A review by helenareadsbooks
Countess by Suzan Palumbo

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

Suzan Palumbo explores revolution and belonging in her latest book Countess. This queer, Caribbean, anticolonial novella is set centuries into a future where the Æcerbot Empire has colonized space. Descendants of the British West Indies known as Exterran Antilleans, whose ancestors were enslaved and indentured on Earth, are once again indentured in this new empire. One of these descendants is Virika Sameroo, an immigrant to the empire and the first person of her heritage to work their way up the ranks of the merchant marines. Virika knows that becoming a model citizen is the only way for her family to survive. After returning from her latest mission, Virika is wrongfully convicted of murder and is cast out from Æcerbot society. Countess is a story of vengeance, survival, and resistance against systems of oppression, and it thoughtfully addresses legacies of colonialism and trauma in the Caribbean. Palumbo richly imagines a Caribbean future that honours the Caribbean past. 
 
Countess incorporates elements of Caribbean history and culture into the worldbuilding to bring this speculative future to life. The Caribbean is wholeheartedly represented in these pages—there are vivid descriptions of food and some of the places and characters are named after Caribbean locations and revolutionary leaders. The most brilliant aspect of the worldbuilding is the way it honours the legacy of real life Caribbean indentured labourers. The indenture system was created to replace slavery, and labourers from India and China were “recruited” (but in some cases they were more likely kidnapped or manipulated into signing contracts) to work the sugar plantations in the Caribbean. They were promised a better life and the possibility of returning to their homeland once the contract ended, but instead, this system alienated labourers from their homeland and the “better life” involved minimal pay and harsh working and living conditions (for more information about indentureship in the Caribbean, read Coolie Woman by Gaiutra Bahadur (The University of Chicago Press, 2014)). 
 
This history is not widely known, so to see it reflected in Countess is no small feat. Many of the restrictions imposed by the Æcerbot Empire on the Exterran Antilles reflect the loss of cultural ties, sacrifices and struggles experienced by real life indentured labourers. And this is why Virika and so many Indo-Caribbean people, myself included, have experienced feelings of cultural disconnection. The exploration of these experiences in Countess allows for a reckoning with the impact of colonialism and the legacies of trauma left behind in the Caribbean. Through Palumbo’s writing and Virika’s characterization, these discussions feel heartfelt and personal. Countess grasps the pain and trauma from colonialism, holds it up for everyone to see, and demands a different future that includes justice and solidarity. 
 
Countess also tackles racism and white supremacy by recognizing the violence of these systems and forcing colonizers to deal with the consequences of their actions. Throughout the book, Virika is undermined and seen as lesser because of her race. She tries to blend in and does what’s required for her family to survive. This idea of sacrificing your culture and identity to assimilate is not new; empire requires this of most of us. But no matter how hard we try to fit in, empire will never love us back. Anyone who dares to challenge the status quo, like Virika, is seen as a threat. Virika says “The Empire cannot tolerate me. I am a threat to their doctrine, to the belief that they are superior and civilized.” (78). Countess is steadfast in showing readers that it doesn’t have to be this way. Along with demanding justice and solidarity, it advocates for self-determination because “They will never admit you are good enough, no matter how docile you are. You will always be proving to them that you deserve to live. You must see that you don’t need them.” (136). Despite everything she experiences in this book, Virika never loses hope, and she uses her hope to unite the Exterran Antilleans and reignite the revolution against the empire. 

Virika’s journey in this novella is difficult, but her love for her people powers her through. Amidst her hardships, she goes on a journey of reconnecting with her heritage and tries to find where she belongs. This inner transformation informs her actions and helps her realize her place in the fight against the empire. One of the ways she reconnects is through random encounters with people who share her heritage. Every time Virika experienced one of these moments, I thought about a line from Linzey Corridon’s poetry collection West of West Indian (Mawenzi House, 2024). In Corridon’s poem “Greater Toronto Area,” he discusses this exact scenario and there’s a line that reads “I see my ancestors in you.” (West of West Indian, 58). This may seem insignificant to some but for Virika it’s affirming, and these moments lead to revelations that help her find herself and make her feel seen. This is also how I felt reading this book. I see myself and my ancestors in these pages, and it’s a beautiful thing to be represented and understood in this way. 

We’re living in a moment in time where all the ugliness of empire is coming to light. Now more than ever, people are becoming aware of how colonialism, white supremacy and racism have shaped the world. Countess critically examines these systems in a future reality that is not so different from our own. It challenges colonialism and emphasizes the importance of solidarity, community and justice. It also makes room for love and tenderness in a brutal world. By exploring these themes through speculative fiction, and alongside Caribbean culture and history, Countess allows readers to dream of what’s possible and hope for a different future. 
 
Thank you ECW Press for the gifted copy. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings