The excitement I had over the release of Nnedi Okorafor's Death of the Author was much greater than the amount of excitement I usually experience over a science fiction book. This one promised to be much more than a story about a strange and maybe not-so-far-off future filled with AI and robots. There was also mention of complicated family dynamics, and at the center of everything is a writer who achieves her dream of publishing her work, and everything that comes with sudden meteoric success.
The Situation: As the second-oldest of six in a large and loud Nigerian family, Zelu is prepared for the controlled chaos that is sure to occur while attending her younger sister's wedding. She expects the looks, stares, and glances because of her wheelchair, and even the rude and ill-conceived comments from relatives over her disability. What she does not expect is to be fired from her adjunct faculty position over the phone, and then to receive news of her latest novel being rejected. But something in Zelu opens up, allowing her to begin writing something completely new. And when she sends it to her agent, he loves it, along with everyone else who gets their hands on it, bringing Zelu the literary success she has been chasing.
The Problem: As Rusted Robots takes the world by storm, Zelu suddenly has more money than she could have ever dreamed of, and is recognized practically everywhere she goes. But of course, with the good reviews come the negative ones, and once the movie adaptation hits theaters, what follows is the constant nagging for a second book. And then there is Zelu's family, who can never quite seem to understand her, or simply be happy for her, no matter what she accomplishes. As the book begins to take on a life of its own, Zelu's success takes her on a very different path that she ever could have imagined.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel that is actually more like two books in one. There is Zelu's story as a Nigerian-American woman who finds success as a writer while living in Chicago. Then there is the book she writes, Rusted Robots, that catapults her to fame. Zelu's story focuses heavily on her family, her disability, and of course, her career and experience as a writer. In Rusted Robots, humanity is long gone, and what they have left behind is an earth inhabited by several different types of robots and AI. And the science fiction aspects of the book are not relegated to the story within the story. With Zelu's literary fame comes opportunities she never would have imagined, and they make implications as to the direction humanity could be headed.
My Verdict: On the cover of the copy of my book is a quote by George R. R. Martin claiming that this book "has it all," and I see what he means. The book within a book contains a compelling science fiction adventure, written by a woman who is impulsive, stubborn, proud, afraid, creative, and simply wishing to be free to live her own life, while surrounded by a family that will loudly judge and criticize every move she makes. It is a concept that takes a lot of guts to tackle, but Okorafor goes for it and the results are worth the risk. This book will appeal to more than only science fiction lovers, as many will relate to the complex family dynamics, and the struggles for creative success.
Favorite Moment: While it is actually a frustrating moment, there is a phone call Zelu receives from the department chair that fired her that is more relatable than it should be.
Favorite Character: Msizi is a man Zelu meets at her sister's wedding, and who remains as part of her life throughout the book. Successful in his own industry, he is a great support for Zelu, but also not afraid to tell her the truth.
Recommended Reading: There are three primary books in Okorafor's Binti series, and all three are relatively short, the longest containing only 203 pages.
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