72 pages 2 hours read

Ling Ma

Severance

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Published in 2018, Severance is the debut novel by Ling Ma. It follows Candace Chen, a passionless office worker, navigating an apocalypse caused by Shen Fever, a disease that turns its victims into nostalgia-driven zombies. Candace joins a group led by Bob Reamer, surviving while reflecting on themes of capitalism, consumption, and work life. The story interweaves her past and present, exploring her immigrant family's history and her struggle for meaning beyond routine.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ling Ma's Severance is lauded for its unique blend of apocalyptic fiction and biting satire. Critics praise its insightful commentary on capitalism and workplace culture, as well as Ma's sharp prose and dark humor. Some reviews note a slow pacing and a disjointed narrative structure as drawbacks. Overall, it's a thought-provoking debut that challenges and engages readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Severance?

Readers who enjoy dystopian fiction, social satire, and themes of cultural displacement would relish Severance by Ling Ma. Fans of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel or The Road by Cormac McCarthy will appreciate its post-apocalyptic narrative mixed with incisive commentary on modern work culture and identity.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Satire

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Survival Fiction

Topics

Immigration / Refugee

Themes

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Society: Immigration

Natural World: Place