Remote Control is the newest novella from Nnedi Okorafor, a quiet, interior-focused and episodic work that is at times a haunting, tragic coming of age tale of magic and mystery, at other times a concisely and sharply effective observer of modern trends, and, depending on the reader, at other times a frustratingly vague story full of unanswered questions. Overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit, finding it to be the sort of story that lingers in the head.

Six-year-old Fatima lives a happy family life in a near-future Ghana despite her frequent bouts with malaria. But when a meteor shower filled with “beautiful green streaks decorating the sky” drops at the base of her favorite tree a “seed [that] glowed a bright green [with] light seeping from it like oil,” it changes her life and those of everyone she knows and loves, even though her father soon sells it off to a local politician. The seed, though, had already bestowed its gift/curse on Fatima, though she wouldn’t learn its true power until a horrifying tragedy a year later that forces her from town. Over the next few years, Fatima, going now by Sankofa, lives an itinerant life, a fox her only companion as she wanders northern Ghana on the track of her sold-off seed, which she can still sense. Stories grow first in her wake and then preceding her arrival, stories of the adopted Daughter of Death/nature spirit/witch with the power to kill with a thought. Out of sometimes respect, sometimes fear, sometimes both, people give her whatever she asks for—shelter, food, clothing. This is how she survives into her early teens when the story opens up, before flashing back and then eventually coming full circle.

As noted, this is a quiet, introspective novel, with only a few moments of what one might call “action,” a few scenes creating suspense or fear for Sankofa. Mostly it’s a story of a girl too young to be given a horrible power she can’t control at first, of how it destroys everything she knows and loves, and how she eventually learns first to live with it (and her grief/guilt), then use it to carve out a place for herself in a world she’s never truly a part of. This part is lovely, haunting, and sometimes heartbreaking. One of my favorite moments is when Sankofa weeps for her father, an overcoming grief that rises up from the smallest, most mundane of things.

Okorafor also uses the story to briefly but effectively explore or comment other ideas beyond this girl’s coming-of-age. We see a near-future Ghana that is a mix of technology and old ways, with the two not always co-existing smoothly or positively. The power of story and myth, the ways they are born, change in the telling, and have power over lives is another theme. As is a reliance on technology and the lack of privacy it brings. Issues of gender and class rear up. For instance, it is only Sankofa’s deadly ability that allows her to travel freely as a young girl (a power she is forced to use on multiple occasions to protect herself against men). Another woman, one who holds a more mundane power, does so tenuously, as she is informed by a man who wishes to deprive her of it: “You’re just a woman … So do what women do, step back and let us take.” Meanwhile, America and corporations form a somewhat abstract villain always in the background, particular via a company called LifeGen, described by one character as “that fucking big American corporation that’s probably going to eventually destroy the world.” Amongst other things (they’re the company that wanted the green seed), LIfeGen is a pharmaceutical company, and there’s a quick but sharp aside about using Africans as guinea pigs for drug trials (not a “futuristic” concept btw). Finally, I think one can also read events and characters in the story on a more metaphorical, allusive level, the type of layered reading I always enjoy (I was going to say “if I’m right” but then realized I still enjoyed reading the novella that way whether intended or not). I’ll leave it to the individual reader, though, to suss out whatever may be there.

Some readers may have issues with the story in how, like the main character, it slowly meanders. Those who like explanations will also find themselves frustrated. In many ways this has a very fable-like feel to it and so unless I’m missing something, I don’t think “answers” are either offered or even intended. The ending is also a bit ambiguous. I have my own reading, but I can certainly see others, and it’s possible it’s a true ending (i.e. a standalone book’s “resolution”) or it’s a transition point to a sequel. Personally, I kind of prefer the former.

Novellas are tricky animals. Certainly there was room for more development of plot and character, but I wouldn't at all call it necessary, and it’d be all too easy to lose the magic and mystery of the story by filling in too many details and adding too much background. A short story, on the other hand, I don’t think would have allowed us to inhabit the character of Sankofa long enough to fully react to events in as powerful a way or allowed the narrative voice to capture us as completely. With Remote Control, I’d say Okorafor hit the sweet spot.

A gripping and intriguing tale of a mystifying Legend, Sankofa/Fatima is an instantly likeable character and I loved following her journey through an inventive, futuristic Ghana

I will read anything Nnedi Okorafor writes.
I love the world building Okorafor does, and Remote Control does not disappoint.

Remote Control tells the story of a young Ghanian girl whose presence brings death. In Sankofa's world, there's a lot of misinformation and folk tales surrounding her abilities and her goals, and I think it's best if readers experience the book while knowing as little about her as possible. All I will say is that I wonder if Okorafor was working on the Wild Seed adaptation while she wrote it because I see hints of Doro in this story. If I were to compare this novella to Okorafor's past work, I'd say it is most similar to The Book of Phoenix in that Sankofa is trapped in a bleak cycle that she's trying to break. As with most of Okorafor's work, Remote Control focuses on Africans as early adopters and innovators of electronic technology. Okorafor's imagery is vivid, and some of the situations Sankofa encounters are poignant. Unfortunately when I got to the ending, something about this story felt flat. Sankofa spends a lot of time wandering and knowing little. There's a bit of explanation at the end, but I don't know if there was enough to give it the full-circle feel that I think Okorafor was going for. I usually don't mind if a story doesn't stick the landing, but for Remote Control, it felt like the story was depending on the finale to give it an emotional resonance. I most enjoyed Sankofa's character (very different from what I was expecting) and her stay in Robotown. That said, this novella is definitely worth a read.

Nnedi Okorafor never fails to amaze me with her storytelling, wordbuilding, and characters. Remote Control is a small novella, but it packs a punch and will stay with you for a long time.

Okorafor’s latest Tor novella follows the experiences of Sankofa, know as “the adopted daughter of Death” when something changes her at age seven. A violent eruption secures her role and leaves her alone with only the occasional companionship of a Fox that shouldn’t be in Ghana and eventually the need for answers. Fans who enjoy a blend of science fiction and fantasy take note. This is wonderful!

This was a unique piece of African futurism that read more like a folktale, than science fiction. The young girl was a likeable character with a sympathetic backstory. My favourite aspect of the narrative was learning how others reacted to her abilities, both fearing and worshipping her.

Overall, this novella had a compelling premise, but I was not completely immersed in the story itself. I would recommend this one to readers who love myths and folktales. Personally, my reading tastes lean towards scifi and I found myself wishing that those elements had played deeper into the story rather than being simply peripheral aesthetics. However I did appreciate the African setting which provided a more unique perspective.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Tor.com.

Wow, was that a thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time that I was reading it. It is kind of difficult to pinpoint what genre this book falls into. It's also what I loved about it quite frankly. Part science-fiction novel, part futuristic dystopian, part mystery, all combining to make one heck of an epic story in the end. It delivers on every front. This was so refreshing and came at exactly the right time for me as I have been reading a lot of standard fantasy and SF lately. Remote Control simply defies convention as Okorafor proves that they can create an explosive story under 200 pages. It is very well written; the author describes everything in great details, and it is easy to imagine and immerse into the world completely

I just can't say enough about how awesome this book was and I hope that everyone decides to check out Remote Control. It is a wild journey that I highly recommend to everyone who loves an emotional story that you can really sink your teeth into!

Remote Control is a fascinating SF novella about what it would be like to be unable to use technology is a technology driven world. At the same time it's about so much more: a confused girl who is feared, what it's like to be turned into a legacy, and not fitting into our world. In this futuristic setting, Sankofa is an intriguing narrator. The idea of death coming to call, but, of course, people will never understand that she is a force of mercy, not cruelty. Those moments of powers and actions we cannot control that end up destroying our lives, leaving those moments of the past behind.

I think this is maybe yet another sign that I should stop trying it with novellas: there is just not enough here for me. The premise is interesting enough at first, but what conflict there is is almost instantly negated by Sankofa's a-bomb-esque powers and since Okorafor seemed uninterested in detailing the why behind those powers that left us with Sankofa dealing with her grief and guilt and...I don't know. I just didn't feel like the writing was strong enough to fully convey that. I wish that there had been more, either externally or internally here.

I know a lot of readers really love Okorafor, so I don't doubt that many will find something to enjoy in this book, but for me it just didn't work.

Another great novella written by Nnedi Okoafor

Fatima accidently ended up with a power that can kill people. After killing her entire village, she goes on a journey to find the seed that gave her this power.

This novella is very bittersweet with how people treat her. They revere and fear her at the same time. Her otherness drives her too much away from people no matter who close she is to finding a new home.

My only problem with this book is that I don't know why her nickname is Remote Control.

This is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Another bittersweet, piercing story from Dr Okorafor - about community loss, childhood trauma, and self-knowledge. Chasing after what was lost creates more violence, but remembering and coming to terms with trauma and loss allows one to heal, and in turn, begin to heal others.

Much as she did with her Binti trilogy, Nnedi Okorafor has created a complex character and plot in the small space of a novella. Safoka has been embued with the ability to kill at will at a young age. A terrifying ability that would be the basis for a horror story in less capable hands becomes a coming-of-age tale set in Ghana in the near future. Safoka, alone and without family, wanders through the country of people who revere and fear her, searching for something that she has lost. A plot thread involving invasive technology and multi-national corporations is interwoven so gracefully that its true importance is not apparent until the very satisfying conclusion.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34215764-remote-control

A really original and fascinating read that expertly blends the feeling of a folktale/hero(ine)'s journey with modern sci-fi/fantasy elements. I loved it.

Remote Control is another stunning novella from Nnedi Okorafor, we follow Sankofa a mysterious character at first who seems to have death follow her around. She is almost revered amongst the community but everyone is also very afraid of her. Her touch is deadly and she uses this primarily as mercy killings (euthanasia). As the novella unfolds we found out more about Sankofa and how she came to be in the position she is, also following her early life as Fatima, a sickly child. A mysterious seed comes into her possession and she promptly loses it, it then becomes her purpose to track it down.

Okorafor’s writing is stunning, and she has a magical ability to make you care about the characters in such a small amount of time. This novella is also incredibly rich in culture and history, as well as having some very futuristic elements.

Equal parts tragic, harrowing and heart-warming, this novella is a beautiful story of purpose and what it means to lose it and find new purpose as well as the expectations and judgement society places on people, and how this shapes a person.

I hope that this is going to end up being a novella cycle (like [book:Binti: The Complete Trilogy|40382407]), because I kind of felt like it ended just when I was getting into it. It's a cool premise and worldbuilding but it left me wanting more! Which is a good thing except....I want more!

Writing: 4.5/5 Plot: 3.5/5 Characters: 4/5

A coming-of-age story set in a future Northern Ghana. Sankofa is only five when her favorite tree pushes up a strange seed after a meteor shower brought sparkling bits of green to the Earth. Before she has any clue as to what is happening, she has been “gifted” with a terrible power which continues to bring tragedy even as she struggles to control it.

A combination of myth, juju, and technology populate this picture of future Ghana. The “bad guy” is LifeGen — a “big American corporation that’s probably going to eventually destroy the world.” But Sankofa is a child, and we watch as she absorbs information and tries to understand what has happened to her, why, and what she can possibly do with it. This is not your typical, action-oriented, one man against a giant, evil machine.

Okarafor labels her work a combination of “African Futurism” and “African Jujuism” — terms she coined — to reflect its African-centricity. I like her definition: “I am an African futurist and an African jujuist. African futurism is a sub-category of science fiction. Africanjujuism is a subcategory of fantasy that respectfully acknowledges the seamless blend of true existing African spiritualities and cosmologies with the imaginative.”

I enjoyed the writing and the characters and the imagery of a blended future — but I did find the plot a little weak.

"The 'Sankofa' is a metaphorical symbol used by the Akan people of Ghana, generally depicted as a bird with its head turned backward taking an egg from its back. It expresses the importance of reaching back to knowledge gained in the past and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress." - Sankofa.org

Nnedi Okorafor is a master at bringing African culture to popular fiction and marrying it with futuristic technologies and concepts - this book simply provides more evidence of this. What a masterful look at Ghana, its culture, past Ghanaian beliefs and superstitions, through the lens of a child, Sankofa, mysteriously imbued with powers of Death. After great tragedy, Sankofa wanders Ghana, called the Daughter of Death by the people, revered and reviled, harbored and cast out. She is followed by a silent red fox, glows green with pain, and must come to understand her nature and her life as she is. At once a reconciliation of past customs with a world filled with technology and culture-loss, this book is also a kind of metaphor for personal growth and a metaphor for how people can understand and embrace their heritage in a world moving beyond them.

I heartily recommend this book.

Nnedi Okorafor is the master at writing African futurist novellas like Binti. Her latest, Remote Control again focuses on a young girl. This time set in a not too distant Ghana. A meteor shower bestows a gift on Fatima, one that turns out to have serious, fearsome power and repercussions.

On a quest to regain something taken from her, Fatima forgets her name and becomes Sankofa, the Angel of Death's adopted daughter. She has the power to kill - some see her as an angel of mercy, others fear and loathe her.

This novella is full of the beautiful and the strange as Sankofa makes her journey. The writing is descriptive and compelling with an offbeat tone. Fatima/Sankofa is such a strong, female main character for all that she's a young girl dealing with such overwhelming events.

The world-building was so intriguing that I hope there are more stories set there.

For fans of NK Jemisin and Tade Thompson.

Nnedi Okorafor has yet to write something that isn't solid, and engaging, and shows a future (usually set in Africa) that seems realistic in both its tech and its portrayal of how humans will always find a way to divide, discriminate, and judge (but also how they will find ways to cherish and save what is important). Nothing she's written yet compares to <i> Who Fears Death </i> to me, but this novella is still a fun, albeit dark, exploration into future Africa and a young child given a terrible power.