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Seed Beetle

By (author): Mahaila Smith

Illustrated by: Julia Pereira

In a climate changed future, Canada is thought to be a promised land. But in southern Ontario, the promise and the land are exhausted: industrialization has led to widespread destruction, desertification and food insecurity. So when Utopic Robotics promises growth and presents a community with a swarm of automated beetles that will revitalize the land and rebuild utopia, community members rally behind the corporation and its message of hope. But technological solutions often come with secret risks.

This collection of illustrated poems explores those risks inherent in utopia and the idea that through science alone we can solve our environmental problems. Through femme and queer perspectives, Smith lays bare the social implications of a technological savior, and creates a blueprint for co-opting technology in the name of community and connection.

AUTHOR

Mahaila Smith

Ottawa-based writer Mahaila Smith’s poetry has been nominated and finalist for the Best of the Net Award, the Rhysling award and the Ralph Angel Poetry Prize. Their debut chapbook, Claw Machine, was published by Anstruther Press. Their second chapbook, Water-Kin, was published by Metatron Press. Their poems have been published in Room, Augur, Untethered Magazine and elsewhere. You can find more of their work on their website, mahailasmith.ca.


Reviews

An intense thoughtprovoking poetry collection from the future depicting a 22ndcentury world ravaged by climate change industrialization Cronenbergstyle implants AI robots pollution and other threats Smith has the byline on the cover but the books unique conceit is that its a posthumous collection of poems by a writer who lived through this chaos while seeking love peace and family amidst the machinations of a dangerous corporation called Utopic Robotics Its highconcept science fiction but it all feels painfully relevant to today Easily one of my favorite books of the year John R Platt for The Revelator

A dystopian yet incredibly tender other world Conyer Clayton author of But the Sun and the Ships and the Fish and the Waves

Witty sharp and heartfelt Manahil Bandukwala author of Heliotropia and Monument



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Details

Dimensions:

128 Pages
9in * 6in * 0.3in
0.4lb

Published:

May 15, 2025

Publisher:

Stelliform Press

ISBN:

9781738316533

Book Subjects:

POETRY / Canadian

Language:

eng

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