Summary
Mickey7 by Edward Ashton is a science fiction novel delving into questions of identity, mortality, and the ethics of cloning and colonization. Set on the ice world of Niflheim, it follows the story of Mickey Barnes, an “expendable” clone tasked with dangerous missions to serve a questionable human agenda. Published in 2022, the novel earned a spot on NPR's list of Best Sci-Fi Books of 2022 and a Goodreads nomination for Best Science Fiction Book of the Year. Praised for its fresh take on clone narratives and its exploration of consciousness uploading, Mickey7 has been compared to works like Andy Weir's The Martian and John Scalzi's Old Man's War. The novel has been adapted into a highly anticipated film, directed by Oscar-winner Bong Joon-ho. Titled Mickey 17, the movie stars Robert Pattinson in the lead role and is scheduled for release on March 7, 2025.
Plot
Mickey7 is an Expendable, a disposable employee on a human expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. His job involves undertaking the most dangerous missions, with the understanding that after each death, a new clone will be created with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 is well aware of the terms of his employment and the reasons behind his acceptance of this unenviable position.
During a routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. However, he manages to return to the colony base with the unexpected assistance of native life-forms. Upon his return, Mickey7 discovers that a new clone, Mickey8, has already been created to replace him. Faced with the universal loathing of duplicate Expendables and the risk of being recycled for protein, Mickey7 must keep his double a secret from the rest of the colony.
As Mickey7 grapples with his predicament, life on Niflheim deteriorates rapidly. The colony faces numerous challenges, including an unsuitable atmosphere, food shortages, and unsuccessful terraforming efforts. Adding to these problems, the native species begin to show increasing curiosity about their new neighbors, causing great concern for Commander Marshall.
The situation becomes even more complex when Commander Marshall believes that the colony's creeper neighbors possess an antimatter bomb. Mickey7 finds himself in a pivotal role, as Marshall considers him the only one capable of preventing the creepers from using the weapon. As tensions rise and resources dwindle, Mickey7 realizes that the survival of both human and alien life forms may ultimately depend on his actions and decisions.
Themes
Exploration of identity and consciousness
Survival in harsh environments
Ethical implications of cloning
Conflict between human and alien species
Resource scarcity and colonization challenges
Value of individual life vs collective needs
Adaptation and resilience in the face of adversity
Setting
Mickey7 unfolds in a distant future where humanity has begun colonizing other planets. The story takes place on Niflheim, a harsh ice world chosen for human settlement. This unforgiving environment presents numerous challenges for the colonists, including extreme cold, limited resources, and potentially dangerous native life-forms.
The main action centers on the colony's base, where the expedition members live and work. Key locations include the reactor core, which Mickey7 initially maintains, and the rabbit hutches he later tends to. The surrounding icy landscape of Niflheim serves as a treacherous backdrop for scouting missions and encounters with the planet's mysterious “creeper” inhabitants.
As the story progresses, the setting expands to the broader ecological and political landscape of Niflheim. The delicate balance between the human settlers and the native life-forms becomes increasingly important, with tensions rising as resources dwindle and curiosity grows on both sides. This interplay between the colony, the hostile planet, and its indigenous creatures proves crucial in determining Mickey7's tale of survival and identity.
Characters
Mickey Barnes (Mickey7): The protagonist and an Expendable clone on the Niflheim colony mission. Mickey7 is resourceful, witty, and has a strong survival instinct despite his disposable status. He faces numerous challenges, including hiding his duplicate Mickey8 from the colony and negotiating with the native creepers. Mickey's unique perspective as an Expendable provides insight into the ethical dilemmas of cloning and colonization.
Commander Marshall: The leader of the Niflheim colony expedition. Marshall is a pragmatic and sometimes ruthless figure, focused on the colony's survival at all costs. He believes the creepers possess an antimatter bomb and relies on Mickey to act as a liaison.
Mickey8: Mickey7's accidental clone and duplicate. His existence poses a threat to both Mickeys, as duplicate Expendables are forbidden and face recycling if discovered.
Berto: Mickey's friend and fellow colonist. Berto provides support and camaraderie to Mickey throughout their challenges on Niflheim.
Nasha: Another colonist and potential love interest for Mickey. She plays a role in Mickey's personal development and interactions within the colony.
The Creepers: The native life-forms of Niflheim. Initially perceived as a threat, the creepers become central to the plot as Mickey attempts to negotiate and understand their motivations.
Quick facts
Edward Ashton started writing Mickey7 in 2015, seven years before its publication.
The novel was inspired by a short story Ashton had previously written about “crappy immortality" and originally conceived as a novella exploring the paradox of teletransportation.
NPR included Mickey7 in its list of Best Sci-Fi Books of 2022.
The novel was nominated for Best Science Fiction book of 2022 on Goodreads.
A sequel titled Antimatter Blues was released in March 2023.
Mickey7 is being adapted into a film, directed by Oscar-winner Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson.
The movie adaptation, titled Mickey17, is scheduled for release on March 7, 2025.
Ashton has stated that Bong Joon-ho will “change a lot about the book” for the film adaptation.
About the Author
Edward Ashton is an American author known for his novels Mickey7, Three Days in April, and The End of Ordinary. His writing career spans both long-form fiction and short stories, with his work appearing in diverse publications ranging from an Italian sausage company newsletter to well-known science fiction venues like Analog and Fireside Fiction.
Beyond his writing, Ashton is involved in cancer research and teaches quantum physics to graduate students. These scientific endeavors likely inform his science fiction writing, providing a solid foundation for the speculative elements in his work. In his leisure time, Ashton enjoys the meditative art of whittling.
Ashton resides in upstate New York, where he finds inspiration in the tranquil surroundings of his cabin in the woods. The author shares his home with his wife, a varying number of daughters, and a beloved dog named Max. His writing process is uniquely overseen by the local wildlife, including a giant woodpecker and a rotating cast of barred owls.
