Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel review
Is the price of stability necessarily the loss of freedom? Two possible future worlds are linked in the new novel from the author of Station Eleven
TL;DR
- The novel "Exit Party" is set in 2031, five years after a second civil war devastated the United States.
- The story follows Ari Waker, who is released from prison into a fragmented society and grapples with a sense of deja vu.
- The narrative contrasts Ari's chaotic world with a "peaceful dystopia" where environmental issues are solved but society is under total surveillance.
- A key symbol is the painting "Swan Dive," representing escape, risk, and self-destruction.
- The novel poses the question: is the price of stability necessarily the loss of freedom?