Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Music Box • Graphic Novel/Film

The Electric State

The Electric State is a dystopian science fiction illustrated novel by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, first published in 2018.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

The Electric State is a dystopian illustrated novel by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, published in 2018. It follows a teenage girl and her robot across a ruined 1990s America.

What it is

An illustrated science fiction novel set in an alternate 1990s United States, written and painted by Simon Stålenhag. The book combines prose with full-colour illustrations to depict a world shaped by drone warfare and virtual-reality addiction.

The story

The narrative centres on Michelle, a teenage girl, and her robot companion Skip as they travel west across the American West. Their journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape is driven by Michelle's search for her missing brother.

Adaptations

A Netflix film adaptation was released in 2025, and a tabletop game from Free League Publishing followed the same year. Canadian audiences may know the work through the film or its wider circulation in North American book markets.

In short

  • An illustrated dystopian novel set in an alternate 1990s America.
  • Story follows Michelle and her robot Skip on a road trip.
  • Published in 2018, adapted into a Netflix film and tabletop game in 2025.
  • Known for its melancholic art and critique of technology.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may know the work through its Netflix film adaptation and its place within contemporary illustrated science fiction that circulated widely in North American book markets.

Quick questions

What is The Electric State?
It is an illustrated dystopian science fiction novel by Simon Stålenhag, set in an alternate version of 1990s America.
Who wrote The Electric State?
The book was written and illustrated by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag.
What is the story about?
It follows Michelle and her robot Skip as they travel west across the United States in search of answers about her missing brother.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Electric_State
    Supports: Basic identification, plot premise, original title, publication year, film adaptation, and game adaptation.
  2. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-simon-stalenhag-the-electric-state-20191002-htmlstory.html
    Supports: Setting, publication context, and film-rights acquisition by the Russo brothers.
  3. Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Electric-State-Simon-St%C3%A5lenhag/dp/1501181416
    Supports: Plot synopsis and publication details.
  4. Page 45 — https://www.page45.com/store/The-Electric-State-hc.html
    Supports: Plot synopsis, format as illustrated novel, and character names.