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grahamclements's review against another edition
4.0
How did Zoo City win the 2011 Arthur C. Clarke award? Not that it’s a bad book, it is a very enjoyable, imaginative and well-written novel. The problem is science does not drive its plot, so it is not science fiction. If anything, the novel is fantasy, as its plot’s two main drivers are magic and spiritualism.
Lauren Beukes sets Zoo City in an alternative version of her homeland, South Africa. In this alternative version, criminals are identifiable by the animals attached to them. Not physically attached, but an animal and its master are psychically linked. The animal feels what the human is feeling. The animal has to be close to its owner or they both will panic. The animals also instil minor magical abilities in their owners.
The animals reminded me of the Daemons in Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials series. Beukes acknowledges that similarity by mentioning that series within the novel. But Zoo City is nothing like Dark Materials.
Zinni is the book’s protagonist. She is an ex-journalist who, after killing her brother, winds up with a sloth. The sloth gives her the ability to find lost things by following the threads they leave. She makes some of her income by finding people’s lost rings and keys. She also runs a number of scams where she dupes the gullible out of their money. She is just surviving, living in a part-abandoned block of flats.
While trying to find a lost ring for a client, the client dies. Outside her client’s house, two well-off cultured people with animals contact her. They want her to find a missing pop star. She tells them that her magical ability only helps find lost things, not people, but they are insistent. She needs the money, so she agrees to search for the singer. Her investigating leads her through the decaying suburbs of Johannesburg.
The novel consists of many short chapters. At the beginnings of chapters, often her motives for going or being somewhere are not clear. Usually the connection with her investigation becomes clearer as the chapter progresses. Similarly, the search for the singer seems to conclude well before the end of the novel. Zinni then begins to investigate some murders of animals and their owners. That investigation eventually enlightens her on why the popstar went missing.
Zinni is a tough, intelligent, independent and strong female character, who takes men, rather than submitting to them. She scams people, lies to people, sets people up, and fights back when attacked.
Her sloth – she has not bothered to name it – lets her know of its displeasure with many of her activities. It hisses in her ear or jabs her with it claws if she drinks too much or puts them in danger. It will take a swipe at the face of anyone it does not like who tries to get too close to Zinni. The sloth’s grumpy reactions are an enjoyable counterpoint to some of the serious situations Zinni find herself in.
Beukes’ writing flowed, like Zinni and her sloth, the words linked together nicely. With Zoo City, she has excelled at word building. She has created a wonderfully edgy alternative Johannesburg, a decaying world full of dangerous and magical people.
At its essence, Zoo City is a fast-paced crime novel set in a different version of reality. It is a world where magic is real, but does not dominate. The novel should be enjoyed by anyone who likes fantasy that mingles the familiar world of today with the strange.
Lauren Beukes sets Zoo City in an alternative version of her homeland, South Africa. In this alternative version, criminals are identifiable by the animals attached to them. Not physically attached, but an animal and its master are psychically linked. The animal feels what the human is feeling. The animal has to be close to its owner or they both will panic. The animals also instil minor magical abilities in their owners.
The animals reminded me of the Daemons in Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials series. Beukes acknowledges that similarity by mentioning that series within the novel. But Zoo City is nothing like Dark Materials.
Zinni is the book’s protagonist. She is an ex-journalist who, after killing her brother, winds up with a sloth. The sloth gives her the ability to find lost things by following the threads they leave. She makes some of her income by finding people’s lost rings and keys. She also runs a number of scams where she dupes the gullible out of their money. She is just surviving, living in a part-abandoned block of flats.
While trying to find a lost ring for a client, the client dies. Outside her client’s house, two well-off cultured people with animals contact her. They want her to find a missing pop star. She tells them that her magical ability only helps find lost things, not people, but they are insistent. She needs the money, so she agrees to search for the singer. Her investigating leads her through the decaying suburbs of Johannesburg.
The novel consists of many short chapters. At the beginnings of chapters, often her motives for going or being somewhere are not clear. Usually the connection with her investigation becomes clearer as the chapter progresses. Similarly, the search for the singer seems to conclude well before the end of the novel. Zinni then begins to investigate some murders of animals and their owners. That investigation eventually enlightens her on why the popstar went missing.
Zinni is a tough, intelligent, independent and strong female character, who takes men, rather than submitting to them. She scams people, lies to people, sets people up, and fights back when attacked.
Her sloth – she has not bothered to name it – lets her know of its displeasure with many of her activities. It hisses in her ear or jabs her with it claws if she drinks too much or puts them in danger. It will take a swipe at the face of anyone it does not like who tries to get too close to Zinni. The sloth’s grumpy reactions are an enjoyable counterpoint to some of the serious situations Zinni find herself in.
Beukes’ writing flowed, like Zinni and her sloth, the words linked together nicely. With Zoo City, she has excelled at word building. She has created a wonderfully edgy alternative Johannesburg, a decaying world full of dangerous and magical people.
At its essence, Zoo City is a fast-paced crime novel set in a different version of reality. It is a world where magic is real, but does not dominate. The novel should be enjoyed by anyone who likes fantasy that mingles the familiar world of today with the strange.
crowsandprose's review against another edition
4.0
Devoured this book over a single day-- being sick and on bed rest is good for something, right?
It was good company; I was intrigued, kept intrigued, at how things panned out. I really enjoyed the layers of detail, but I think we could have had some places where this got tightened. A second reading while less drugged might reveal more that I missed. But even while in my medicated state, I got a lot out of this book.
I'm hoping for another one in this world; maybe not about Zinzi herself (though I found her engaging, don't get me wrong, but I think her story is told - though I would have liked to have known more, had a clearer picture of the wrongs she's done beyond the obvious) but certainly about the world and the animals and it's strange magical systems.
The worldbuilding, magical realism layered atop a more cyberpunk thriller reminds me of the old gaming system for Shadowrun (and I would suggest this book to anyone who has played that particular game). Not 100% original, but great writers steal, not borrow! I think that the flavors she sets in with this are good, gritty and ugly and in places, hopeful. It's not your average urban fantasy, which is good, because I've got my staples for that already. This was cyberfantasy, or post-cyberpunk-fantasy, daring to touch on scenes that the average wizard/vampire/werewolf/faerie detective book won't touch. I love it for that.
Either way: an engaging, if quick read. I'll definitely be looking for Moxyland by the same author.
It was good company; I was intrigued, kept intrigued, at how things panned out. I really enjoyed the layers of detail, but I think we could have had some places where this got tightened. A second reading while less drugged might reveal more that I missed. But even while in my medicated state, I got a lot out of this book.
I'm hoping for another one in this world; maybe not about Zinzi herself (though I found her engaging, don't get me wrong, but I think her story is told - though I would have liked to have known more, had a clearer picture of the wrongs she's done beyond the obvious) but certainly about the world and the animals and it's strange magical systems.
The worldbuilding, magical realism layered atop a more cyberpunk thriller reminds me of the old gaming system for Shadowrun (and I would suggest this book to anyone who has played that particular game). Not 100% original, but great writers steal, not borrow! I think that the flavors she sets in with this are good, gritty and ugly and in places, hopeful. It's not your average urban fantasy, which is good, because I've got my staples for that already. This was cyberfantasy, or post-cyberpunk-fantasy, daring to touch on scenes that the average wizard/vampire/werewolf/faerie detective book won't touch. I love it for that.
Either way: an engaging, if quick read. I'll definitely be looking for Moxyland by the same author.
wolfbridge's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Vividly written protagonist, imaginative setting, but Beukes loses control of this one about halfway through and never gets it back.
imdunn's review against another edition
4.0
That took so many turns that I didn’t expect. Some good, some less good
kellynanne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.0
ronpayne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
Set in an alternate present in which people who commit heinous crimes have animal familiars attached to them which grant a magical ability, but which must protected, or the owner will be immediately dragged to hell. I struggled with suspending disbelief on magical conceit when it was contrasted against the gritty, realistic Johannesburg underworld it was set it, and though it was essential to the plot, I felt it distracted from an otherwise solid noir mystery.
edshara's review against another edition
4.0
This wasn't really what I expected, however, I really enjoyed it. It is a bit complex, so it does take some time to see how things come together. The idea of criminals getting not only animals, but also magic was interesting and unique to me. It just would have been nice to have a better understanding of the why and how before being thrown into the story.
Zinzi was an interesting character and while her backstory was interesting, it felt like some parts were left out. I liked the mixed media effect of news articles, emails and interviews. I wasn't really expecting just how twisted and violent the ending was, but the last several chapters really made the book. I'd say if you're going to give this one a try, make sure to give it a few chapters and if possible buddy read it with someone. So much is going on, that I think it would have been even better if their would have been someone to discuss it with.
Zinzi was an interesting character and while her backstory was interesting, it felt like some parts were left out. I liked the mixed media effect of news articles, emails and interviews. I wasn't really expecting just how twisted and violent the ending was, but the last several chapters really made the book. I'd say if you're going to give this one a try, make sure to give it a few chapters and if possible buddy read it with someone. So much is going on, that I think it would have been even better if their would have been someone to discuss it with.
andriawrites's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of those VERY surprising reads. I do not typically read science fiction, but Zoo City was on the reading list for a class I took on African Literature, and I found that Beukes uses her narrative extremely well in adressing the weighty concerns and realities of post-apartheid South Africa and the bustling, complex urban space of Johannesburg. The story itself is quite gripping and her protagonist is fierce, fearless and takes not bullshit, exactly what I look for in the heroine of a novel. This book made me anxious to read Beukes' other novels, not only for the engaging plotline but for her clever, quick writing style.
peripetia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. It's unique, it's interesting, I liked how it was written, and although some say in their reviews that the plot is weak, I liked it. I didn't have a problem with it, but I get the critique.
Good urban fantasy is hard to come by, and it's a genre that I like in general. The South African setting was a nice change of scenery as well.
The book also discusses different difficult themes from class to drug addiction. Definitely would recommend.
P.S. started th book as audio and I did not like the narrator. Or, to be fair, I don't think he voice suited the character, so I switched to physical. This was a good idea because I would have missed a lot of the language.
Good urban fantasy is hard to come by, and it's a genre that I like in general. The South African setting was a nice change of scenery as well.
The book also discusses different difficult themes from class to drug addiction. Definitely would recommend.
P.S. started th book as audio and I did not like the narrator. Or, to be fair, I don't think he voice suited the character, so I switched to physical. This was a good idea because I would have missed a lot of the language.