Antimatter Blues: A Mickey 7 Novel by Edward Ashton

Release Date: 03/14/23

Published by St.Martin’s Press/ Macmillan

By Jenny Robinson

** POTENTIAL MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD **

Last year, I had the opportunity to read and review Mickey 7, the first book in this series (you can find my review of that first book HERE). Mickey had quite the adventure communicating with the local “Creepers” while trying (and failing) to stay off Commander Marshall’s radar. As we have learned, Mickey doesn’t always think through his actions before it lands him in some interesting positions.

At the start of this book, Mickey is now a retired Expendable because Commander Marshall believes Mickey is the only one that can prevent the natives in using the bomb left behind in the first book. No more being killed and remade for this guy! Life has became pretty quiet. That is until the Dome he resides in needs the bomb back. The bomb is made from Antimatter and their small colony is in dire need of that fuel. If Mickey gives it back, there will be no reason to keep him alive. If he doesn’t, then everyone dies.

The first book was an epitome sci-fi about clones. Mickey being an Expendable, has had many clones, and our favorite protagonist, Mickey 7 made it through to the end of the first story. The moral aspect of cloning a person brings up some intriguing debates in Mickey 7, and a reason why Marshal is not a big fan of our lead character. Antimatter Blues has whispers of that original concept but switches gears to revolve more around military and diplomacy. Mickey is not proficient in either.

Although I enjoyed Mickey 7, I found Antimatter Blues to be way more engaging. I was no longer following to see Mickey (which ever rendition) sneak by while screwing something up. He has learned a lot, and his decisions are more conscious of the risks than before. Life almost has more meaning. His community has become important. I appreciate the great deal of attention some of the secondary characters received. All through the first story, I was convinced that Berto was not a stalwart supporter of Mickey. Now we are able to learn a bit more about him, and help explain his missing background. Same can be said of Nasha and Cat. This book has a more ensemble of cast than the first and adds spice where it once felt missing.

Without spoiling too much, I must say that the Niflheim natives (Creepers) made this book incredibly enjoyable. Being the first contact of communication with an alien race, I appreciated the fumbles and triumph that Mickey’s crew encountered. We are able to leave the dome and explore the planet where Edward Ashton excels in his world building.

Knowing that Mickey 7 will soon be a motion picture, I do hope that it merges both books. Mickey 7 now feels as if it was a great set up with Antimatter Blues being the exciting climax. It’ll be thrilling to see the native creatures and “Speaker” on the big screen!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Edward Ashton (he/him) is the author of the novels Three Days in April, The End of Ordinary, and Mickey7, as well as of short stories which have appeared in venues ranging from the newsletter of an Italian sausage company to Escape Pod, Analog, and Fireside Fiction. He lives in upstate New York in a cabin in the woods (not that cabin in the woods) with his wife, a variable number of daughters, and an adorably mopey dog named Max. In his free time, he enjoys cancer research, teaching quantum physics to sullen graduate students, and whittling. You can find him online at edwardashton.com or on Twitter @edashtonwriting.