Emily St. John Mandel explores dystopian futures in Exit Party

Emily St. John Mandel’s latest novel, Exit Party, explores dystopian visions of the United States through two parallel realities.

In one timeline set in 2031, the U.S. has collapsed following a coup d’etat, resulting in civil war, secessionist states, and the rise of powerful cartels. The second timeline depicts a surveillance state known as the “United State,” where voting is no longer required and power is passed from a president to his son. This setting is characterized by citizens reporting on one another and the disappearance of political critics.