Winner of the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novella Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.Knowledge … customs.
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself but first she has to make it there, alive.
PRAISE FOR BINTI
“Binti is a supreme read about a sexy, edgy Afropolitan in space It’s a wondrous combination of extra-terrestrial adventure and age-old African diplomacy. Unforgettable ” Wanuri Kahiu, award-winning Kenyan film director of Punzi and From a Whisper
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Finally got around to reading this, and … wow. It’s ridiculously good, and I’m so happy that Okorafor is continuing the story (though it won’t be out until next year, which is a bummer)
This has been on my to-read list for a loooong time. I’m so glad I finally read it. I am a total novice to science fiction — I can definitely count on one hand the books I’ve read in this genre. I’m trying to expand my reading horizons a little bit, and Binti came highly recommended. I loved the concept, and it definitely delivered. It’s a super quick read, only around 95 pages, but the world-building is incredible (sentient space ships! astrolabes! magical, meditative math!). I only had one issue with the book (which I will not share for spoiler reasons) but I’ve been told that the second book (Binti: Home) addresses it so I’m really excited to start it!
Nnedi Okorafor has also written a book described as “the Nigerian Harry Potter” — Akata Witch — so I’m adding that to my to-read list for sure.
If any sci-fi aficionados have recommendations in this vein to share with a newbie to the genre, or any other cool sci-fi books by women, let me know!!
Since Binti just won the Nebula for novellas, and since we had a copy lying around, I decided to pick it up last night. And it was really good! It actually reminded me a bit of Zoe’s Tale by Scalzi – plucky young girl gets wrapped up in alien politics. I think YA readers as well as scifi would really like this one. And even though it’s short it’s extremely layered concerning race, culture, and violence.
Here’s a review in Strange Horizons that is much more articulate and informative than I am:
http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2016/03/binti_by_nnedi_.shtml
This quick read is really good scifi. Thanks to early indoctrination of Star Trek, I have a soft spot for stories where the main conflict is solved by a REALLY PRODUCTIVE MEETING, and this delivers. And the writing is gobsmackingly lovely. I’m very excited to read one of the author’s full-length novels.
I loved Binti! The characters are great and the world building is top notch. I was sucked in immediately and read the other books in the trilogy back-to-back. Binti: Home Binti: The Night Masquerade. Highly recommended!
I am not normally a reader of science fiction, but Binti is easily one of my favorite books of the year, if not the decade. The amount of world-building and character development accomplished in just 63 pages is nothing short of remarkable. I can easily see this being a book I read over and over again, but I can’t easily explain why it appeals to me so much. There’s something about Binti’s story that resonates with me, and I can’t wait to read more about her
I loved this book! Loved its diversity. Yes, it’s sci-fi. Yes, there’s all kinds of weird stuff. But you don’t have to dig deep to see the similarities with our own world and current events. I’m looking forward to the re-read already!
A short book with a powerful punch. This is 96 pages of MASTERY!
Why, oh why, did it take me this long to pick-up Okorafor’s work? I loved Binti!
Nnedi Okorafor is an author I heard mention of in the sci-fi circles. I even listened to her 2017 interview on the 88 Cups of Tea podcast series. Still, I did not read any of her work, until now when looking to fulfill the “Afrofuturist book” prompt on the 2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge.
Okorafor is known for combining African culture with sci-fi and fantasy, which is most definitely found in Binti—the first novella introduces us to the sixteen-year-old that shares the name of the novella and Okorafor’s Binti series. I am in awe of Okorafor’s skill in building memorable, complex characters and revealing them to us through a delicate dance of situational change. She paints a picture so honest and beautiful, and yet so human, that the characters come to life.
“As I moved past seated passengers far too aware of the bushy ends of my plaited hair softly slapping people in the face, I cast eyes to the floor.”
This is the kind of story that expands readers’ minds, but also roots readers in the fine threads of reality. Here is a quick overview of the story.
Binti leaves the only place she’s ever known, her home and her family, to attend the prestigious Oomza University. En route, she comes face-to-faces with prejudice, perils, and the warring alien race of the Meduse. To survive, Binti must use her knowledge and gifts, or everything is lost.
The story engages with imaginative world-building that rivals novels triple the length, which no doubt is why the novella boasts wins for both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award.
Now I know and love Okorafor’s work, I look forward to more journeys with so many of her other stories.
Nnedi Okorafor is a writer who draws me into other realities that are strange yet familiar. Her characters are realistic, yet come to create different ways of being. Sorry, I can’t be much clearer than that. Just read it – them – and find out for yourself.
On the recommendation of a young cousin, I picked up this book. YA isn’t normally a genre I read (after raising 5 kids, I have a low tolerance for teen-angst), but this was refreshingly original and the drama level wasn’t over-blown. Binti is an independent, strong-willed young woman who makes a difficult choice about her future and follows through, even after the poop hits the fan with tragic consequences. I am looking forward to reading the rest of her adventure.
This was beautiful! It moved quickly and had a very different vibe. I did struggle to understand some of the descriptions of the ships and aliens, particularly to do with the currents and the little box. But the writing and Binti’s storyline were beautiful enough that I overlooked it every time.
Emotionally strong heroine with very clear self-knowledge of her Himba culture and community and how it separates her from the Khoush majority. Being a trailblazer isn’t easy.
There’s something powerful in the way Binti doesn’t cower yet remains realistic. And the writing does a good job of centering the Otherness that many Black readers may feel. As a white woman, I can’t speak on the feelings but I can at least see a clear line of fiction and reality when listening to a minority openly discuss that Otherness.
This is really evident in the scene where she’s told to talk off anklets used to ward off snakes back home. The almost jeeringness. Yet Binti doesn’t shake the faith she has in herself as she breaks traditions to see and experience more than what’s been prescribed.
I listened to the audiobook with Robin Miles. Amazing. Highly recommend as the world is brought to life in color, sound, and atmosphere. Easy 5 star review.
I loved the premise of this and for only just over 90 pages the world building and character development was great. It was going to be a four star rating for me right until the end. I don’t like to include spoilers but I will say that at one point I went back and re read a few pages because I thought I had missed something. The ending was just wrapped up too quickly and neatly for me. I am looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy though.
Wonderful story, wish it were longer!
I liked this, but it was awfully short. It felt like it cut off in the middle of things, so as a novella it felt unfinished. The writing is good though, as is the imagination, and I would read more by this author.
What a delightful read! I would, however, have preferred more details. The book was way too short and the situations not quite resolved to my satisfaction. That said, I am in love with the heroine.
Binti is the first of her people to leave earth and attend Oomza University. On her way to Oomza her ship is taken over by the Meduse, a group of murdering aliens that are enemies with the humans. She survives along with the pilot but everyone else dies on the ship. She survives because she is carrying something called an edan; old technology which she found in the desert and we also learn her Otjize can cure Meudse ailments. It was a nice story but I dunno. Even though the Meduse had a goal when taking over the ship because something was stolen from them. Which I understand but they did not get punished for murdering a whole ship of innocent people. I guess if the story continued about Binti traveling and adapting to her new life without the Meduses interference I might have like it more.
I wasn’t sure where the story was intended to take me. It made me think which is always a good thing and after some time to reflect I realized it did have a message .
Nnedi Okorafor has become one of my favorite sci-fi authors. After being enthralled by the audiobook of Who Fears Death, I jumped at the chance to listen to Binti (book 1 of 3 novellas). Fascinating world building and stellar narration by Robin Miles. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy!
Excellent characters, compelling development, fascinating use of traditional culture, all around excellent.