MacKenzie Scott's Dystopian Novel Reflects Amazon's Publishing Influence

MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, recently published her third novel, "Last Days in Two Nations," as a serialized work on Substack. The dystopian fiction, set in a near-future America, has sparked speculation about Scott's motives. Some suggest it's a subtle protest against Amazon's dominance in the publishing industry, while others see it as a natural evolution of her writing career.

Scott's previous novels, "The Testing of Luther Albright" and "Traps," were traditionally published and focused on literary fiction. However, "Last Days" diverges into serialized genre fiction, a format heavily influenced by Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform. This platform has enabled many self-published authors to find success, particularly in genre fiction.

The novel is set in a fractured America divided between the Dakota Membership and Still United. The Dakota Membership is a tightly controlled society under President Damian Paxton, characterized by surveillance and a system of rewards and "self-improvement." The story follows eighteen characters over a week, with a fast-paced narrative that feels more like a movie script than a traditional novel. Criticisms of the book include its sketchy quality, typos, and clichéd dialogue.

Liv Lockhart, one of the more developed characters, is an event planner working for the Dakota Membership. Her story line explores the complexities of resistance and compliance within an oppressive system. The novel's moral universe is filled with double exposures, where acts of resistance can have unintended consequences. The epilogue reveals that the Bureau of Rewards for Courage, a front for the resistance, leads to the internment and genetic mutilation of half a million people.