|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rosewater, by Tade Thompson
What a wonderful, unexpected book this is. The great aspect of sci fi has been,
since its inception, an effort to introduce new ideas and outside perspectives.
That's why having authors of different backgrounds is making the whole field so much
better and richer. The detail of places, language, food, custom emerging from the
author's background in Nigeria made the entire work feel fresh, new and interesting.
I learned about the Lijadu Sisters, a musical duo from the 1970s which provided an excellent
soundtrack to the book and to my morning commute.
The protagonist is a somewhat unlikable bro who slowly comes to some understanding, though
arguably ends the novel unchanged but knowing a lot more than he did. The treatment of so
many familiar tropes - zombies, giant isolation dome, alien invasion, psychic phenomenon - are
approached in ways that enable them to feel fresh in spite of being around for decades.
One thing that kills my enjoyment of a modern book is when the author thinks they are being
cute and throws in lots of pop culture references. Pulls me out of the story and is such a
bald faced ploy to make people associate with the writing instead of actually being talented. In
this case, however, the few times there were nods to known media or shared human experience it
didn't feel ham fisted or irritating, even though still clearly the excited work of a young
author including stuff they like.
Overall a great time, and the first part of a trilogy! The third part of which was released
October 15 2019, the day I finished reading this first installment. Definitely a great author to watch!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
