Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller
After the climate wars, a floating city is constructed in the Arctic Circle, a remarkable feat of mechanical and social engineering, complete with geothermal heating and sustainable energy. The city’s denizens have become accustomed to a roughshod new way of living, however, the city is starting to fray along the edges—crime and corruption have set in, the contradictions of incredible wealth alongside direst poverty are spawning unrest, and a new disease called “the breaks” is ravaging the population.
When a strange new visitor arrives—a woman riding an orca, with a polar bear at her side—the city is entranced. The “orcamancer,” as she’s known, very subtly brings together four people—each living on the periphery—to stage unprecedented acts of resistance. By banding together to save their city before it crumbles under the weight of its own decay, they will learn shocking truths about themselves.
Blackfish City is a remarkably urgent—and ultimately very hopeful—novel about political corruption, organized crime, technology run amok, the consequences of climate change, gender identity, and the unifying power of human connection.
Representation Includes
- Nonbinary protagonist
- Gay protagonist
- Lesbian protagonists
- Inuit protagonists
Content warning
Death of a gay character; a disease analogous to AIDS; religious fundamentalism; please comment if you know of more content warnings needed.Awards
- Nominated for the Nebula Award and Locus Award
Reviews
- Lee Mandelo’s review
- Lambda Literary’s review
- My review
- Reviews by Inuit readers needed
Where to Find
Details
- Published April 17th 2018 by Ecco
- Paperback isbn13: 9780062684875
This book should not be tagged MLM.
Can you explain where you’re coming from?
Blackfish City has a gay POV character, which is why I tagged it MLM.
I’m only a little ways through the book, but I was a little blindsided by the religious fundamentalist angle, and while I don’t often search out content warnings, some might find it helpful.