A pregnant woman must decide between giving up her neural implant that controls her anxiety and depression to care for her child or enrolling in a controversial trial to implant a device in her baby, exploring themes of bodily autonomy and mental health in a near-future world divided by societal pressures and technological advancements. The novel delves into the complexities of motherhood, trauma, and societal control, offering a stark and thought-provoking look at the struggle for autonomy in a world where personal choices are increasingly regulated.

Reader Review Summary

"Casual" is a powerful and thought-provoking science fiction novel that takes a stark look at issues of bodily autonomy, mental health, and the ethics of emerging technologies. Set in a near-future world that feels chillingly plausible, the story follows Valya, a pregnant woman grappling with her reliance on a neural implant called Casual that regulates her anxiety and depression.

One of the great strengths of Dae's novel is the vividly realized world they have constructed. From the underground cities of the wealthy to the polluted air above ground, to the ubiquitous use of immersive digital technologies, the future society feels richly fleshed out and hauntingly recognizable. The themes it explores around the rise of a tech-driven wellness industry, increasing corporatization, and class divides give the narrative a biting social relevance.

At its core, however, Casual is an intimate character study that pulls no punches in its examination of Valya's struggles for autonomy over her own mind and body. As she nears childbirth, she faces an agonizing choice - wean herself off Casual entirely, losing her main support for mental stability, or enroll in an experimental trial that would implant a similar device in her newborn. The novel deftly explores the coercive forces at play, from a patronizing psychiatrist to a controlling ex-partner to the lure of corporate interests, all claiming to act in Valya's best interests while denying her true agency.

Dae's masterful handling of Valya as a protagonist makes her plight viscerally compelling. Through first-person narration, we are immersed in Valya's interior world, feeling the full weight of her mental health challenges, her fierce determination to be a good mother, and the way past traumas constantly threaten to engulf her. Her bitter reflections on how all the institutions and individuals in her life have tried to control her hit with brutal force.

Yet Casual is not just a dark mirror, but a nuanced examination of technology's complex relationship with humanity. Dae avoids simple moralizing, instead tracing how the game-like functions of Casual provide Valya with an escape from anguish even as they shape a surreal, hyper-realized dependency. The novel asks potent questions about the nature of reality, agency, and what it means to be truly well in a world crowded with digital intervention.

Strands of hope and resilience also run through the novel's rich supporting characters and the tender new relationships that begin to rekindle Valya's sense of self-worth. While the finale doesn't provide easy answers, it points towards the possibility of hard-won healing and reclamation of bodily autonomy.

With Casual, Koji A. Dae has crafted a stunning blend of speculative fiction and intimate psychological exploration. It is a raw, emotionally resonant work that forces the reader to confront troubling questions about humanity's trajectory and our individual struggles for self-determination. Highly recommended for readers seeking provocative, immersive science fiction that cuts deep.