American Elsewhere

American Elsewhere is a 2013 novel by Robert Jackson Bennett that combines elements of science fiction and horror.

Synopsis

Following the death of her distant father, police officer Mona Bright comes into possession of a residence in Wink, New Mexico—a town missing from official maps and once associated with a secretive government research facility. As Mona delves deeper, she reveals disturbing secrets about both the community and her own history.

Themes

This work merges science fiction with horror to portray a twisted interpretation of the "American Dream". Reviewers have compared it to The Stepford Wives and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, emphasizing Wink’s veneer of compulsive normality grounded in strict gender expectations and mid-20th century Americana. The juxtaposition of a seemingly typical suburban environment with supernatural aspects generates a haunting mood. Analysts have pointed out Wink’s representation as entrenched in conventional social roles and exaggerated caricatures of middle-class existence. Motherhood stands out as a key motif, continuing Bennett’s thematic investigation of familial relationships first explored in his previous novel, The Troupe.

Reception

Overall, the novel was met with favorable critiques. The initial portion, focusing on Mona Bright’s investigation and early experiences within Wink, received widespread acclaim, whereas reactions to the latter half were more varied. Stefan Raets from Tor.com observed that although both sections combine to form a unified narrative, their differing tones and pacing give the impression of two distinct novels. Kirkus Reviews characterized the second half as "progressively implausible and repetitive," labeling the conclusion as "absurd."

In 2013, the novel was awarded the Shirley Jackson Award for Novel.