The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa Credit: PANTHEON

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa PANTHEON

These days one can’t throw a racist member of the White House staff without hitting a work of fiction that directly reflects our current dystopia. And here’s another such novel—though the metaphors of Yoko Ogawa’s excellent new work, The Memory Police, could be applied to any number of oppressive states throughout the ages.

Bang bang, choo-choo train, let me see you shake that thang. Wm. Steven Humphrey is the editor-in-chief of the Portland Mercury and has held the job since 2000. (So don’t get any funny ideas.)