Remote Control is a 2021 science fiction novella by Nigerian American Nnedi Okorafor. It is Okorafor's first novella after the Binti Trilogy and is set in the same universe as Okorafor's Who Fears Death and The Book of Phoenix.[1]
 First edition | |
| Author | Nnedi Okorafor |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Adjoa Andoh |
| Cover artist | Greg Ruth |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction, Africanfuturism |
| Publisher | Tor books |
Publication date | January 19, 2021 |
| Publication place | Nigeria |
It was a finalist for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction and the Locus Awards.[2][3]
Writing process
editOkorafor wrote the book during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating in an interview that travel disruptions due to the pandemic made her focus her energy on writing and editing the book.[4] The events in the book takes place before the events in The Book of Phoenix and Who Fears Death.
Themes
editThe book has been noted as a coming-of-age story, exploring themes such as solitude, grief, and what it means to be normal.[5][6] The book is an Africanfuturist novella.[7][8]
Reception
editWriting for NPR, Jason Heller described the novel as "a cumulative narrative, a slow burn that builds in emotional urgency even as the scope of Okorafor's worldbuilding bursts into something breathtakingly vast."[9]
Writing for New Scientist, Layal Liverpool stated that "Remote Control is thrilling and surprising all the way through."[10] Samantha Nelson of The A.V. Club, however, stated that "Sankofa is a fascinating character, but one whose legend isn’t quite compelling enough to take hold in our world."[11]
References
edit- ^ Wilson, Aigner Loren (2021-07-27). "Exploring Nnedi Okorafor's Africanfuturist Universe". Tor.com. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Science Fiction!". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ^ "2022 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists". Locus Online. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ^ Ohanesian, Liz (2021-02-18). "'Binti' novelist Nnedi Okorafor reveals how new book reflects back on the pandemic". OC Register.
- ^ Ong, Alexis (2021-01-19). "Life, Death, and Coming of Age in Nnedi Okorafor's Remote Control". Tor.com.
- ^ Iglesias, Gabino (2021-04-03). "Gabino Iglesias Reviews Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor". Locus Magazine.
- ^ Mowbray, Beth (2021-01-03). "Review: Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor". The Nerd Daily.
- ^ Friedman, Dan (2021-01-23). "The Death of the Future: On Nnedi Okorafor's "Remote Control"". LA Review of Books.
- ^ Heller, Jason (2021-01-20). "In Remote Control Drones Fly Over The Yam Fields Of A Near-Future Africa". NPR.
- ^ Liverpool, Layal (2021-01-20). "Remote Control review: Fusing Ghanaian stories with a sci-fi thriller". New Scientist.
- ^ Nelson, Samantha (2021-01-20). "A young girl acquires deadly power in Nnedi Okorafor's latest sci-fi journey". AV Club.
External links
edit- Remote Control title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
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