Description

Book Synopsis

In The Memory Librarian music, fashion, film and futurist icon Janelle Monáe returns to the Afrofuturistic world of her critically acclaimed album, Dirty Computer, to explore how different threads of liberation – queerness, race, gender plurality, love – become tangled in a totalitarian landscape… and to discover costs of unravelling them.



Trade Review

‘THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN might not be the answer to the social and political upsets of our time, but it is an answer, and a fiercely inspiring one: a deepening of Afrofuturism’s potential to weaponize our dreams for a freer, more joyous world.”
WIRED

‘Each story in this collection is a searing but ultimately hopeful glimpse into how marginalized groups can hope and create in a world set against them’
BUZZFEED

‘A reminder for those who’ve ever been told they don’t fit in that there’s a world beyond this harsh one’
WASHINGTON POST

“A poignant commentary on the power of technology, the preservation of queer identity, and the commodification of time’
USA TODAY

‘Blistering, hopeful, and richly written. . . All readers will finish the book craving more’
BOOKLIST (starred review)

‘A moving, triumphant collection…This is a knockout’
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)

‘Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought-control sf or of Afrofuturist works by the likes of Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin, and Nnedi Okorafor’
LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

‘A celebration of queer and Afrofuturist science fiction saluting creativity in difference’
KIRKUS

‘This one is sure to leave an impression’
BUST MAGAZINE

‘A glorious representation and celebration of a spectrum of sexuality and gender, each written with pure empathy’
TOR.COM

‘A vivid, visceral text with as much of a hook as the album the stories were inspired by’
LOCUS

‘It confirms Monáe’s incredible power of imagination and creativity whatever medium she’s working in, and the ability and talent of her co-writers in bringing her vision alive on the page’
FANTASY HIVE

The Memory Librarian

    Product form

    £19.00

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £20.00 – you save £1.00 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Fri 31 Jul 2026.

    A Hardback by Janelle Monáe

    Out of stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe

      Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 14/04/2022
      ISBN13: 9780008512408, 978-0008512408
      ISBN10: 000851240X

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      In The Memory Librarian music, fashion, film and futurist icon Janelle Monáe returns to the Afrofuturistic world of her critically acclaimed album, Dirty Computer, to explore how different threads of liberation – queerness, race, gender plurality, love – become tangled in a totalitarian landscape… and to discover costs of unravelling them.



      Trade Review

      ‘THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN might not be the answer to the social and political upsets of our time, but it is an answer, and a fiercely inspiring one: a deepening of Afrofuturism’s potential to weaponize our dreams for a freer, more joyous world.”
      WIRED

      ‘Each story in this collection is a searing but ultimately hopeful glimpse into how marginalized groups can hope and create in a world set against them’
      BUZZFEED

      ‘A reminder for those who’ve ever been told they don’t fit in that there’s a world beyond this harsh one’
      WASHINGTON POST

      “A poignant commentary on the power of technology, the preservation of queer identity, and the commodification of time’
      USA TODAY

      ‘Blistering, hopeful, and richly written. . . All readers will finish the book craving more’
      BOOKLIST (starred review)

      ‘A moving, triumphant collection…This is a knockout’
      PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)

      ‘Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought-control sf or of Afrofuturist works by the likes of Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin, and Nnedi Okorafor’
      LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

      ‘A celebration of queer and Afrofuturist science fiction saluting creativity in difference’
      KIRKUS

      ‘This one is sure to leave an impression’
      BUST MAGAZINE

      ‘A glorious representation and celebration of a spectrum of sexuality and gender, each written with pure empathy’
      TOR.COM

      ‘A vivid, visceral text with as much of a hook as the album the stories were inspired by’
      LOCUS

      ‘It confirms Monáe’s incredible power of imagination and creativity whatever medium she’s working in, and the ability and talent of her co-writers in bringing her vision alive on the page’
      FANTASY HIVE

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account