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The Memory Librarian
- And Other Stories of Dirty Computer
- Narrated by: Janelle Monáe, Bahni Turpin
- Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
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Publisher's Summary
In The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer, singer-songwriter, actor, fashion icon, activist, and worldwide superstar Janelle Monáe once again brings her voice to the Afrofuturistic world of one of her critically acclaimed albums, helping narrate these new stories which explore how different threads of liberation—queerness, race, gender plurality, and love—become tangled with future possibilities of memory and time in such a totalitarian landscape...and what the costs might be when trying to unravel and weave them into freedoms.
Whoever controls our memories controls the future.
Janelle Monáe and an incredible array of talented collaborating creators have written a collection of tales comprising the bold vision and powerful themes that have made Monáe such a compelling and celebrated storyteller. Dirty Computer introduced a world in which thoughts—as a means of self-conception—could be controlled or erased by a select few. And whether human, A.I., or other, your life and sentience was dictated by those who’d convinced themselves they had the right to decide your fate.
That was until Jane 57821 decided to remember and break free.
Expanding from that mythos, these stories fully explore what it’s like to live in such a totalitarian existence…and what it takes to get out of it. Building off the traditions of speculative writers such as Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang, Becky Chambers, and Nnedi Okorafor—and filled with the artistic genius and powerful themes that have made Monáe a worldwide icon in the first place—The Memory Librarian serves listeners tales grounded in the human trials of identity expression, technology, and love, but also reaching through to the worlds of memory and time within, and the stakes and power that exists there.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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What listeners say about The Memory Librarian
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Nikki Raibon
- 04-26-22
Hard to follow
I couldn’t finish this book. I wanted to like it and I really wanted to support one of my favorite artists, but the book is a slow twisting burn, probably best made into an artistic film. I’ll find a YouTube summary in hopes I need to invest in the long game.
2 people found this helpful
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Story
- H. Metz
- 04-29-22
Dystopia/utopia
Interesting. Not sure if a lesbian society really would be the solution to everything… but looking at what’s going on in the world, possibly! Some of the stories do feel like they’re defining being male as dystopian and female as utopian. Again, maybe true, but for the real work that also feels - unnecessarily - defensive for the female part.
1 person found this helpful
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- Breanna
- 04-27-22
The Memory Librarian
I’m glad I purchased the audio and book. It has help me bring out the story even more. Janelle shows her true self. I’m so proud of her. Glad to see what else she has in store.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- LAKESE TOATLEY
- 06-25-22
BORING!!! HOW DO I GET A REFUND???
Definitely struggled to finish the first chapter. I couldn't bare the monotone narration. I just want my money back.
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- Domo Foxy
- 06-25-22
Stunned to Tears
An immediate dive into a creative sci-fi fantasy dystopian world. Tragically relevant but incredibly inspiring.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-19-22
66 year old Dirty Computer
I loved it! it was so much more than I ever could have expected thank you so much to Janelle monae for expanding the dirty computer EP. hard for you to know that I lived it but you must have been in my memory, LOL. PERIOD
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- Christina Smith
- 06-07-22
Make a movie
The stories are u n believable. A must read. I will go through it again
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- Brianna Brown
- 05-30-22
loooooove
very much like lemony snicket's adult novels. one moment you're in the past, the next you're in the future. it's layered but it works. I've never read a cyber punk novel before but this was a good introduction.
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- JoEatsFoodandStuff
- 05-25-22
Intricate and Enthralling
A range of stories in a shared universe with impeccable worldbuilding, fascinating characters, and very firm perspectives on the joy and dystopia technology like time distortion and memory augmentation can bring
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- j
- 05-16-22
This was beautiful
I cannot wait to see what Janelle Monae has in store for us fandroids next.