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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I find Nnedi Okorafor to be an author who delights and frustrates me in approximately equal measure. Her abilities as a writer cannot be gainsaid but, as I have said in other reviews of her work, I find the finished work a bit slapdash, with disconnected phrases and ideas hanging out like the frayed edges of an otherwise spotless gown. I also wonder if it is not a disservice to call these books of hers science fiction; she herself calls this genre Africanfuturism, and perhaps it would be useful to mute expectations if this label were adopted. Her world-building doesn't really hold together scientifically; my sci-fi jones for an explanation of how things work was rarely satisfied here.
I readily acknowledge that I may be (probably am) missing the point. Okorafor did not set out to build a realistic version of post-apocalyptic Nigeria as much as she (or so it seems to me) wished to paint an allegory to which she could pin her commentary on the failures of human society, in particular that of large corporations. Still, it strikes me that the latter would have been far more effective had the former been more convincing. To take just one example, when this book is held up against NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, one can see how effective the combination of skillful world-building and deeply felt explication of the horrors of our human world can be. I would love to see what this author could do if she spent a bit more time and energy on what she gives to the world.
I readily acknowledge that I may be (probably am) missing the point. Okorafor did not set out to build a realistic version of post-apocalyptic Nigeria as much as she (or so it seems to me) wished to paint an allegory to which she could pin her commentary on the failures of human society, in particular that of large corporations. Still, it strikes me that the latter would have been far more effective had the former been more convincing. To take just one example, when this book is held up against NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, one can see how effective the combination of skillful world-building and deeply felt explication of the horrors of our human world can be. I would love to see what this author could do if she spent a bit more time and energy on what she gives to the world.
Another really interesting exploration of speculation, technology and social critique set in a future Nigeria. AO is a young woman who has several cybernetic and physical implants - including both her legs and one arm - that stemmed from her physical deformities at birth and from a later car accident. The upgrades from Ultimate Corp, the massive corporation that employs and essentially runs most of Nigeria. Ultimate Corp’s power is based on the generation of wind power, culled from the Noor stations that surrounded the Red Eye - the giant unending tornado of sand in the north of Nigeria. AO encounters regional prejudice against her implants, but never if the violent sort until the events at the beginning of the novel. Her response to this makes her a fugitive, and she bumps into another fugitive (named DNA) who is a nomadic Fulani tribesman accused of being a terrorist. Together they have to elude the government and the Ultimate Corp, and figure out AO’s strange new abilities. It is a very good idea and includes some very cogent observations of the damage energy sourcing and control does not just to countries like Nigeria, but to minority people groups and traditional ways of life within those countries. The narrative is a little choppy, and the characters don’t develop quite as much as they could have, I think. More could definitely be done with this premise.
This hits the sweet spot of ya writing. It had plenty of action to keep the story interesting. It was a sci fi future, but not too hard to understand. It thought the technology she came up with all fell in that interesting realm of possibility that makes sci fi fun to read.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Nnedi Okorafor's writing is the type of sci-fi/speculative fic that pushes the boundaries and makes me go "well huh." Noor is a lot Afrofuturism and a bit Afrojujuism (which is a new to me term!). This is a speculative fic look at what it means to be "other," disability and mobility devices as we move into a more technological world, and the evils of capitalism.
There are several stories within the story in this book, and while some were interesting there was one very long one about the invention of the solar power they use that was just long and didn't seem to have a huge impact on the story itself. I found myself getting impatient with all the side stories and wanting to get back to the actual story.
While those side stories sort of slowed things down, the book overall remained quite fast-paced, especially the end which comes on, well, like a whirlwind. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, the winds changed and it swept along somewhere completely unexpected.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
Nnedi Okorafor's writing is the type of sci-fi/speculative fic that pushes the boundaries and makes me go "well huh." Noor is a lot Afrofuturism and a bit Afrojujuism (which is a new to me term!). This is a speculative fic look at what it means to be "other," disability and mobility devices as we move into a more technological world, and the evils of capitalism.
There are several stories within the story in this book, and while some were interesting there was one very long one about the invention of the solar power they use that was just long and didn't seem to have a huge impact on the story itself. I found myself getting impatient with all the side stories and wanting to get back to the actual story.
While those side stories sort of slowed things down, the book overall remained quite fast-paced, especially the end which comes on, well, like a whirlwind. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, the winds changed and it swept along somewhere completely unexpected.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is Noor by Nnedi Okorafor. From her back cover, Nnedi was born in the US to two Igbo (Nigerian) immigrant parents. She holds a PhD in English and was a professor of creative writing at Chicago State University. Her books are inspired by her Nigerian heritage and her many trips to Africa.
“From Africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.” -Goodreads
I came across this book as a January book club pick for both Roxane Gay and LeVar Burton. My library also had it on the 7 day hot fiction shelf.
I liked this book and thought it was very creative. It is a short book at less than 300 pages and yet the author has fully developed these characters and the situations they find themselves in. I think I give it 4 stars because I also find myself thinking about pieces of it even after I’ve finished it.
“From Africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.” -Goodreads
I came across this book as a January book club pick for both Roxane Gay and LeVar Burton. My library also had it on the 7 day hot fiction shelf.
I liked this book and thought it was very creative. It is a short book at less than 300 pages and yet the author has fully developed these characters and the situations they find themselves in. I think I give it 4 stars because I also find myself thinking about pieces of it even after I’ve finished it.
This book is !!! Okorafor slams it in this one. Must read.
Noor is the story of a futuristic Africa in which wireless power transfer has been discovered and is now the main source of power. AO was born disabled and has implants and artificial legs. She is attacked by a group of prejudiced men who don't believe in augments, and she kills them and runs.
While on the lam, she meets DNA, who was attacked by villagers with a prejudice against nomad cattlemen and he killed one of them in self defense.
And then we have the NPC, the EvilCorp of the book, which sounds a whole lot like that Beezo company (wink-nudge) who is all for profit and none for people.
They go on a journey together and the plot twist is something you will NOT see coming.
This story is not built like American and British literature. It's told without foreshadowing. You don't know where the story is going at all when you're reading it. I read another review that called it "sprawling" and that feels right, but not in a bad way. There isn't a goal the characters are moving towards other than escape. So you're not rushing towards an ending, you're really in the story moment to moment. I really enjoyed that once I got over my initial jarr at the difference in story telling style.
I'm a sucker for a plot twist I can't see coming. To me, many authors foreshadow too much and I see the plot twist before it comes. I want the surprise, and while I don't mind a couple clues, I don't like when the author gives too much away. And when I tell you this author gave NOTHING away...I was so surprised in all the best ways.
So this one is absolutely worth a read, but first make sure you're going into it understanding that the style of storytelling is not what you may be used to.
While on the lam, she meets DNA, who was attacked by villagers with a prejudice against nomad cattlemen and he killed one of them in self defense.
And then we have the NPC, the EvilCorp of the book, which sounds a whole lot like that Beezo company (wink-nudge) who is all for profit and none for people.
They go on a journey together and the plot twist is something you will NOT see coming.
This story is not built like American and British literature. It's told without foreshadowing. You don't know where the story is going at all when you're reading it. I read another review that called it "sprawling" and that feels right, but not in a bad way. There isn't a goal the characters are moving towards other than escape. So you're not rushing towards an ending, you're really in the story moment to moment. I really enjoyed that once I got over my initial jarr at the difference in story telling style.
I'm a sucker for a plot twist I can't see coming. To me, many authors foreshadow too much and I see the plot twist before it comes. I want the surprise, and while I don't mind a couple clues, I don't like when the author gives too much away. And when I tell you this author gave NOTHING away...I was so surprised in all the best ways.
So this one is absolutely worth a read, but first make sure you're going into it understanding that the style of storytelling is not what you may be used to.
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I always like reading Okorafor’s books bc they are so vastly different than the well-worn path of other novels. So while this was interesting, I kept thinking to myself how her other books drew me in more, and I just couldn’t stay hooked to this book.