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callme_tippy's review against another edition
4.0
There were some real gems in the collection. Like with any anthology not all the stories were for me, but I enjoyed majority of them!
ssinforshort's review against another edition
4.0
Although these stories were hit or miss. The stories I did enjoy were creepy, interesting, sweet and funny.
laurareads87's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Having very much enjoyed 2021’s collection, I was pleased to find that The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2022) is equally wide ranging, thought-provoking, and timely as its predecessor — in fact, I might have enjoyed this one even more. Inevitably, with an anthology, some stories stood out for me personally more than others, but there is no filler here and I have no doubt that each reader will find stories that stay with them and new-to-them authors to seek out further works from (I know I have). Some of my favourites included:
—P. Djèlí Clark’s “If the Martians Have Magic” - sci-fi with magic, from one of my absolute favourite fantasy authors.
—Tobi Ugundiran’s “Deep in the Gardener’s Barrow” - eerie, witchy, mysterious.
—Wole Talabi’s “An Arc of Electric Skin - revolution with science fictional aspects.
—Ugochi Agoawike’s “When She Speaks” - poetic, queer, magical.
—Nnamdi Anyadu’s “The Coward of Umustead” - a quiet child who isn’t who isn’t quite who he appears.
—Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki’s “Destiny Delayed” - an excellent story I already got to enjoy in the collection <i>Between Dystopias</i> (which I recommend!) and was happy to give a re-read.
This installment of The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction includes a section of poems at the end. I don’t feel like I have the critical vocabulary to review poetry well, but I found many of the poems to be impactful and I am glad that the decision was made to include them. I really hope that this wonderful series of anthologies continues!
Content warnings: gun violence, murder, death, sexual assault, rape, slavery, racism, slurs, trauma, genocide, gore, body horror, injury detail
Thank you to NetGalley, Arc Manor, CAEZIK SF & Fantasy, and the editors for providing an ARC in exchange for this review.
—P. Djèlí Clark’s “If the Martians Have Magic” - sci-fi with magic, from one of my absolute favourite fantasy authors.
—Tobi Ugundiran’s “Deep in the Gardener’s Barrow” - eerie, witchy, mysterious.
—Wole Talabi’s “An Arc of Electric Skin - revolution with science fictional aspects.
—Ugochi Agoawike’s “When She Speaks” - poetic, queer, magical.
—Nnamdi Anyadu’s “The Coward of Umustead” - a quiet child who isn’t who isn’t quite who he appears.
—Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki’s “Destiny Delayed” - an excellent story I already got to enjoy in the collection <i>Between Dystopias</i> (which I recommend!) and was happy to give a re-read.
This installment of The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction includes a section of poems at the end. I don’t feel like I have the critical vocabulary to review poetry well, but I found many of the poems to be impactful and I am glad that the decision was made to include them. I really hope that this wonderful series of anthologies continues!
Content warnings: gun violence, murder, death, sexual assault, rape, slavery, racism, slurs, trauma, genocide, gore, body horror, injury detail
Thank you to NetGalley, Arc Manor, CAEZIK SF & Fantasy, and the editors for providing an ARC in exchange for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Gore, and Body horror
gnashchick's review against another edition
5.0
Tremendous collection of African & Diaspora spec fic. My overall favorite is, "When the last of the Birds and the Bees Have Gone On" by C.L. Clark. It GUTTED me in the best way. Absolutely stunning. There are so many stories in this anthology that you're sure to find one that blows your hair back.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
5.0
This was an excellent collection with quite a bit of range. A number of authors I was unfamiliar with, along with a few (Tobias Buckell & Sheree Renée Thomas) I was. On the whole, excellent. I look forward to future volumes.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
Anthologies like this are an excellent way to discover new authors and those featured were all new to me.
I liked the stories but I would preferred they were longer.
The authors are interesting and hope to read novels by them.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I liked the stories but I would preferred they were longer.
The authors are interesting and hope to read novels by them.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
miraa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bravesirtoaster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
klibri's review against another edition
2.75
"The Many Lives of an Abiku" by Tobi Ogundiran ★★★
"A Love Song for Herkinal as composed by Ashkernas amid the ruins of New Haven" by Chinelo Onwualu ★★★
"Are We Ourselves?" by Michelle Mellon ★★½
"The Goatkeeper’s Harvest" by Tobi Ogundiran ★★½
"Baba Klep" by Eugen Bacon ★½
"The Friendship Bench" by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu ★★★
"The Front Line" by WC Dunlap ★★★½
"A Love Song for Herkinal as composed by Ashkernas amid the ruins of New Haven" by Chinelo Onwualu ★★★
"Are We Ourselves?" by Michelle Mellon ★★½
"The Goatkeeper’s Harvest" by Tobi Ogundiran ★★½
"Baba Klep" by Eugen Bacon ★½
"The Friendship Bench" by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu ★★★
"The Front Line" by WC Dunlap ★★★½