This book had a lot of high praise and comparisons to some of my favorite recent sci-fi (Moon, Dark Matter). Before I even opened the book, and I finally started it after the news came out of the adaptation being directed by Bong Joon Ho and starring Robert Pattinson. So may expectations were high to say the least.
I would say this story rose to those expectations but did not exceed them. If you enjoyed Blake Crouch's books and some science fiction mixed with speculative futures and dark comedy, then you will probably enjoy this book.
The story switches between the main plot given in the description and chapters either giving the history of Mickey and how he became an expendable and the history of expansion to other planets. Mickey's background in history helps these chapters maintain a sense of character and move beyond dry sci-fi world building. The chapter towards the end of the book detailing why society dislikes Expendables was a particular highlight. Some may have an issue with this format since it makes the main plot slow down and remain slightly underdeveloped.
Mickey7 was an enjoyable protagonist, and Ashton does a great job balancing the internal and external conflicts that Mickey7 must deal with after not following through on dying. As a philosophical thought exercise (the book has numerous references to the Ship of Theseus), the book is a great look at the costs of cloning.
An issue I had was that we spend so much time inside of Mickey7's head that the books spends less time building out the people who surround him. While Mickey7 was very deep as Ashton tried to give a sense of his identity of someone who has died 6 times before, the other crew members on the planet could have had a little more investment to make the latter half of the book hit a little harder. I enjoyed the ending but I imagine it could fall flat for some.
Overall, really fascinating combination of hard science on interplanetary travel and replicating humans with an ethical conundrum.

With a chance to run away from a life that is too tough, the chalkboard can be erased and a new life written. But how does that new life continue when it can be snuffed out again and again? This situation causes Mickey to have an exciting new job, but too many horrific deaths ending lives that were going well. Mickey 7, the science fiction novel by Edward Ashton, is imaginary in its colony building world and the life that someone in that colony would lead. The story has interesting flashbacks and back story. However, Mickey is very happy to complain about the food, the habitat and his lowly job. I couldn’t give the book a higher rating because although I liked the set up, it was depressing for our main character to be miserable all the time. The supporting characters were mostly unhappy as well, and their personalities reflected it. There was a bit of action throughout, but we had to wait for the very end to see most of the resolution of the story. The novel included an alien group, but we were left without much detail or events with them. The ending was good in my opinion, but I would have liked to see pieces of it sprinkled throughout. Mickey 7 was enjoyable as a science fiction adventure, but it could have been a bit shorter and more hopeful. Thank you to NetGalley for an ecopy of this book for an honest review.

The book was absolutely incredible. I saw a creator on TikTok talking about this book and immediately knew I had to request it. It was every bit as good as she said it was. It was fast-paced, fun, interesting and also full of heart. I also thought the world building was fascinating. The author did such a good job giving us enough back story so that we could fully understand this world. I cannot wait for this to be released so I can buy a hard copy.

I think that I liked Mickey7 just fine as an SF novel. The characters were complex, the scenario was more so and some questions were asked that went beyond the "what will happen" stage, like why, do exist, and if there are several versions of the self do they experience and see things the same way? What is our destiny if we die and another version of ourselves takes our place? Is there a final place for us, as we continue to live our lives and then cease to exist, and if so where? These are the questions that we are consistently asking ourselves when reading SF literature and have been since Utopia, and Ashton continues the trend. A fairly fascinating novel with a lot going for it.

5 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/02/08/mickey7-by-edward-ashton-review/

When I started Mickey7, I figured it’d be a nice diversion from all the fantasy that came in January, a quick read to start of the hectic month of releases February promises to be. But while I certainly got through it quick, Mickey7 left a lasting impression. In fact, it’s not only the best book I’ve read thus far in 2022, and one of the best science fiction novels I’ve read in some time, it’s also probably the best clone-themed book I’ve read, well, ever.

We follow Mickey’s POV throughout; he’s the one and only lead (told in third person). But which Mickey? That’s the trouble when dealing with clones. Which is the real one? Or are any “real” at all? Well, the book actually addresses this (and more) all while following one (or more!) Mickeys through their adventures within.

When talking about a science fiction thriller that specializes in cloning, the characters are really where you want to start. How are the clones as characters? Do they feel real, do they feel human? Now there’s almost always a sect in any given story that is against the idea of cloning. Usually religious or moral or philosophical. This is no different. The “Natalists” in this view clones as abominations, empty shells pretending to be human, and a mockery of all that God intended. For his part, while Mickey Barnes was never a natalist, by the point he reaches Mickey7, he’s not sure what to believe. And while most of the characters in this are quite strong, it’s Mickey7’s examination of his past and future states that make him so compelling.

Is he real? Well, certainly he can feel and die, so probably. But is HE Mickey Barnes? He can remember Mickey Barnes, along with all of his experiences as Mickeys 2 through 6, but only the parts that he uploaded to the cloning device. Otherwise, watching through his supposed memories from that time might as well be viewing the visions of a madman. An Expendable’s main duty is to die, and by the point that the text starts, Mickey7 has come to fear death. Over the course of the text, Mickey7 will share his current situation with memories of “his” past (via typically alternating chapters). While some of these did feel a bit like info dumps, the only time I was really bothered by this was toward the end, where I felt them sapping from the pace of the story. Otherwise they’re short or relevant enough that I didn’t think they detracted from the plot. In fact most often they added to it, and I actually came to look forward to them—be it either discovering what had happened as Mickey4 or 5 and how they died, or understanding just a little bit more of the lore surrounding the universe. One of my personal favorites is further on, when we discover just what makes duplicates so universally despised.

The supporting cast is also quite good. In a colony of 200ish, Mickey knows pretty much everyone’s names. But he’s not on great terms with them all. Especially given his job as an Expendable and all. Which makes total sense. If some dude dies all the time, you’re probably not going to be thrilled to spend a lot of time around him. But he’s got a girlfriend, a best friend, some acquaintances, and a whole lot of people who hate him. While not all the named faces get fulfilling roles, the named characters that Mickey does get on with (or very much doesn’t) have backstories, motivations, and ambitions all their own. Everyone has a different motive; which works well together in a story all about survival.

The story itself is fairly straightforward. Okay, so… there are two of us. Step 1) Don’t tell anyone. Check. No one knows—probably. 2) Keep anyone from finding out. Also check. One of us will probably die soon; Expendable and all. But with a crew of only a couple hundred and a small colony, there are only so many places to hide. 3) Don’t make it worse. No problem. In these science fiction thriller nobody ever makes any bad decisions. It’ll be fine.

So the story is all about mitigating and dealing with what follows, when things don’t go exactly to plan. Because when has anything ever worked out 100% like you thought it would—in real life, or a fictional dystopian world inhabited by ice monsters? As expected, Mickey7 blends excitement with humor. Very well, actually. It’s often dark humor, which I found paired quite well with the somewhat ominous tone of the story. Niflheim—as you might guess from the name (especially if you’re at least somewhat familiar with Norse mythos)—ain’t exactly a cheery place. So what follows is a tale of disaster mitigation that’s part comedy, mystery, thriller, adventure set on a scifi hellscape with hostile aliens and the constant threat of death—that’s also being deconstructed as part of a clone’s philosophical crisis. With… himself.

If nothing else I’ve said convinces you to try this book, I guess let it be the age-old question: will we get to see a Mickey9?

TL;DR

My average reading rate for a 300-odd book is about a week. It usually takes me time to warm up to the lead, the characters, the story, and really get into the swing of things. I finished Mickey7 in just over a day. That alone should tell you something. If not, maybe the clone questioning his humanity while trying to avoid actually, physically strangling himself trope will do it. Or that it has really very good ratings thus far. Or that it’s a story of damage mitigation set on an frozen world with hostile aliens where the entire environment is out to kill the colonists, but a multiple is the one thing that they can’t stand. Or that—in spite of how all of that sounds—it actually comes off as damn well realistic …should hopefully be enough to get you to give this a try. I loved it. I hope you do, too.

Let me start by saying that Mickey7 (the human expendable) is a hoot! He is witty, funny, cynical, and he doesn’t take life (or death) too seriously. I loved him from the start!

Based on the blurb, I had some expectations going into the book that differed from what I got. That isn’t a bad thing though. My first impression was that this was going to contain a lot of humor and ridiculous antics since the two expendables couldn’t let the colony know there was more than one of them. And nonsense did ensue! But the story ended up being a bit deeper than that.

The story raises ethical and moral issues about immortality, colonization, immorality, and individuality. This sounds like it would be heavy-handed, but it isn’t. All of these “heavy” topics are integrated into an engaging narrative with interesting characters and a thought-provoking situation… and did I mention it is funny? There are several times where I laughed out loud.

Cycler paste?!?!?!?! BLECH!!!!

I thought the pacing was great, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand what is going on, it ended well, and overall it was fun and fascinating!

I don’t read a lot of science fiction, but I’m sure glad I read this one.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for providing an eARC for me to review, which I have done honestly and voluntarily.

Mickey7 is an quick, fun read. Galactic exploration with alien world colonization through the eyes of Mickey7. Through the creation of new bodies and cognitive uploading Mickey is an expendable, the one guinea pig used to test all the unknown dangers and work in deadly situations. When he dies a new version is created to continue filling his role as a disposable test subject. However, problems ensue when, unknown to the rest of the colony, he doesn't die during one of his typical explorations. Upon returning to the colony he discovers a new version has been created, a complication compounded by alien contact. The story is well paced, provides intermittent historical background and insights for the world Ashton has created that don't detract from the plot line and exhibits good character development.

This was a highly entertaining read, mostly due to the fact that Mickey7 was an enjoyable character to hang out with, (so much so, that I found myself not really liking Mickey8--which was silly since they're ostensibly the same person.)

This book had an excellent premise, dynamic characters, and strong dialogue. I loved the backstory on Expendables and how the other Mickeys fared. I enjoyed the psychological exploration on what it's like to be one. I also appreciated the historical detail on the Diaspora and how other missions fared on other Goldilocks' planets.

Basically, everything about this book was super solid, save for the core plot, which felt a little under-baked for me personally. While I appreciated the antics of the duplicate Mickeys, I wanted more interaction between those characters and their environment/snow critters. Even the big meeting at the end is not told from a first person POV, but relayed later to others after the fact.

So, while I enjoyed that the book was a fast, well-paced read, I wanted to see all that historical knowledge and character development put in great service of the mission at hand. In other words, I just wanted more flesh on these bones, perhaps a longer, deeper book.

This is a personal, artistic quibble of course. As I said above, I quite enjoyed the book overall--the bones were excellent. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although I don't read very much sci-fi, this book takes on many of sci-fi's typical topics, like space colonization, cloning, extra-terrestrials, etc. in a way that even non-typical sci-fi readers can digest. Early on, we learn that Mickey7 is called that because he is the "Expendable" on this space journey, and is already on his 7th iteration of Mickey after uploading his latest personality and memories before taking on another dangerous assignment. The author explores how such an Expendable team member is treated, the many things that can go wrong, why someone would volunteer for such a role, especially once the big twist is revealed. Since Mickey is a history lover, we learn much of the "world" background through his research on earlier colonization attempts, cloning, and Earth's experiences. This was a quick, sometimes humorous, often sarcastic read, with the feel of Project Hail Mary. I very much thank #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an oxymoron, essential and expendable. That is the situation the main character finds himself in in this fast paced Sci-Fi adventure. Mickey7, by Edward Ashton, is truly an inventive and realistic feeling story of what it might be like to live on a hostile alien planet. Very enjoyable. I need more books like this!
Mickey has the undesirable position of being the “Expendable” on an ice planet light years away from any human outpost. His position gives new meaning to the term dirty job. He gets tasks that are the most hazardous but necessary to everyone’s survival. It he dies while performing these tasks, no problem, just clone another Mickey. He is currently iteration 7, until he isn’t.
Where resources are more than scarce, and calorie intake is closely monitored, there can’t be two of him. Yet, by some fluke, or bad luck, there is now a Mickey8. To top it off, this planet has a hostile native species that is intent on killing the colonist. Will the Mickeys be able to keep it secret that there are now two of them? An even bigger question, will the colony even survive?
This is one of the most original Sci-Fi stories I have read in a while and there was some excellent world building to go along with it. I especially appreciated that the author showed us the gritty side of what it would be like to start a colony on a far flung planet. The risks involved, the mistakes and assumptions that are made well in advance that might doom a colony before it even steps foot on a new world. It is obvious the author did his homework and thought through what the consequences might be.
I also like the main character, Mickey7. He was compelling, snarky and even a little whiny at times. However, I felt sorry for him even though I know his situation was all his own doing. I do wish I had gotten a little bit more background on some of the minor characters. This is a minor detail I can easily overlook since the plot was fast paced and made the pages goes by quickly.
This book is not too heavy on the science, so it is a perfect pick for those readers who like more fiction than fact. Great story, with believable characters make this an easy recommendation to loves of Science Fiction, especially Space Opera.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I originally read the description of this book it sounded pretty intriguing. I tend to like the books I've read that involve clones, and I thought it would be interesting to read about Mickey7 and Mickey8 trying to keep the fact that there are two of them a secret. Going into this, the story pulled me in right away and I was expecting it to stay that way, but as the book progressed the story began to get more and more mundane.

There were so many parts of this story that could have been built out and explored. There is the problem with the alien species they call creepers, there is the problem of cultivating food and sustaining life on the planet, there is the problem of Mickey trying to stay alive through all the dangerous jobs he does, and then the extra Mickey who shouldn't be there. This all boded well for lots of tension and intrigue. Unfortunately the story never really lives up to its potential, because as I said, it goes the route of becoming mundane.

We end up following Mickey around as he tends to duties on the colony, and interacts with a few other people, who, by the way, are never very well developed. The little tension that exists is over worrying when Mickey will be found out, because you know he will be, since there is no well thought out plan for how they will keep anyone from finding out. It's also funny how this is supposed to be two versions of the same guy, but from the moment I met 8, I disliked him. Maybe that's the way it was supposed to be? We are after all seeing things from 7s point of view.

The author chose to focus mainly on the question of whether all these clones were really the same person, or not, and whether the original Mickey even still existed. I liked that, but didn't feel like it dug very deep into finding answers to those questions. And while that definitely something that should have been addressed in the book, I wanted more. Just more of everything that I mentioned above. Overall, I didn't dislike this book, I enjoyed it to an extent which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. I was just a little disappointed in it.

Also, if you read the description that compares this book to The Martian and Dark Matter, I have to warn you that this book is nothing like either of those books, so don't go into it with those kind of expectations. In general, I think those sorts of comparisons end up hurting rather than helping a book, because there are certain expectations that have to be met, otherwise disappointment ensues.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

While I thought it was an interesting and very easy read, my distaste for Mickey overwhelmed me. He is so apathetic. You would think that since he is given almost a "second chance" (or 3rd or 4th etc) at his life, he might have a better outlook now. He is no longer a worthless historian; he now contributes to something. But, for some reason, he feels no sense of purpose. He acts, frankly, like a jerk to the people around him and they are still nice to him! I don't know... I think I was just hoping for someone with a little more gusto and character. He just seemed kind of bland. Maybe that's the point

Thank you netgalley for the ARC

MICKEY7 gave me AT THE MOUTAIN OF MADNESS by HP Lovecraft vibes. But, where Mountain is creepy MICKEY7 is funny and far more enjoyable to read.

Written in past tense, first person POV, MICKEY7 presents not only an enjoyable story, but a lot to ponder philosophically: is Mickey a totally new person because he gets replaced all at once? Is he an abomination? Are seven and eight completely different people since they were created at different times, albeit from the same personality? If you knew you could be remade, would you still want to die over and over again? There are also a number of very humorous musings about death and the best way to die.

Overall, the premise is thought provoking. The story is fast paced, even with the blurbs about failed colonies and Mickey’s past deaths. The characters are well developed, and the two versions of Mickey are just different enough to make the reader wonder—are these men clones or twins?

If you like space operas, clones, first contact stories, unsuspecting heroes, and laughing out loud while reading, you will love this book!

I was excited about the premise for this book, especially as it has been a while since I have read any sci-fi.

The start was strong and very interesting learning about the new colony and Mickey7's role in it. However, once MIckey7 is saved by the native life and gets back to the base to find Mickey8 already there, that's where things slowed down almost to a stop. From there until about 85% through other than a couple skirmishes with the planet's animals, we just learn a lot of history of the human species - and how we have ended up trying to inhabit other planets - and follow the Mickeys on their daily tasks. For two people who don't want to be cause existing at the same time, they do very little to make sure they don't get caught in any lies. I was surprised when at around 80% it was mentioned that it had only been 3 days, when I thought about it, it absolutely made sense - but it was so slow I thought it had been weeks.

As for the ending, it just 'happened', there was no real build up, and there was a small twist, which, while clever, wasn't anything jaw dropping. I did turn the page after the end expecting another chapter, that's how quickly it was wrapped up.

From the publisher: Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.

Mickey7 is a fun but thought-provoking read about a group of humans in the distant future trying to settle on an inhospitable planet. Mickey Barnes is the unfortunate volunteer Expendable. He is intentionally placed in dangerous situations because if he dies, his old body can be recycled, a new body can be created, and his consciousness can be placed in the new body. Due to an unfortunate and deadly event that took place some years prior, multiple duplicates are not allowed – but Mickey7 escapes from a situation expected to kill him and finds that Mickey8 has already been created. What now?

Mickey’s best friend Berto is that guy you are still friends with even though you aren’t exactly sure why. His girlfriend is one of the only colonists who treats him like a normal person, and his commander is the worst boss you ever had. So it is easy to slip into Mickey’s world, despite the alien landscape. The book is surprisingly philosophical. Mickey7 has only a few extra experiences that Mickey8 does not, and yet one of those experiences makes him a different person with a different outlook when a crisis arises.

The book does not take itself too seriously. There are pointed comments about how we are currently treating the planet Earth, but they are not heavy handed. It has been 600 years since anyone has heard from old Earth – but life elsewhere in the cosmos is still a struggle. Mickeys 7 and 8 read a number of stories about colonization attempts that went bad – not enough food, fights with local sentient species, planets outside the Goldlilocks zone, humans being humans and killing each other. It’s a reminder that we’d be better off taking care of Earth than looking for new homes.

Mickey7 reminded me of books by Andy Weir. It’s not as funny and definitely does not contain as much science and math, but if you enjoyed The Martian and Project Hail Mary, you might enjoy Mickey7.

I read an advance reader copy of Mickey7 from Netgalley. It is scheduled to be published on February 15 will be available at the Galesburg Public Library in print and as a downloadable ebook and audiobook.

Stanley Kubrick once said: “Everything has already been done. Every story has been told. Every scene has been shot. It’s out job to do it one better.” And I would argue not objectively better, but exceptional in its exploration of the familiar subject matter. The premise of Mickey7, for instance, draws immediate parallels to Duncan Jones’ Moon but the novel sets itself apart by proving exceptional in its story-telling. The heart of the novel is Mickey7, the seventh incarnation of an Expendable, a human who can be expected to sacrifice himself for the common good because, after all, he can just return as a clone with most of his memories intact - provided he remembered to back himself up. A beloved friend and fellow crew member to some, an unnatural freak to others, Mickey takes on dangerous missions with a certain acerbic resignation. There’s a humor to the character that makes him not only instantly likable but very grounded and very human, navigating life on the Niflheim ice world colony, a reluctant replaceable cog in an unforgiving machine. There’s some wonderful world-building here and plenty of cool sci-fi concepts and technologies, but it’s the dialogue that truly sets this book apart. It’s smart, sharply comedic at times, and does a great job of realizing the memorable players in Mickey7’s life. Still, I did have a few quibbles. The haphazard plan hatched by the two clones to keep their duplicate existence a secret feels a questionable and highly problematic game plan doomed to failure, while the mystery of the planet’s dangerous denizens (the subterranean-dwelling creepers) isn’t really developed so much as it is touched on now and again before being abruptly resolved, but there’s a terrific twist in the telling and our hero’s clever actions ultimately lead to a dramatically satisfying conclusion. One of the type of books you take note of the author’s name so you can track down their other titles. Recommended.

Right off the back, the publishing blurb is way off. If I had to give it a “thing”, I’d say it’s more Six Wakes (in concept) meets The Murderbot Diaries (in tone and the idea of a high sci-if concept hating their job). This was a solid and quick read for me. Cool sci-fi concept with a light exploration into the philosophical or ethical repercussions. The characters weren't super fleshed out, but I liked Mickey7 enough to care about what would happen to him.

Interstellar colonization is an endeavor fraught with danger. First off, the colony ship uses antimatter to provide the power needed to drive it through the cosmos. Unfortunately, that stuff is so radioactive that weapons-grade plutonium is tame by comparison. And if any of it breaks containment, someone will have to put the antimatter genie back in the bottle. That someone is Mickey Barnes because he is expendable. In fact, he is "The Expendable." Any dangerous job, particularly a lethal one, is his by default. Gwen Johansen, the recruiter who hired Mickey, explained in great detail all the myriad ways he might be required to die while carrying out his duties. But, he volunteered for the job anyway because something far scarier awaited him if he stayed on his homeworld.

"Mickey7" is the story of a man caught in a dilemma that is strictly of his own making. Darkly humorous, the author pulls you along by recounting the many misadventures of Mickey and the history of other colonization efforts that either fell to ruin or succeeded despite the odds. I think you will come to like Mickey7, Nasha, and even Cat as the novel zips along. This thought-provoking novel is a sure winner, and I highly recommend it to all fans of hard science fiction.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this stellar novel.

I thought this was a resoundingly fine book. It had a couple of interesting concepts but didn’t go anywhere particularly interesting with them. The characters weren’t terribly drawn but weren’t too interesting either. After the first couple chapters it felt very paint by numbers, nothing surprising happened, and short of a couple passing mentions of the Ship of Theseus the philosophical ideas were about as glossed over as the science behind the story. It felt like it was straddling different ideas, unsure weather to be a light hearted romp or a deeper exploration and never really landed on either. Plus the author / main character kept using a couple words over and over again that felt really out of place. The ending felt very abrupt with neither much in the way of setup or payoff. Note: I was given an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

This book was so cool! It was unique, funny, and I loved the witty writing style. The author writes as if he’s having a conversation with you. I’ve heard this book being described as a cross between The Martian and Dark Matter. I have read both those books and I would agree with that comparison.

Mickey7 is an Expendable. He’s the one you call when you have a dangerous job and the person lucky enough to have said job probably won’t return. When Mickey7 dies, he has the ability to regenerate with almost all his memories. Sort of like cloning. He is sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim.

On a routine mission, Mickey7 falls into a giant hole. His teammates weigh the odds and determine that it was too dangerous to recover him. Mickey7 was presumed dead. However, when he finally makes it back to base, he discovers someone sleeping in his bed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8. If his superiors get wind there are duplicates running around they will both be thrown into the recycler for protein.

Mickey7 struggles to keep this secret from his friends and his Commander Marshall. Meanwhile, there are numerous problems arising on the planet, primarily lack of resources, and the threat if curious monster bugs.

Will Mickey7 be able keep from dying long enough to keep both lifeforms alive?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.