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A review by odin45mp
LaGuardia by Nnedi Okorafor
5.0
Impactful. This is a book conceived of and written during the national discussion around the Trump administration's first Muslim ban. Commentary on immigration, "Other"ness, respect, and acceptance are baked into the story. It is not overbearing, it is not preachy (well maybe a little), but the reader cannot help but think through the issues as they read this story. Maybe even question their own responses a little.
The story follows one woman as she leaves her second home of Nigeria to return to the United States, where she is born. In this future Earth, aliens have landed and taken up residence with us, where they can - the U.S. is going through some strong anti-alien sentiment as the story kicks off. The main character is also quite pregnant... "Who is the father?" is asked more than once during the story. She has her reasons for leaving her fiance in Nigeria and coming to the United States, but those are revealed over the course of the story.
The setting is ripe in imagination - airports and streets and stores full of humans and aliens of all colors, shapes, and sizes. The colors bright and vibrant. Self driving cars. Self watering flower pots. This would be a fun future to live in... if we can overcome our bias and live equally with our alien friends. I was struck by the crowds of alien/immigrant protestors asking for or against equal rights and admittance to the U.S., since I read this during the ongoing protests against police violence in June 2020. (Also there are a few REALLY FUN signs mixed into the crowd if you look for them.)
This will be a work that turns over in my mind every so often. Excellent science fiction that has made me think and will continue to make me think.
The story follows one woman as she leaves her second home of Nigeria to return to the United States, where she is born. In this future Earth, aliens have landed and taken up residence with us, where they can - the U.S. is going through some strong anti-alien sentiment as the story kicks off. The main character is also quite pregnant... "Who is the father?" is asked more than once during the story. She has her reasons for leaving her fiance in Nigeria and coming to the United States, but those are revealed over the course of the story.
The setting is ripe in imagination - airports and streets and stores full of humans and aliens of all colors, shapes, and sizes. The colors bright and vibrant. Self driving cars. Self watering flower pots. This would be a fun future to live in... if we can overcome our bias and live equally with our alien friends. I was struck by the crowds of alien/immigrant protestors asking for or against equal rights and admittance to the U.S., since I read this during the ongoing protests against police violence in June 2020. (Also there are a few REALLY FUN signs mixed into the crowd if you look for them.)
This will be a work that turns over in my mind every so often. Excellent science fiction that has made me think and will continue to make me think.