Reviews

Black Stars: A Galaxy of New Worlds by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nisi Shawl, C.T. Rwizi, Victor LaValle, Nalo Hopkinson, Nnedi Okorafor

linguisticali's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

3.5

This was a mixed bag. I loved The Black Pages and liked the last three stories, but 2043 didn't do anything for me, and I found The Visit really tedious (what if patriarchy but REVERSED? maek you think). 

jessie_pea90's review against another edition

4.0

Black Stars Collection, my reading thoughts:

The Visit - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- [ ] What if gender roles were reversed? An interesting look into if men were the ‘trophy wives’ in a world built for women. So short but perfectly paced.

The Black Pages - Nnedi Okorafor
- [ ] A story about the importance of history, and holing on to your cultures history against those who wish to destroy it. Fascinating but took me a while to understand.

2043 - Nisi Shawl
- [ ] Not really sure what was happening in this one - found it confusing but could tell it was an allegory.

These Alien Skies - C. T. Rwizi
- [ ] A combination of ideas which, for me, echoed ideas found in Black Mirror and Avatar. An exploration of grief, race and human progress.

Clap Back - Nalo Hopkinson
- [ ] Perhaps a little too futuristic/science heavy for me in areas to understand it fully. Felt it explored the themes of “Blackness” and the appropriation of image/ Culture.

We Travel The Spaceways - Victor Lavalle
- [ ] This one lost me at the end, I thought it was exploring homelessness and did actually wonder where the science fiction elements were but then it hit and I although I think I understand the ending I also don’t think I did.

sunny76's review against another edition

4.0

I am not one that reads sy-fy or fantasy books on a regular basis, but I read all of the shorts in the Black Stars collection. In The Visit, two male friends (one married with kids, one single) from college visit 10 years later. The interesting part of the story is they live in a matriarchal society where men do not have legal control over their bodies. The Black Pages was excellent and left me wanting more. I want so much more information about Faro, Issaka, Issaka's mother, the black book, and what happens next! Why did it have to end so soon? 2043… is a future where people of color have chosen to be "mer" (mermen and mermaids). Nano technology converts lung capacity to live in the sea. These Alien Skies could be a novel that I would read. Two people leave Earth? To head for another planet where previously an Architect has gone to prepare. The two go to look, verify, and report. What they find is mind boggling for this person. Clap Back is weird and yet interesting. Can a designer use a program to bring knick-knacks to "life"? This is futuristic Twilight Zone! We Travel the Spaceways is also weird and interesting. A homeless and apparently schizophrenic man that talks to empty cans and coke bottles may not be what he seems.

nmw2412's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

whatjaninareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

renae24's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0