Book Review: “A Song for a New Day”

A Song for a New Day

Sarah Pinsker

Paperback, 373 pages

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Publisher: Berkley Books

Genre: Science Fiction

I love punk music. So when I found out months ago there was a near-future science fiction book all about punk music coming out, I was hoping I would be in for a treat. I was right.

“A Song for a New Day” is incredible for many reasons, too many to list in this short review. I will stick to the highest of the high notes. First, the story is incredible. Alternating viewpoints between a veteran musician and a young corporate employee, the plot revolves around an America stuck in “the After.” In this dystopia, public and private gatherings of more than a handful of people are illegal. The beginning of the After wrecked the music industry, as concerts and live shows could no longer exist.

Rosemary has found a new job at StageHoloLive, a technology company responsible for resurrecting the nearly-dead medium of music. StageHoloLive broadcasts virtual concerts so people can see their favorite artists “in person” without breaking any laws. Rosemary’s job is to find new talent to work for StageHoloLive, but she is unaware of the company’s ulterior motives.

As she searches for bands to recruit, Rosemary meets Luce, a musician from the Before who played the last live show before the events which led to the After occurred. Luce has been holding covert gatherings to share her music organically, although Rosemary tries her best to bring Luce into the technologically-focused world of the After.

Throughout the course of the book, the main and secondary characters go through a lot of growth, which was written well. Each character comes into their own in a realistic way, which contributes to the fantastic overall experience of the novel.

The world-building was excellent as well. I think “A Song for a New Day” is the most believable near-future science fiction book I have ever read. The dystopia was nuanced and something I could easily envision happening in 21st century America. It was disturbing how uncanny some of Pinsker’s observations were. The writing complements the gathering-free landscape:

“Not that she could see much from the highway, but she caught glimpses: shopping centers turned detention centers turned Superwally distribution centers; barns with winter-bare oaks thrusting through caved-in roofs; the skeletal spines of roller coasters in an abandoned amusement park; a motel captured in time; a cinema, where total strangers used to gather in large groups to watch movies. Everywhere, the ghosts of a past she was old enough to remember, barely.”

Through corporations controlling society to limited social contact, Pinsker is able to build a convincing world where groups are outlawed. I especially appreciated how she let the reader put the pieces of the story together on their own. Authors who insult the intelligence of their readers are a pet peeve of mine, but Pinsker comes nowhere close to doing this. I could tell she valued her readers by giving them a compelling novel.

“A Song for a New Day” is one of the best books I have read in 2019, and it would be a shame if it did not receive the attention it deserves.

Paige Holmes is a senior journalism major from Topeka, KS. Reading is her favorite thing to do because it teaches one how to think, imagine and live. Paige believes there is no better way to learn something or be entertained than by reading a book. Her favorite genre of books is fantasy/thriller and her favorite book is ‘Opening Moves’ by Steven James.

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