Project V - by Park Seolyeon (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

STEMinist mecha fantasy meets reality television in this high-stakes novel from the author of A Magical Girl Retires--a wildly imaginative tale of sibling bonds, unexpected friendship, and an existential quest to understand what it means to be human.

Robotics student Kim Wooram, runner-up at the World Gigantic Mechanics Olympiad, is a world-class pilot and engineer. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she likes working solo, preferring the company of robots to most other humans. Sought by robotics centers across the globe, she chooses to return to Korea after learning of an exciting new secret government robotic project known as V. To her disappointment, only male pilots are allowed to apply.

Desperate for a chance to make history and encouraged by her twin brother, Boram, the usual rule-following Wooram makes a risky choice. Posing as Boram, she auditions for Project V, the reality competition show whose winner will pilot the robot V--and quickly becomes one of the top contestants in both skill and popularity. Wooram attracts fans and friends like Seojin, the show's youngest female writer and ardent "Boram" stan, and Jeonghoon, the clumsy but lovable underdog. She also gains a rival in Jinyoung, the ruthless heir to a Korean corporate dynasty.

As Wooram comes tantalizingly close to achieving her goal, she begins to realize that V's arrogant AI is a ticking time bomb. With victory within reach, and her identity at stake, will Wooram destroy the robot of her dreams to save lives, or stick to the script?

Project V is a playful yet sharp meditation on some of the most pressing issues roiling modern society in Korea and across the globe: the male dominance in STEM fields, the ethics of parasocial idolatry and our addiction to social media and reality television, and the promise and peril of an AI-oriented future. Punchy and compelling, Park Seolyeon's novel is a winning exploration of ambition and creation--a quintessential novel of our present and future for mecha fans and all curious readers.

Translated from the Korean by Gene Png

Review Quotes

"A STEMinist mecha adventure that also comments on parasocial fandom in reality television? Hell yes."

- LitHub

"Engaging and timely, anchored by a driven, flawed protagonist and a strong sibling bond. It's an energetic, thought-provoking SF read."

- Booklist

"A weird, delightful little book, simultaneously grim and breezy. . . . A very entertaining read" - Locus on A Magical Girl Retires

"As a millennial and lover of all things magical girls, I adored this celebration of all things magical girl and how they might play out in the real world. The illustrations by Kim Sanho took me back to all of my favorite manga I read growing up. This one was such a fun read." - Book Riot on A Magical Girl Retires

"Korean author Park Seolyeon's English-language debut succeeds in ways no other recent novel has: in portraying the anxiety-riddled realities of coming of age in our present moment through an unexpected and fantastical lens. . . . Prolific translator and writer Anton Hur [helps] Park's work sparkle with humor and heart." - The Rumpus on A Magical Girl Retires

"A Magical Girl Retires is sweet and smart and funny and knows exactly what it's doing. Usually, high concept books like this get a little lost in their own sauce, but Seolyeon keeps her focus tight and gets in and out quickly. . . . A Magical Girl Retires is as much fun as you'd expect it to be (read: extremely)." - Literary Hub "38 Favorite Books of 2024" on A Magical Girl Retires

"Park pictures a world on the brink of collapse, with no one paying the price--and shows what it might take for a millennial to not only survive, but to capture her own dreams and make her life worth living." - Den of Geek "Best Books of 2024" on A Magical Girl Retires