The Electric State

The Electric State
Author	Simon Stålenhag
Original title	Passagen
Genre	Dystopian science fiction
Published	25 September 2018 (Skybound Books) (English)
Publication date	25 September 2018
ISBN	978-1-501-18141-2

The Electric State (Swedish: Passagen, lit. 'The Passage') is a 2018 dystopian science fiction illustrated novel by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. Set in an alternate technologically ravaged 1990s, it follows a teenage girl and her robot on a journey to the West Coast of the United States in search of her long-lost brother.

In 2017, the Russo brothers acquired film rights to the book.^[1] They directed and produced a Netflix film of the same title.^[2]

Premise

The book is told through a series of paragraphs, linked to large illustrations. The main story follows Michelle, a teenage orphan traveling to the West Coast with a robot companion, Skip, to find her long-lost brother. Flashbacks gradually reveal Michelle's past and the reason for her separation.

Intertwined with Michelle's journey are details of the novel's setting, Pacifica (later revealed to be California.) Pacifica is portrayed as a hyper-consumerist society in decline, with the vast majority of the population using brain-computer interfaces called Neurocasters to escape the trauma of a second civil war. Technological addiction has become a widespread issue, leading to a widespread breakdown of law and order through which Michelle must travel.

Reception

Critics at NPR and New York Journal of Books gave positive reviews.^[3]^[4]

It received starred reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly, where it was praised for the illustrations, writing, and structure of the graphic novel.^[5]^[6]

Accolades

NPR named it one of the best books of 2018.^[7]

References

^ Ohanesian, Liz (2 January 2019). "Road trip through post-apocalyptic California with a robot and a runaway in Simon Stålenhag's 'The Electric State'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ Moore, Kasey (16 February 2025). "'The Electric State' Netflix Movie: Everything We Know So Far". What's on Netflix. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ Sheehan, Jason (21 October 2018). "Futuristic Dreams Turn To Nightmare In 'Electric State'". NPR. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ "a book review by Craig DiLouie: The Electric State". New York Journal of Books. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
^ Maguire, Susan. "Booklist Online: Leading Book Discovery". Booklist. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
^ "The Electric State by Simon Stalenhag". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
^ "Best Books of 2018: NPR | The Electric State". NPR. 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2021.

[auto-1] Ohanesian, Liz (2 January 2019). "Road trip through post-apocalyptic California with a robot and a runaway in Simon Stålenhag's 'The Electric State'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

[2] Moore, Kasey (16 February 2025). "'The Electric State' Netflix Movie: Everything We Know So Far". What's on Netflix. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

[3] Sheehan, Jason (21 October 2018). "Futuristic Dreams Turn To Nightmare In 'Electric State'". NPR. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

[4] "a book review by Craig DiLouie: The Electric State". New York Journal of Books. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2023.

[5] Maguire, Susan. "Booklist Online: Leading Book Discovery". Booklist. Retrieved 14 April 2025.

[6] "The Electric State by Simon Stalenhag". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 22 July 2023.

[NPR-best-7] "Best Books of 2018: NPR | The Electric State". NPR. 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2021.

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