Expectations and scepticism are equally high when Time’s-dubbed “best short-story writer in English” releases an anthology, especially after the success of Tenth Of December, but only the scepticism is unwarranted with George Saunders’ triumphant Liberation Day. If good fiction is meant to hold up a mirror to society, then Saunders smashes the mirror and lets you find yourself in the pieces. Be careful, though – they’re sharp.
In Liberation Day, the collection’s namesake, the sinister plot reflects the extent to which society is tethered to its ability to oppress, whether through brute force or through the facade of choice. Across the globe, we are seeing history’s lessons ignored; across this anthology, we see a collective, urgent willingness to reframe the world to suit how we want it to be. Is brainwashing a suitable tradeoff for survival? Is there such a thing as free will in times of desperation?
Saunders powerfully uses Liberation Day’s nine dystopian stories to subvert the reader’s mind, in order to describe what has been in front of them all along. This, while being funny – impish, at times. When moral quandary meets domesticity in this bite-sized way, we are reminded what short stories are all about.
Liberation Day, George Saunders (Bloomsbury)
Price: £18.99. Info: here
words MEGAN THOMAS