Three-time Hugo Award winner and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin challenges and delights readers with thought-provoking narratives of destruction, rebirth, and redemption that sharply examine modern society in her first collection of short fiction, which includes never-before-seen stories. “Marvelous and wide-ranging.” — Los Angeles Times“Gorgeous” — NPR Books“Breathtakingly imaginative … Books“Breathtakingly imaginative and narratively bold.” — Entertainment Weekly
Spirits haunt the flooded streets of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a parallel universe, a utopian society watches our world, trying to learn from our mistakes. A black mother in the Jim Crow South must save her daughter from a fey offering impossible promises. And in the Hugo award-nominated short story “The City Born Great,” a young street kid fights to give birth to an old metropolis’s soul.
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A fantastic collection of speculative fiction short stories. Science fiction, fantasy, steampunk all written in a fresh, unique voice. I’m looking forward to reading more of NK Jemisin’s work.
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. As with most short story collections, even one by a single author, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but the thing that I love about short story collections is that the stories I really liked might be different from those another reader really liked. For me, there were a few stories in Jemisin’s collection that really stood out and had an impact on me.
“The City Born Great” was a powerful story with a great main character, and the premise of the young street kid giving birth to the soul of New York was wonderful. There were also some laugh-out-loud moments for me in this story as it really came alive for me. “Red Dirt Witch” was another story that had a very powerful message, and I loved all of the detail in the story, along with the struggle depicted, not only between Black and white, but between new and old. “L’Alchimista” and “Cuisine de M moires” were both fun reads as both dealt with food but in very different ways, and both had great character development and character struggles which really allowed me to connect with them.
I recommend this collection for anybody interested in many different sci-fi stories, styles, and themes, all from one of the best contemporary sci-fi authors.
Roughly 10 years ago, Empress by Karen Miller made me realise that I wanted to be an author. Now, NK Jemisin shows me how to be a better author with every incredible book I read by her. Every time I read one of her books, I learn something. Every time I read her words, I’m moved, usually in several ways. With most of her books, I need a moment when I’m done, like finishing them leaves an open wound I need to recover from.
I’m so grateful this woman writes. I’m so grateful I have her stories in my life.
This now lives on my Forever Shelf <3
How Long 'til Black Future Month? is a fantastic short story collection by a fantastic author. Go read it and be moved.
A Masterclass in Short Fiction.
All right, so I know I primarily review independently published fiction, but here we are. The first book read by the Two Doctors Review that’s “traditionally published,” but I think it’s fair to hold traditionally published and independently published books to the same standards, yes?
Well, NK Jemisin’s How Long ‘til Black Future Month has blown my mind away with what is possible through the short fiction medium. As an author, I learned from every page of that book about what it means to tell stories through fiction; as a reader, I loved every narrative. Not only is NK Jemisin a genius, she’s a brilliant writer. Her words flow from sentence to sentence in natural waves, connecting thoughts through distinctive voices unique to each character of the particular story you’re reading.
How Long ‘til Black Future Month is the first book by Jemisin that I’ve read. Fifth Season is waiting on my shelf (I actually owned it before Future Month), but I chose to engage with her short fiction work before pursuing her longer trilogies.
My appetite is satiated. I’m ready to dive into The Fifth Season, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and every other book Jemisin has ever written. I can probably say I’ve discovered my new favorite author.
Writing: 10/10.
Characters: 10/10
Setting: 10/10.
Plot: 10/10
Overall: 10/10. Honestly, it’s not even a question. None of the scores deserve explanation. Her work speaks for itself; five stars.
Short stories in the speculative fiction genre, ranging from fantasy, to sci-fi to horror. Overall themes of underclass vs. overlords, race, and gender discrimination run throughout the collection.
Favorites here are tinged with humor:
“Valedictorian”
“The Storyteller’s Replacement”
“Sinners. Saints, Dragons and Haints.”
Jemisin is an extraordinarily good writer. Each story is set it a different world; each one is beautifully written without showing off (as some writers do with fancy metaphors).
But don’t let that stop you from just enjoying the tales! Fans of fantasy/sci fi will love this just as much as writers who hunt out great writing.
The stories are wonderful. In worlds both invariably cruel and brilliantly imagined, heroism thrives in the margins.