. The family dynamics seem real. The people are not perfect. They are flawed and misunderstand and they seem like real people. It is a believable and interesting book. I highly recommend it.
Share this:
Please take a moment to support Amazing Stories with a one-time or recurring donation via Patreon. We rely on donations to keep the site going, and we need your financial support to continue quality coverage of the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres as well as supply free stories weekly for your reading pleasure.
https://www.patreon.com/amazingstoriesmag
