What would you do if every time you died, a new version of you took your place? And what if one day, you didn’t die? That’s the mess Mickey Barnes finds himself in, and let’s just say—it’s not a situation the system was built to handle.
Apparently three hours of training lectures aren’t enough to overcome a billion years of ingrained instinct for self-preservation.
Mickey7 is an "expendable," meaning he’s the guy who gets sent on the worst, deadliest jobs in a colonization mission because, well, he can always be regenerated. When he wakes up after a near-death experience only to find that his eighth iteration has already been printed, he’s faced with a problem: two Mickeys, one colony, and a command structure that definitely won’t tolerate duplicates.
Mickey isn’t your typical sci-fi protagonist. He’s not a brave hero or a morally perfect leader—he’s just a guy trying to stay alive in a system that sees him as disposable. His sarcastic humor, self-awareness, and sheer will to survive make him an incredibly relatable and entertaining character. If you enjoyed The Murderbot Diaries or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this book might be right up your alley.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its tone. Ashton blends high-stakes survival with dry humor and absurdity, making for a fun yet thought-provoking read. The ethical and existential implications of cloning are explored, but never in a way that bogs down the story. The worldbuilding is minimalist but effective—the colony on Niflheim is harsh and claustrophobic, but rather than getting lost in technical jargon, Ashton focuses on the human conflicts that make survival even trickier.
The second area where every new technology is applied, of course, is war.
That said, the book doesn’t dig as deeply into its philosophical themes as it could have. Questions of identity and individuality are raised but not fully explored. Also, while the pacing is smooth, some plot points feel predictable if you’ve read a lot of sci-fi. But honestly? It’s a fun ride, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
With Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming adaptation Mickey17 starring Robert Pattinson, this book has gained renewed attention—and for good reason. It’s the kind of story that feels tailor-made for the big screen, blending high-concept sci-fi with a character-driven narrative that keeps you hooked.
Mickey7 is a smart, engaging, and accessible sci-fi novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s great for readers who enjoy space adventures with a satirical edge and characters who are more about wit and survival than heroics.
So, what’s your take? Does Mickey7 nail the balance between humor and existential dread, or should it have gone deeper? And if you were an expendable, would you break the rules?
by inabookhole