Anticipation is sky high for the upcoming Mickey 17 film led by Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie and more. It is the return of Oscar winner Bong Joon-Ho after the gargantuan success of Parasite. The film adaptation has been planned since before the publication of its source material Mickey7. What better time therefore to take a look back at the 2022 novel that is the film’s basis. It is a satirical, playful sci-fi that will appeal to fans of Andy Weir and The Martian in particular, poking fun at conventions.
We follow Mickey Barnes, a space colonist, stationed at a beachhead colony known as Niflheim. The planet is populated by creatures known simply as creepers, who pose a threat to the small colony of humans stationed on the planet who have made the long, treacherous journey from Earth. This isn’t the first Mickey however, this is Mickey 7, as he is an expendable, meaning every time he dies a new version of himself is printed with most of the memories of the previous versions. After being presumed dead Mickey 7 finds he has already been printed as Mickey 8, colony rules stipulate that multiples are a strict no-go so the two must find a way to co-exist and avoid being discovered.
The novel follows both Mickey 7 & 8’s predicament which includes sharing food rations and avoiding interactions with fellow crew members; alongside this we follow what made Mickey sign up in the first place, accruing gambling debt and the fates that befell Mickeys 1-6 with hazier and hazier recollections for each. The pantomime villain Marshall keeps on getting Mickey to do his dirty work as the ship’s only expendable with this including death by creepers and radiation poisoning.
The pacing for the book is one of its biggest strengths, it is an incredibly breezy read that starts off as a light satire before taking a deeper turn as it progresses, grappling with themes of genocide and colonialism. Despite the tonal shift, the pacing never lets up and the world Ashton creates is wholly unique, it appears the film has done a fine job of maintaining the tone of the novel as well. It is a riveting read that you never want to put down and thankfully there is a sequel, Antimatter Blues, that expands the world and is set a short time after the conclusion of Mickey7. Whether or not the sequel will also get the film treatment remains to be seen.
In terms of negatives, one of the main drawbacks is the lack of development for other characters who at times feel peripheral, be it Mickey’s girlfriend Nasha, best friend Berto or Marshall. While they aren’t as developed as Mickey, they never derail the narrative or constant sense of fun and escapism.
Mickey7 is certainly a memorable Sci-fi novel packed with engaging twists and plenty of humour amidst the gradual buildup of tension. It is sure to please Andy Weir fans especially, replicating the tone that made The Martian such a smash but never feels like a rip-off and is distinct.
Thought-provoking, laugh-out-loud hilarious and lightning-paced, Mickey7 is a sci-fi novel that will appeal to audiences beyond regular sci-fi readers with plenty to offer from its world-building and take on colonial legacy. If you’re looking forward to Mickey 17, you should pick up its source material. It cements Ashton as a compelling voice within the current sci-fi landscape and certainly a writer who should be on people’s radar. Should the film prove a match for the novel, it could be a real smash and turn more people onto its basis.
Words by Chris Connor
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