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gjharm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
spenkevich's review against another edition
4.0
‘Only by learning can you free us.’
In the City of Lies, the people have traded their tongues to a neighboring people for water and found that, without the ability to speak, their history has been lost to the rewrites of their enemies. Yet one boy is determined to free his people from their thirst and set the record straight in Moses Ose Utomi’s The Lies of the Ajungo, a fable-like, speculative novella drawing from Nigerian culture. While we often champion storytelling as a way to liberate our minds, it can also entrap us in propaganda, and propaganda passed down for generations can find those imprisoned in lies unsure even who their captors are. Yet, luckily, storytelling continues to be a joy in the hands of Utomi, writing with effortless fluidity and the sort of whimsicality that carries deep lessons such as in the best of children’s classics, punctuated by exciting and visceral violent moments of struggle. Having to battle the learned helplessness codified into his culture through common phrases and stories as much as he must battle the harsh desert, The Lies of the Anjungo is a high stakes, life or death tale that looks at the ways stories can divide and oppress us if they are used to mask a brutal truth.
Short but powerful, The Lies of the Ajungo is an incredibly engaging work of speculative fiction. With just a few quick strokes of language, Utomi constructs a world that feels vast, alive with culture and history, and is also very dangerous. It has a small cast of endearing characters that feel rather archetypal, and along the perilous paths they must overcome the prejudices against anyone outside their culture and come together to discover the truths hidden from them. Danger is everywhere, especially when you don’t know who to trust, and this small cast is continuously getting smaller as violence seems to strike suddenly and furiously in the desert. There are some fantastic magical elements to this fable, such as the Seers with the Eyes of God to better see the world and convert other’s energy into their own strength in combat. The creativity is fun and adds to the rather nuanced dynamics of the world.
‘[P]ower came from translating understanding into belief, from standing so firmly in one's knowledge of the world that the knowledge itself became an armor--and a weapon.’
Storytelling passes down lessons and codifies culture, but, as [a:George Orwell|3706|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588856560p2/3706.jpg] wrote in [b:1984|5470|1984|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348990566l/5470._SY75_.jpg|153313], ‘who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,’ and irresponsible use of rhetoric and history as propaganda can reshape the past as we understand it. Tutu, the young boy who embarks on this bildungsroman quest narrative, understands how erasing the name of his city to rename in The City of Lies is just the first step in rewriting history in order to keep his people down. Without their tongues they cannot tell others of their oppression, and if they do they are assumed to be liars. ‘There are no friends outside the City of Lies’ the boy has been taught, though is this a warning against strangers or a way to ensure they will never trust strangers either? ‘It was hard to overrule years and years of honed mistrust,’ and perhaps this mistrust instilled in each of the kingdoms is a way to keep them divided. But for who? We see how without language, one cannot pass on their own history.
The Lies of the Ajuno has a great message about the selfishness and greed of those with money and power, and the horrific acts they will commit to never lose their power over others. This is also an exciting and enraging reminder that sometimes being directed towards hating a common enemy from afar can cause you to miss the enemy right in front of you. This really successfully pulls off a lot of sociopolitical commentary as well as world building all in around 80pgs. I enjoy all these short books like this and fans of [a:Nnedi Okorafor|588356|Nnedi Okorafor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507148868p2/588356.jpg] will likely enjoy this book. It is easily a one-sitting read (not only will you not want to put it down but the writing really sweeps you up and carries you off. But, as we see here, even a short tale—even a single, short saying‐can come loaded with potency and the power to change how we see the world around us. So take care with language, use it to liberate and not imprison, and dive into the dangerous and deceitful world Moses Ose Utomi has created for us. This appears to be the start for an upcoming series and I cannot wait for more.
4.5/5
‘Tears are precious. Don’t waste them on your enemies. Save them for your friends.’
In the City of Lies, the people have traded their tongues to a neighboring people for water and found that, without the ability to speak, their history has been lost to the rewrites of their enemies. Yet one boy is determined to free his people from their thirst and set the record straight in Moses Ose Utomi’s The Lies of the Ajungo, a fable-like, speculative novella drawing from Nigerian culture. While we often champion storytelling as a way to liberate our minds, it can also entrap us in propaganda, and propaganda passed down for generations can find those imprisoned in lies unsure even who their captors are. Yet, luckily, storytelling continues to be a joy in the hands of Utomi, writing with effortless fluidity and the sort of whimsicality that carries deep lessons such as in the best of children’s classics, punctuated by exciting and visceral violent moments of struggle. Having to battle the learned helplessness codified into his culture through common phrases and stories as much as he must battle the harsh desert, The Lies of the Anjungo is a high stakes, life or death tale that looks at the ways stories can divide and oppress us if they are used to mask a brutal truth.
Short but powerful, The Lies of the Ajungo is an incredibly engaging work of speculative fiction. With just a few quick strokes of language, Utomi constructs a world that feels vast, alive with culture and history, and is also very dangerous. It has a small cast of endearing characters that feel rather archetypal, and along the perilous paths they must overcome the prejudices against anyone outside their culture and come together to discover the truths hidden from them. Danger is everywhere, especially when you don’t know who to trust, and this small cast is continuously getting smaller as violence seems to strike suddenly and furiously in the desert. There are some fantastic magical elements to this fable, such as the Seers with the Eyes of God to better see the world and convert other’s energy into their own strength in combat. The creativity is fun and adds to the rather nuanced dynamics of the world.
‘[P]ower came from translating understanding into belief, from standing so firmly in one's knowledge of the world that the knowledge itself became an armor--and a weapon.’
Storytelling passes down lessons and codifies culture, but, as [a:George Orwell|3706|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588856560p2/3706.jpg] wrote in [b:1984|5470|1984|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348990566l/5470._SY75_.jpg|153313], ‘who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past,’ and irresponsible use of rhetoric and history as propaganda can reshape the past as we understand it. Tutu, the young boy who embarks on this bildungsroman quest narrative, understands how erasing the name of his city to rename in The City of Lies is just the first step in rewriting history in order to keep his people down. Without their tongues they cannot tell others of their oppression, and if they do they are assumed to be liars. ‘There are no friends outside the City of Lies’ the boy has been taught, though is this a warning against strangers or a way to ensure they will never trust strangers either? ‘It was hard to overrule years and years of honed mistrust,’ and perhaps this mistrust instilled in each of the kingdoms is a way to keep them divided. But for who? We see how without language, one cannot pass on their own history.
The Lies of the Ajuno has a great message about the selfishness and greed of those with money and power, and the horrific acts they will commit to never lose their power over others. This is also an exciting and enraging reminder that sometimes being directed towards hating a common enemy from afar can cause you to miss the enemy right in front of you. This really successfully pulls off a lot of sociopolitical commentary as well as world building all in around 80pgs. I enjoy all these short books like this and fans of [a:Nnedi Okorafor|588356|Nnedi Okorafor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507148868p2/588356.jpg] will likely enjoy this book. It is easily a one-sitting read (not only will you not want to put it down but the writing really sweeps you up and carries you off. But, as we see here, even a short tale—even a single, short saying‐can come loaded with potency and the power to change how we see the world around us. So take care with language, use it to liberate and not imprison, and dive into the dangerous and deceitful world Moses Ose Utomi has created for us. This appears to be the start for an upcoming series and I cannot wait for more.
4.5/5
‘Tears are precious. Don’t waste them on your enemies. Save them for your friends.’
brewsandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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? N/A
5.0
cmckayo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
corvid_archivist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kitchenbeat10's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
This novella packed a punch into its very few pages. The themes of exploitation and oppression by the ruling class was conveyed in a beautiful, effective way. I liked the characters even in the short time they were on the page. Tutu, Lami, Asilah and Funme became very dear to me. The ending was expected, and yet surprised me too.
lleullawgyffes's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
leonrascal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25