Rosebud

Rosebud is a dystopian locked-room SF time-bending mystery novella by Paul Cornell. Due out 26th April from Macmillan on their Tor/Forge imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function if needed.

Above all, the author can write. I unhesitatingly recommend his media output to anyone and everyone because, at the end of the day, whatever he does is more-than-competently written. That being said, this is one that readers will love or hate. It's admittedly somewhat difficult reading; there are representations of an end-game reality where the conservative capitalists have "won" and the end result is not pretty. It's also quite cerebral. I am maybe slow, but it took me til about 30% in to have an inkling of what was really going on. I was also uncomfortable with representations of torture (attack and ritual torture of non-binary and trans characters) and the weighty dystopian melancholic dread of being able to draw distinct correlations between where we are *now* and where the protagonists in the story find themselves. 

This is a story which not only invites but almost requires more thought. It's slick and thought provoking. I found it effective and moving. I suspect many readers will consider it pretentious and overwrought. It's only 112 pages, so it's a quick read, either way.

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.