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purplemuskogee's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Nnedi Okorafor's Death of the Author is a bold and clever exploration of identity, creativity, and the intersection of humanity and technology. It's not what I normally read - I have read very few sci fi books, but I liked this one a lot.
The novel weaves together two stories: Zelu, a Nigerian American woman, and a sci-fi tale about robots, ghosts, and AI in a post-collapse Nigeria.
Zelu is paralyzed after a childhood accident, she has been underestimated and constrained by those around her, dismissed as impulsive and incapable. Her family criticizes her every move and her siblings treat her almost like a child. She's fired from her job as a creative writing professor, and starts writing a novel—a move that transforms her into an overnight sensation when her robot story is published and turned into a film. Now incredibly wealthy and famous, Zelu also gains the ability to walk again, thanks to robotic legs—another sign of the evolving relationship between humans and technology.
The second story —Zelu’s novel—introduces us to Ijele and Ankara, a robot and an AI entity, trying to survive and helped by the last human on Earth. These chapters are vividly written and immersive, so much so that I found myself wishing this story could stand alone as its own book, at least for the first two thirds of the book.
The final part feels slightly overpacked. The pacing accelerates, and some plot elements stretch believability, seeming disconnected from the rest of the novel, a bit too far-fetched even for the genre. There's a clever twist at the end that explains it all but I still found these chapters dragged a bit.
Okorafor’s writing shines throughout though and I loved the themes, I am glad I picked up something different.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
The novel weaves together two stories: Zelu, a Nigerian American woman, and a sci-fi tale about robots, ghosts, and AI in a post-collapse Nigeria.
Zelu is paralyzed after a childhood accident, she has been underestimated and constrained by those around her, dismissed as impulsive and incapable. Her family criticizes her every move and her siblings treat her almost like a child. She's fired from her job as a creative writing professor, and starts writing a novel—a move that transforms her into an overnight sensation when her robot story is published and turned into a film. Now incredibly wealthy and famous, Zelu also gains the ability to walk again, thanks to robotic legs—another sign of the evolving relationship between humans and technology.
The second story —Zelu’s novel—introduces us to Ijele and Ankara, a robot and an AI entity, trying to survive and helped by the last human on Earth. These chapters are vividly written and immersive, so much so that I found myself wishing this story could stand alone as its own book, at least for the first two thirds of the book.
The final part feels slightly overpacked. The pacing accelerates, and some plot elements stretch believability, seeming disconnected from the rest of the novel, a bit too far-fetched even for the genre. There's a clever twist at the end that explains it all but I still found these chapters dragged a bit.
Okorafor’s writing shines throughout though and I loved the themes, I am glad I picked up something different.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
tianas_littalk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Death of the Author alternates between Zelu's life of newfound success, her robot novel, and family interviews. Upon losing her job and facing rejection of her latest manuscript, Zelu initiates the writing of a science fiction novel centered on robots. Surprisingly, the book attains remarkable success.
Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of multiple POV shifts, but in this case, the narrative benefited from this approach. The interviews with Zelu's family members offered a nuanced understanding of her character, which was necessary given the dysfunctional nature of their relationships. I found their behavior towards her disturbing, but her growth and increasing assertiveness were admirable. The Rusted Robots chapters were enjoyable, although the shifts between storylines occasionally caused frustration. Nevertheless, I was fully invested in both narratives, which explored complex, yet intersecting conflicts and character arcs.
This novel is outstanding, weaving together a rich tapestry of themes and topics. It would be an excellent choice for a book club. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of multiple POV shifts, but in this case, the narrative benefited from this approach. The interviews with Zelu's family members offered a nuanced understanding of her character, which was necessary given the dysfunctional nature of their relationships. I found their behavior towards her disturbing, but her growth and increasing assertiveness were admirable. The Rusted Robots chapters were enjoyable, although the shifts between storylines occasionally caused frustration. Nevertheless, I was fully invested in both narratives, which explored complex, yet intersecting conflicts and character arcs.
This novel is outstanding, weaving together a rich tapestry of themes and topics. It would be an excellent choice for a book club. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism