I first heard of the works of Nnedi Okorafor through a friend who attended a writing workshop with her many years ago but this is the first work of hers that I have read. And I loved it but it is a complicated, dense work.
The story begins in Africa. The world has been devastated by some calamity and this older man is seeking shelter to avoid an unusual storm. In a cave, he finds computers that provide him with a recording of the woman who was responsible for the destruction. Her life story, her triumphs, her loves, her deaths, and eventual decision to scour the earth are relayed to this old man, in a style that is deliberately reminiscent of Mohammed receiving the word of God to inscribe the Qu’ran.
When I said this is a dense and complicated novel, I do not mean it is difficult to read, in fact quite the contrary. What I mean is that I found myself when reading this book trying to determine what the author really meant or what a character or a particular setting represented. Having an author challenge me as a reader is bot a problem, I really enjoy it, but I almost felt like I was being tested on my knowledge of Jungian imagery when reading Phoenix, which may have more to do with me that with the author.
Nonetheless, I greatly enjoyed reading this book and believe that Okorafor has a unique perspective that I hope one day is translated to the big screen. In the meantime, I will definitely be picking up more of her works. Highly recommended