hannah_doc's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
grid's review
4.0
I would have liked for this story to have gone more into the how and why, but I also understand the author's reluctance to do so. This was powerfully written, and had only bad things to say about human nature. I feel like it was written from the perspective of 2020. (Even the pandemic got a shout-out!)
I won't spoil it here, but... that ending was... brutal.
I won't spoil it here, but... that ending was... brutal.
booksnthreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
a_o's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
"Her story travelled like an ancestor, always ahead of, beside and behind her."
What I admire most about this tale is the power that the language wields to create both tone and world. A blend of modern fantasy and light science fiction, remarkably it sings with an underlying feel of folklore, and this is evident in the concise imagery of the descriptions as well as the poetic cadence of the language. It radiates a timeless feel, even with specific references that anchor it in a future version of Ghana, and I can easily foresee placing it in the hands of not only those who responded to Black Panther but also devotees of Neil Gaiman.
P.S. Opening with an Omar Little epigraph from The Wire then mirrored in the opening scene with a petite young girl is a masterstroke. Ms. Okorafor, you had my attention.
audiobook note: Richly narrated by performer Adjoa Andoh. Pacing, inflection, and phrase breaks are played for fantastic drama.
"Her story travelled like an ancestor, always ahead of, beside and behind her."
What I admire most about this tale is the power that the language wields to create both tone and world. A blend of modern fantasy and light science fiction, remarkably it sings with an underlying feel of folklore, and this is evident in the concise imagery of the descriptions as well as the poetic cadence of the language. It radiates a timeless feel, even with specific references that anchor it in a future version of Ghana, and I can easily foresee placing it in the hands of not only those who responded to Black Panther but also devotees of Neil Gaiman.
P.S. Opening with an Omar Little epigraph from The Wire then mirrored in the opening scene with a petite young girl is a masterstroke. Ms. Okorafor, you had my attention.
audiobook note: Richly narrated by performer Adjoa Andoh. Pacing, inflection, and phrase breaks are played for fantastic drama.
kiraeth's review
5.0
"From somewhere deep within her soul, a primal part of her gave permission to her unearthly power."
Remote Control is a Sci-Fi novella that follows, Sankofa, a preteen bestowed with a power that brings death and destruction. This novella reminded me of a folktale more than the traditional Sci-Fi book and for that reason I loved it more than I thought I would. The way the book flowed and how Nnedi told the story felt as if elders were telling me this tale, a tale that was passed down from person to person like a whisper in the wind.
Sankofa is a character I wasn't expecting to be so attached to in the little time I had spent reading about her but Nnedi does a wonderful job of having her grow as you continue through the book. It felt as if a spark was inside Sankofa and through-out the book it dimmed and shined. There was humanity still in her even though everywhere she walked people hid from her, ran away in fear, and called her the Adopted Daughter of Death with hatred.
The writing was beautiful and immersive. There was culture in every chapter and I couldn't put this book down. This is my first time reading a book of Nnedi's but it certainly won't be the last. If you are looking for a sci-fi novella that will tell you a tale of a legend, Remote Control is for you.
Remote Control is a Sci-Fi novella that follows, Sankofa, a preteen bestowed with a power that brings death and destruction. This novella reminded me of a folktale more than the traditional Sci-Fi book and for that reason I loved it more than I thought I would. The way the book flowed and how Nnedi told the story felt as if elders were telling me this tale, a tale that was passed down from person to person like a whisper in the wind.
Sankofa is a character I wasn't expecting to be so attached to in the little time I had spent reading about her but Nnedi does a wonderful job of having her grow as you continue through the book. It felt as if a spark was inside Sankofa and through-out the book it dimmed and shined. There was humanity still in her even though everywhere she walked people hid from her, ran away in fear, and called her the Adopted Daughter of Death with hatred.
The writing was beautiful and immersive. There was culture in every chapter and I couldn't put this book down. This is my first time reading a book of Nnedi's but it certainly won't be the last. If you are looking for a sci-fi novella that will tell you a tale of a legend, Remote Control is for you.
tracilynn33's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lukija's review
3.0
Kirja kutsui eläytymään nuoren Fatiman/Sankofan kokemuksiin erilaisuudesta ja vallasta, jota hänellä on erilaisuutensa takia. Fatima kokee tyttönä erikoisen muodonmuutoksen, joka tekee hänestä poikkeuksellinen muiden ihmisten joukossa. Tarinassa seurataan Fatiman/Sankofan (nimi, jonka ottaa muodonmuutoksen jälkeen) vaellusta ajallisesti määrittelemättömässä Ghanassa kylästä ja kaupungista toiseen etsien sitä, joka häneltä lapsena vietiin.
ann13reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0