Reviews

Convergence Problems by Wole Talabi

yuck1209's review

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I always find it hard to rate short story collections, since I tend to focus more on themes and connections vs. character. The Author’s Note at the end is particularly helpful, since I had to remember these are generally submitted for publications or other anthologies. It’s also a way to get more of Talabi’s insights and backgrounds of different stories - there’s layers of context to filter the reading through. 

Stories that stood out in particular: 

• Debut: I liked this one. Short, simple, not too much exposition. In an age where AI generated art feels more like a joke or source of entertainment, it’s interesting to think of what it would actually look like and whether humans could recognize it for what it is. 
• An Arc of Electric Skin: I immediately thought of Static Shock, but as a revolutionary instead. It felt much more character-focused than other short stories, particularly filtered through the narrative voice of Dr. Ogunbiyi. I’m embarrassed to admit my American ignorance of global politics (particularly during the blur of 2020 and COVID isolation) so the #EndSARS protests weren’t something I knew about. 
• Saturday’s Song: I really liked this one! I enjoyed the (somewhat meta) storytelling aspect, and the reveal. It was also a fun callback to Shigidi, who is the eponymous character of Talabi’s recent novel that I read a while back. 
• Lights in the Sky: The whole Christmas thing makes more sense after reading the Author’s Note. But I liked this story’s use of the second person perspective, and how it creates a sense of immediacy and immersion. 
• Ganger: The longest story in the collection. I thought the juxtaposition between the folklore and the actual characters and story was novel and fascinating! I thought it was interesting to contextualize our individual human need for purpose and meaning with the societal need for “work”… but also with a very critical view towards the latter and the ways in which it is shaped by the wealthy and the powerful. It also made me think about parenthood - how Laide’s parents were very much focused on survival after fleeing the cataclysmic results of undeterred climate change. In comparison to those very tangible dangers, Laide’s hunger for agency and purpose seems more…  existential? But no less real or valuable. 
• Nigerian Dreams: What must it be like to grow up in a place where so many people’s hopes and dreams involving leaving it? There was a bit of that ennui in the suburbs where I grew up, but nowhere near to the same extent. Rural communities clans “brain drain” come to mind. I also thought about the Philippines and how my parents (and many others) chose to leave for better opportunities. 
• Performance Review: Eerie. Actually the Note in the back gives a really interesting story about Talabi’s experience with AI, specifically Wordcraft, a tool being developed by Google Research. It made me think about my own relationship with work and productivity, and how many people my age and younger are navigating that. 

mweis's review against another edition

4.0

 *I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I had read Talabi's Hugo and Nebula nominated novelette A Dream of Electric Mothers in Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction and loved it but was disappointed by Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, so I went into this collection with some trepidation but I really enjoyed it!

In Convergence Problems, Talabi explores the rapid change of technology, especially as it relates to Africa. There are stories that explore colonialism both historically and in the space age, identity, AI, grief, family, and so much more. Talabi's prose is excellent and his ideas are inventive and engaging. There are several stories that play with form in such a fun way, and I would love to see more of that! I think I will give Talabi's next full length novel a chance but where his work has worked best for me is in the short form.

Standouts to me were:

• An Arc of Electric Skin
• Nigerian Dreams
• Performance Review
• Comments on Your Provisional Patent Application for an Eternal Spirit Core
• A Dream of Electric Mothers 

sasinshort's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sparksbooks's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

ayrahvon's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bhagestedt's review

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

5erinnicole's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was my first short story collection of the year. I loved “Saturday’s Song” - and I didn’t even know it was a sequel! I also really enjoyed “Ganger” but I think I would have preferred that one as a full novel. It didn’t feel complete, and yet was by far the longest story in the collection. 

I cannot wait to read more from Talabi. His voice came through in every story, connecting even the most different stories. He also experimented within writing formats including a story told via blog and another told as a patent submission. 

I found myself wondering what was up next each time I finished a story instead of missing the characters and plot of the previous. 

trukkos_travisz's review

ehhh, I just couldn't get into these stories

wandering_not_lost's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

My favorites were the longest, Ganger, which was a bit predictable but good, and a really short and sweet story called Abeokuta52.  Most stories were fun and showed people fighting against oppression with varying results, with a lot of thematic heft about technology's place as humanity moves further into capitalism/oligarchy and further harms the planet.