From Conspiracy Theories to Meme Culture Domination, 'Mr. Yay' Is a Science Fiction That Makes You Think (Exclusive Excerpt)

Some of the best books make us think about the life around us, especially when it comes to science fiction. After all, we can't just have the fiction element of the story. There needs to be meaning, and that often comes down to being able to put the story into the world around us.

Emily Jane understood the assignment when she crafted Mr. Yay. This is a story that is sure to make us question and think. It follows ordinary people in reality-bent situations, and part of it reminds me of Prime Video's Tales from the Loop. It expertly blends science fiction, thriller, and mystery, making it a must-read for the majority of readers out there.

And sure, while there are plenty of sci-fi elements with the reality-bending moments, Mr. Yay promises a look at the world we're currently grappling with. Whether it's conspiracy theories, identity crises, or just the wild way that meme culture has taken over our existence, we get an empathetic and humorous look at the human condition.

Oh, and we can't overlook the topic of memory. In a way, we could be getting into the Mandela Effect, but there's also the fact that we all remember things differently. That even goes for TV characters we grew up with.

While it is going to make you think, don't take the story all that seriously. This is satirical, and it's fun, especially considering the way it starts.

Who would have thought that a stray dog showing up would lead to a boy deciding it's time to chase his dreams of forming a rap group called Mr. Yay?

At the heart of the story, there is a look at life as we grow up, and that's something the excerpt shows. My. Yay gives us a story of two people with a dream, but how do they get to that dream? Do they rely on their parents to help, or do they take matters into their own hands? Take a look:

On the tenth night (or eleventh, or twelfth) (who was counting?) (they lost track), they had an album recorded on Bratty's laptop. They sat at the table, the dog spread on the floor beneath them. Tommy popped the top on a bottle of malt liquor. He poured two mugs.

"A toast. To us." Bratty pressed Play. They listened.

As they listened, the glee on Tommy's face faded. By the end, he wore an expression of concern, and resolve.

"It's not it," he said.

Bratty felt fairly certain that it was it, whatever it was. "Dude-No, dude."

"No, I mean . . . it's there," Tommy clarified. "The music is there.

But the sound."

"Oh. Sure. But like, what do we do?"

They were just two dudes with a mic, recording inside their apartment.

"We need to record this. Like for real. In a studio."

"Yeah, me and all my millions of dollars," said Bratty.

"Hmm."

"You could call your dad. He'd probably help."

"Yo, he was sooo pissed when I moved out here. I can't give him the satisfaction."

"So pride wins out."

"Whatever, you could ask your dad," Tommy said.

"You know he hasn't given me a penny in, like, three years. You remember how he said he'd pay my tuition then changed his mind, but didn't tell me until after it was too late to get student loans."

"Yeah. Douchey McDoucherson."

"You don't have to be ashamed of your privilege. As long as you recognize it for what it is."

"Yeah. Still . . ." Tommy stroked his chin. He glanced out the window. Nothing was happening out there in the dark. But the wheels in Tommy's mind were turning, and after a silent minute he chugged his mug of malt liquor, banged it on the table, and said, "That's it!"

"What, you're gonna call him?"

"My dad?"

"Yeah."

"No. I'm calling the guy I met who knows the guy who owns the studio. And then I'm gonna sell my car."

If the older Mr. Pierson had a list of All the Dumb-Ass Things My Kid and His Friend Have Done, selling Tommy's car to pay recording studio fees, when you could just be a responsible adult and go to business school and forget music altogether (except if you found a way to exploit music, from the business end [hello , concert ticket fees]), would be at the top of that list. Until wayward Bradford found a way to top it, which he inevitably would.

But this wasn't a rational timeline.

Art didn't happen because of prudent choices. It happened because you had a dream or a vision or an itch and you scratched and scratched so hard that you tore your skin open and art poured out. It happened because, as Tommy explained it, with a sweep of his arms and an unfurling of hands: Kablam! Your head explodes with art! It happened because you had something to say, something to mourn or ponder or praise, and regular words didn't do it justice. It happened because there wasn't justice in the universe, but with a verse or a note or a brushstroke, the world could be remade into a better version of itself, with more color, more glitter, more bass line.

Mr. Yay will be released on June 2, 2026, from Hyperion Avenue. It's an absurd and "weird AF" look at the world that is going to be perfect for summer reading, while giving you something in life to think about.

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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM.