Exploring Boundaries with Paul Tremblay’s Latest Novel

Paul Tremblay consistently pushes the boundaries of horror and novel formats, exploring new directions with his work. His latest novel, Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep, combines elements from various genres into a psychological-dystopian-science-fiction horror narrative.

The story follows Julia Flang, previously a semi-professional gamer, now working two unsatisfying jobs. She lives with her retired uncle in a San Fernando Valley suburb. Julia’s life is largely mundane until her estranged mother, a high-ranking tech company executive, reaches out with a unique job offer. The offer is enticing, promising great pay for an interview alone. Julia agrees.

The task seems straightforward for someone with gaming experience. It involves using a controller embedded in a phone to maneuver a man, Bernie, in a vegetative state from California to the East Coast. Julia must learn to navigate Bernie’s body, moving him out of a facility into various modes of transport.

“The ethics of controlling another human being’s body start to weigh on Julia.”

Despite her initial hesitations, Julia finds herself entangled in the task. She encounters others who share her concerns about the job’s morality, aiming to disrupt it. These individuals oppose the corporations intending to profit from the technology.

Tremblay’s novel uses alternating chapters, with Julia’s following a typical narrative structure and others diving into a second-person perspective. These sections capture the thoughts of a man trapped in his own body, presenting a fragmented, surreal experience akin to fever dreams.

Bernie’s mind houses AI controlling his movements, yet his consciousness remains, battling for control and recollection. The novel features a host of eerie elements like monsters and shadows, but the prevailing horror stems from Bernie’s lack of agency.

This narrative critiques creativity and AI, making it a poignant anti-Generative AI story. While humorous with Julia’s sarcastic dialogues, the novel primarily explores significant themes. It questions life, death, consciousness, and the moral implications of capitalist practices and AI.

By incorporating humanity, relationships, and humor, Tremblay offers subtle insights that encourage reflection rather than definitive conclusions. The novel explores unsettling realities and potential future scenarios, cementing Tremblay as a leading voice in contemporary fiction.

Gabino Iglesias, the reviewer, is an author, book critic, and professor based in Austin, Texas.