As a reader, I love to discover authors who I come to trust that pretty much whatever they write, it’s fairly certain I will enjoy. For me, Nnedi Okorafor is one such author.
She is a prolific writer and I have read a number of her works. For the sake of this blog, I have selected two sci-fi titles.
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
I am frequently in awe of the imagination and inventiveness this author brings to her stories, but even by her own standards, Lagoon is exceptional. Aliens have arrived in Lagos, and right from the beginning when we meet an eco-warrior swordfish, I was hooked.
The three main characters – Adaora, the marine biologist, Anthony, the world-famous rapper, and Agu, the troubled solder, (not to mention Ayodele, the lead alien) – are supported by a diverse cast which bring to life this modern-day Nigeria. They are refreshingly free from stereotypes, while the author does not shy away from the reality of prejudice and bigotry. The richness of setting is further emphasised by the appearance of monsters and masquerades, which add depth that creates the feeling of folklore as much as sci-fi.
Overall, Lagoon is a breathtaking read, with an urgent pace in line with the enormity of an alien invasion. I loved the attention to detail, offering an immersive experience into the vibrant city of Lagos. And when I came to the end, after I had caught my breath, I was left yearning to sit down to a meal of jollof rice, egusi soup and pounded yams.
The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor
In a time when much of Manhattan was under water, Times Square was land stable enough to house Tower 7. There were 39 floors to this two-hundred-year-old skyscraper, and on the 28th floor lived Phoenix – a genetic experiment, a speciMen, an abomination.
She is an accelerated woman, just two years old, but with the mind and body of an adult, and powers beyond imagining. Finding love and friendship with Saeed, another biologically altered human, Phoenix is content to abide by the rules and live a quiet life. Until she is given cause to question the truth of her identity, and discovers that everything she has ever known is a lie. When her powers are unleashed there is no going back.
The richly described world and inventive plotline, had me gripped from the first page to the last. The characters are extraordinary, with multi-faceted personalities and motivations that make them completely relatable; heroines and heroes speaking hard truths to the world, dealing with social injustices and inequalities from the personal to outright war. I was swept away by Phoenix’s journey as she encounters love, truth, power and betrayal, and struggles to comprehend and accept the timeless nature of her powers. This is a multi-layered story, spanning continents; from America to Africa and beyond… literally to the stars.
What are you reading?
