Tenth of December by George Saunders is a wonderful short story collection with a number of very Black Mirror-esque stories, particularly Semplica-Girl Diaries, which is a stand-out in a stand-out collection. It's the best short story collection I have ever read, with Peter Carey and J.G Ballard's a close second. I am currently enjoying Boy Parts at the moment. Thank you for all your great recommendations :)
As Black Mirror is my absolute favourite series, and the fact that i love reading, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video! I wrote down all the books and cannot wait to pick them up! 😃
The Hierarchies is so good! I'm looking forward to seeing your opinions on it whenever you get around to it because I'd love to hear more people talking about it
The video I did not know I needed, lol, you just blew up my TBR. Thank youuu!! Also..I have never watched Black Mirror? Which is a shame...just watched S1E1 the other night and am excited to see more, seems fucked up, lol, which I love!!
This video could not have come at a better time!! I've just started Termush and it seems really promising (though I'm having to force myself to take it slow and fully take in each sentence because i just want to absolutely devour it) 😅 one that reminds me of 'Last Children of Tokyo' is 'The Wall' by Marlen Haushofer, and I'm biased because i think it's one of my favourite sci-fi/dystopian books I've ever read, I'm not sure I've ever read anything quite like it. It's hauntingly 'alone' but so immersive and rich. The twist at the end is pretty spectacular too.
Wow, this is perfect. I've only read Never Let Me Go from all of these. I do own a few others though, so will be pulling them from my shelf to read soon. I want to read all the rest of your recommendations too! I enjoyed the short story collections Exhalation by Ted Chiang and The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu which definitely contain Black Mirror-like stories.
@@jenvcampbell Yes it's long. I would recommend not reading the stories back to back though, to give a bit of time in between them. I think I would have enjoyed them even more this way.
I wish I could say I've read them all but honestly it's only Klara and the sun. But it's a heck of a list....goals. I did like your stories and remember liking and being haunted by your plant children story. I wanted more if the urge ever comes to you expand that story I will purchase it.
i would love to watch black mirror. i have wanted to watch black mirror since it started coming out. i will still probably read most of these recommendations before that happens.😅 bless you, jen, for giving us brilliant recs as always!
The Accidental was also my first Ali Smith and happens to be my favourite with ‘Hotel World’ following it. I think ‘Hotel World’ also has very Black Mirror vibes. Also the stories from ‘Record of a Night too brief’ by Hiromi Kawakami. I look forward to reading some of the latest releases from the books you showed.
Literally just watched the second new episode of Black Mirror and then this popped up. Well timed! 😂 Also highly recommend The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night to everyone!
I made a prediction before watching the video that Klara and the Sun would be included. I’m currently reading it after falling in love with Never Let Me Go. So far I’m loving it!
Glad you’re enjoying it! These were my thoughts (once you’ve finished); if you’re interested: www.toa.st/blogs/magazine/klara-and-the-sun-by-kazuo-ishiguro-book-club x
Accessing the Future is one of my all-time favorite short story collections! Some good recent reads that might fit into this category are Rose/House by Arkady Martine and The Undefeated by Una McCormack.
What a brilliant list! Thank you! I've only read a handful of the books you recommended... However, I'd like to add 'Exhalation' by Ted Chiang. I love your videos ❤
I would like to recommend ice by Anna kavan. A mysterious girl is chased by a protagonist who serves as an unreliable narrator. Is it the same girl and is she really in trouble? Is the world in chaos? Or are these dire circumstances described simply to excuse our protagonist’s violent actions? Does the protagonist want the girl or does he just want her not to be with someone else? Oh, and did I mention the screeching lemurs and the dragon in the fjord? A fascinating read.
'Chimera' and 'The Fish' sound amazing! I'm going to recommend 'Boy Oh Boy' by Zachary Doss. It's a short story collection that explores and dismantles mostly male queer experiences through fabulism and sci-fi. It's also damn funny.
So pleased you got hold of Defying Doomsday and Rebuilding Tomorrow. I really loved them both, and I read more books by authors in those collections because of these anthologies which I really enjoyed too. Looking forward to your thoughts on them!
I've read The Hierarchies -- it looks like it is getting released with a new cover. It did not go where I thought it was going to go, which is probably a good thing.
Some books i would like to recommend are: The Membranes by Chi Ta-Wei, How to live safely in a science fictional universe by Charles Yu, The space between worlds by Micaiah Johnson, The thick and the lean by Chana Porter and Buffalo is the New Buffalo by Chelsea Vowel
I really like The Black Dawn Series (queer dystopian) by Adrienne maree brown. I’ve only seen a few episodes of black mirror, but I definitely get similar vibes when reading brown’s books.
Please for the love of god if there happens to be anyone out there that hasn't watched any Black Mirror, don't bother watching the first episode of season 1. Just don't.
I actually disagree, that was one of the ones that stuck out the most to me. I realize the subject is totally off-putting to most people, but besides that I think it makes an excellent point about human nature and what we (as a group, obviously) behave like and all the things that are problematic about that. But I understand if others prefer to skip it!
A book I’d add to the list is Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton The billionaire in the plot is a master of surveillance technology. He can access peoples phones etc. It’s a great book. 🍀👋☘️📖📕📚☕️💐
I’d also recommend Deluge by Stephen Markley Don’t let the length put you off. I read it via audio. It’s tied for my book of the year so far with Birman Wood.
Wish I had the book knowledge to recommend a book for each individual episode, they’re all so unique. I’ve also only watched the first two of the new season, can’t wait to get to the extra long Aaron Paul space episode.
Adding some of these to my list! I'd recommend We Had To Remove This Post. For anyone looking for anything really eerie I'd recommend You've Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca (it's 49p on Kindle, for the other e-readers among us!). This is apparently a collection of writing by a man who has gone missing, and transcripts he recorded of conversations with his (also now missing) partner. The part that is the most Black Mirroresque to me is the short story that the missing character has self-published, about a woman who takes a job working on a video game but has been told almost nothing about what she has to do and...it's just very odd and unsettling!
Thanks for being here, folks, I hope you enjoy the video ☺️ x
Tenth of December by George Saunders is a wonderful short story collection with a number of very Black Mirror-esque stories, particularly Semplica-Girl Diaries, which is a stand-out in a stand-out collection. It's the best short story collection I have ever read, with Peter Carey and J.G Ballard's a close second. I am currently enjoying Boy Parts at the moment. Thank you for all your great recommendations :)
Thanks, Olivia. x
Yes! I will never forget that story. It was so good.
As Black Mirror is my absolute favourite series, and the fact that i love reading, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video! I wrote down all the books and cannot wait to pick them up! 😃
Hurray! Which one do you think you'll start with? x
THANK YOU FOR THIS omg my tbr is growing and my cart is filling
😘😘😘
John marrs books “The Passengers” and “The One” really give me of black mirror vibes
Brilliant video as always, even as someone who has never seen Black Mirror. :) Thanks, Jen, sending love your way ❤
Then lots of books AND shows to tuck into ☺️ thanks Carina x
So many of these went straight to my want to read list! Great video again Jen!❤
☺❤
The Hierarchies is so good! I'm looking forward to seeing your opinions on it whenever you get around to it because I'd love to hear more people talking about it
I plan to read it in the next few months ☺️ x
Thank you for this video 🙌🏾 much needed!
You're welcome :) x
Terminal Boredom is a great short story collection with Black Mirror vibes.
Ah! I've got Izumi Suzuki's new book on my shelf. Look forward to getting to it. x
Ps what is your favourite Black Mirror episode? Mine is Series 4 ep 1, USS Callister ☺️ x
I would add Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin to that list 🐼
Yes! Been meaning to read her for ages. x
Hi, Jen. Waiting on my copy of The Beginning of the World. I love your recommendations.
I hope you enjoy it. x
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist is really great and black-mirror-esque, in which people of a certain age trade their organs for a momentary sanctum.
Thanks for the recommendation. x
great video! i havent seen the new season yet but the books looks very interesting
Everytime I watch your videos, I add a lot of thing on my tbr
This made me smile ☺ x
The video I did not know I needed, lol, you just blew up my TBR. Thank youuu!!
Also..I have never watched Black Mirror? Which is a shame...just watched S1E1 the other night and am excited to see more, seems fucked up, lol, which I love!!
I'm happy that I have already read several of those books, on your recommendation 😍
☺❤
This video could not have come at a better time!! I've just started Termush and it seems really promising (though I'm having to force myself to take it slow and fully take in each sentence because i just want to absolutely devour it) 😅 one that reminds me of 'Last Children of Tokyo' is 'The Wall' by Marlen Haushofer, and I'm biased because i think it's one of my favourite sci-fi/dystopian books I've ever read, I'm not sure I've ever read anything quite like it. It's hauntingly 'alone' but so immersive and rich. The twist at the end is pretty spectacular too.
Ooh, and it's part of the Vintage Earth series. May have to pick that one up, thanks ☺ x
Wow, this is perfect. I've only read Never Let Me Go from all of these. I do own a few others though, so will be pulling them from my shelf to read soon. I want to read all the rest of your recommendations too! I enjoyed the short story collections Exhalation by Ted Chiang and The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu which definitely contain Black Mirror-like stories.
Yes! Great recs. I really need to read the Paper Menagerie, it’s been on my shelf too long (such a long book 😂) x
@@jenvcampbell Yes it's long. I would recommend not reading the stories back to back though, to give a bit of time in between them. I think I would have enjoyed them even more this way.
@@joinbookland That's how I tend to read short story collections, anyway ☺
I wish I could say I've read them all but honestly it's only Klara and the sun. But it's a heck of a list....goals. I did like your stories and remember liking and being haunted by your plant children story. I wanted more if the urge ever comes to you expand that story I will purchase it.
I think that will remain a short story, but thanks ☺️ x
i would love to watch black mirror. i have wanted to watch black mirror since it started coming out. i will still probably read most of these recommendations before that happens.😅 bless you, jen, for giving us brilliant recs as always!
☺️❤️
The Accidental was also my first Ali Smith and happens to be my favourite with ‘Hotel World’ following it. I think ‘Hotel World’ also has very Black Mirror vibes. Also the stories from ‘Record of a Night too brief’ by Hiromi Kawakami. I look forward to reading some of the latest releases from the books you showed.
Yes, specifically the second half of the Kawakami. I love the first story in that the most, though ☺️
I want to read ALL these books
☺️♥️📚
Literally just watched the second new episode of Black Mirror and then this popped up. Well timed! 😂 Also highly recommend The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night to everyone!
♥️
I made a prediction before watching the video that Klara and the Sun would be included. I’m currently reading it after falling in love with Never Let Me Go. So far I’m loving it!
Glad you’re enjoying it! These were my thoughts (once you’ve finished); if you’re interested: www.toa.st/blogs/magazine/klara-and-the-sun-by-kazuo-ishiguro-book-club x
@@jenvcampbell Definitely interested! I’ll have a look when I’m finished ☺️
Accessing the Future is one of my all-time favorite short story collections! Some good recent reads that might fit into this category are Rose/House by Arkady Martine and The Undefeated by Una McCormack.
What a brilliant list! Thank you!
I've only read a handful of the books you recommended... However, I'd like to add 'Exhalation' by Ted Chiang.
I love your videos ❤
I would like to recommend ice by Anna kavan. A mysterious girl is chased by a protagonist who serves as an unreliable narrator. Is it the same girl and is she really in trouble? Is the world in chaos? Or are these dire circumstances described simply to excuse our protagonist’s violent actions? Does the protagonist want the girl or does he just want her not to be with someone else? Oh, and did I mention the screeching lemurs and the dragon in the fjord?
A fascinating read.
I’ve had that on my shelf for years; I really must get to it ☺️ x
'Chimera' and 'The Fish' sound amazing! I'm going to recommend 'Boy Oh Boy' by Zachary Doss. It's a short story collection that explores and dismantles mostly male queer experiences through fabulism and sci-fi. It's also damn funny.
I'd recommend brave new world by Adlus Huxley, 1984 by George Orwell We by yevgeny zamyatin and Humans Bow Down by James Patterson
So pleased you got hold of Defying Doomsday and Rebuilding Tomorrow. I really loved them both, and I read more books by authors in those collections because of these anthologies which I really enjoyed too. Looking forward to your thoughts on them!
Thanks, Jo. x
I've read The Hierarchies -- it looks like it is getting released with a new cover. It did not go where I thought it was going to go, which is probably a good thing.
Intriguing!
Some books i would like to recommend are: The Membranes by Chi Ta-Wei, How to live safely in a science fictional universe by Charles Yu, The space between worlds by Micaiah Johnson, The thick and the lean by Chana Porter and Buffalo is the New Buffalo by Chelsea Vowel
Fabulous, thank you ☺️ x
Everytime I see your reviews, I have to look for spanish edition, if there is any. I love your videos
I hope you’re able to find some! x
The Farm by Joanna Ramos is great!
I really like The Black Dawn Series (queer dystopian) by Adrienne maree brown. I’ve only seen a few episodes of black mirror, but I definitely get similar vibes when reading brown’s books.
I’ll give them a Google ☺️
Please for the love of god if there happens to be anyone out there that hasn't watched any Black Mirror, don't bother watching the first episode of season 1. Just don't.
I actually disagree, that was one of the ones that stuck out the most to me. I realize the subject is totally off-putting to most people, but besides that I think it makes an excellent point about human nature and what we (as a group, obviously) behave like and all the things that are problematic about that. But I understand if others prefer to skip it!
A book I’d add to the list is
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
The billionaire in the plot is a master of surveillance technology. He can access peoples phones etc. It’s a great book.
🍀👋☘️📖📕📚☕️💐
Do you know, I’ve seen that book in so many places and had no idea what it was about (apart from relating to Macbeth in some way). Thanks ☺️
I’d also recommend
Deluge by Stephen Markley
Don’t let the length put you off. I read it via audio. It’s tied for my book of the year so far with Birman Wood.
Wish I had the book knowledge to recommend a book for each individual episode, they’re all so unique.
I’ve also only watched the first two of the new season, can’t wait to get to the extra long Aaron Paul space episode.
Happy to accept a challenge to recommend books for your favourite episodes. Let me know which ones you love and I’ll reply with book recs ☺️
🖤💚
Adding some of these to my list! I'd recommend We Had To Remove This Post. For anyone looking for anything really eerie I'd recommend You've Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca (it's 49p on Kindle, for the other e-readers among us!). This is apparently a collection of writing by a man who has gone missing, and transcripts he recorded of conversations with his (also now missing) partner. The part that is the most Black Mirroresque to me is the short story that the missing character has self-published, about a woman who takes a job working on a video game but has been told almost nothing about what she has to do and...it's just very odd and unsettling!
Thanks for sharing ☺️