This sign-up made it seem like there was a real physical book to be reviewed, but that was unfortunately not the case. I am not sure why the ad for this is about a deluxe special edition book if we are not receiving it.... It is just the digital copy of the book, so it seems there was a bit of false advertising here, so it was misleading. The book itself was fine, it was nothing special but just interesting


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I downloaded this as a “read now” because it’s a speculated book for a subscription and I was very… unsure if it would be something I liked. I’m not really a litfic reader, or a fan of books about books, but everyone seemed super hyped so I thought I’d give it a shot. It was… not what I was expecting. The blurring between fiction and reality wasn’t much of a thing except for heavy-handed references to her robotics. The story felt meandering and I kept waiting for the cool reality-warping weirdness to happen or something like that and it just… didn’t? The story within the story seemed interesting enough and I would’ve liked to stay with it more, but the phrase “terrible information” grated on my nerves. I also think that that the book constantly insisting that this story is the most amazing story ever and the author being such an overwhelmingly adored genius sort of primed me to think like… yeah idk abt all that. I thought that too was heavy-handed; it’s a problem I have with books about books in general though, those kinds of stories tend to draw attention to the writing itself, so for me, it makes it hard not to be overly critical.

The very very end was cool. I liked the full circle sort of thing. I didn’t think the interviews added much to the story but I liked the one with Zelu’s mom—it recontextualized her in a way I thought was effective.

I think people who really like literary fiction will enjoy this, but as a sci-fi reader it just wasn’t for me. (Speaking of, the number of times the book mentioned that Zelu doesn’t know anything about sci-fi but wrote the most amazing sci-fi novel ever… also how does she go from publish date to movie released in like. A year? 18 months? Less than 2 years definitely. How?)

The perfect blend of literary fiction and sci-fi, Death of the Author follows paraplegic Zelu as her novel about robots in a post-human world rockets her to fame.

This is one of those books where you want to read it immediately again to experience it anew. I loved both interwoven stories and how they came together at the end. There was such raw, thoughtfully crafted emotion throughout (this is one of the few books that has made me cry!) that it was easy to connect with both human Zelu and robot Ankara. There's messiness, there's so much realness, and there's hope and the love of storytelling paired with harsh realities and struggle. This was really beautifully done!

This is a complicated, layered, and engaging novel about a young Nigerian-American paraplegic writer, Zelu, who writes a surprise science fiction bestseller that upends her life. Portions of the SF novel appear throughout the book, and this is one of the most masterful stories-within-a-story I've ever read. Zelu is an unforgettable protagonist, even when she was driving me crazy, and this is a loud, chaotic, compelling story that is masterfully constructed. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital review copy.

A stunning story within a story, Death of the Author follows the life of Zelu Onyenezi-Oyedele, a paraplegic writer and the black sheep of her large, accomplished Nigerian family. Determined to redefine herself beyond the label of helpless failure, Zelu pens a novel that becomes an overnight sensation, catapulting her to fame and fortune. But the life of a famous author proves to be far more complicated than she imagined. Okorafor masterfully weaves metafiction with sci-fi and magical realism, gifting readers with, not one but two, heartfelt tales that explores life on the fringes—of family, society, and identity. From the first page to the last, I am captivated by Okorafor’s ability to highlight deeply human experiences through these complex characters and vivid storytelling.

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor is science fiction novel featuring Zelu, a Nigerian American woman, who writes an epic novel called Rusted Robots. The narrative of Zelu’s life and the Rusted Robots story alternates and converges in many ways throughout the book. What strikes me the most about this book is the depth of humanity and emotions that are explored that you feel connected to the characters. Zelu’s family angered me throughout the book for not supporting her even when she was successful. Her struggle with being famous demonstrates how delicate it is to speak your mind with the whole world listening. I became invested in the story of the robots who are at war with artificial intelligence in a post apocalyptic world without humans.

I would recommend this book for science fiction and fantasy readers. I was mesmerized by this book, it’s so different and immersive than any other book I’ve read.The cultural aspects of Nigeria and family dynamics combined with the book within a book concept is cleverly written. It defies any expectations you could have of a science fiction book. Mind blowing.

Thank you William Morrow and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

At 484 pages, this rich novel-within-a-novel is hardly long enough!

The story of a complex woman, paired with the futuristic novel that brings her fame and fortune, is so well-written that one keeps reading in anticipation of what will happen to the imaginative plot and characters.

Zelu, American-born daughter of educated, well-to-do Nigerian immigrants, is at a low point in her life. A paraplegic since a fall at age 12, now at 32 she is an adjunct professor of creative writing, and a novelist whose book has been rejected 10 times. Assertive, sometimes arrogant, and certainly not diplomatic, at her younger sister’s wedding she receives word that she has been fired from her job because of on-going student complaints about harsh comments on their work and ability.

At this nadir, she begins to write a new novel, one that is part science-fiction, part parable, about the interweaving of physical, emotional, mental, and moral qualities in a post-human world. Called “Rusted Robots,” it catapults her to success.

Relationships are central to the story, and to complicate Zelu’s experience of the world, she is enmeshed in her large family with five siblings and her parents. All her siblings are professionals – medicine, law, engineering – and they live locally (in Chicago) and gather regularly. And all are not shy about expressing their doubt and disbelief around Zelu’s life choices. Some, in fact, are antagonistic and even contemptuous of Zelu’s difficult decisions.

Already feeling judged and found wanting by her large family, Zelu now has a following of thousands who also have opinions about her life. The highs and lows of social media add another dimension to the story.

The structure of the book increases its unique appeal: interspersed between the narratives of Zelu’s life and her fictional book are first-person interviews with her family members. They give another, kinder, perspective on the family’s wish to protect Zelu after her devastating accident as a child.

With the parallel future world of automatons who have consciousness and volition, and a brilliant, surprise ending, this book is a paean to storytelling – how it happens, who does it, and why it matters.

I'm reading this and listening through the Penguin app and really enjoying. Okafor knows how to pull you into a story. I'm trying to control my anger at the main character's family! Support your daughter!

"In this exhilarating tale by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the narrative - a surprisingly cutting, yet heartfelt drama about art and love, identity and connection, and, ultimately, what makes us human. This is a story unlike anything you've read before.

The future of storytelling is here.

Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister's lavish Caribbean wedding, she's unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It's a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots.

When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey - one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu's novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next.

A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, Death of the Author is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of Yellowface with the heartfelt humanity of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it."

And how once out in the world, an author's words are no longer theirs to control.

This is a truly powerful story about, aptly, the power of story, the truth of our human-ness, and finding where you belong in the world. I was captivated by Zelu's resilient, fiery personality and the Rusting Robots she brought to life. I enjoyed getting to know her through the perspectives of her family members, and was pleasantly surprised with how the threads of story wrapped up at the end!

Fans of literary fiction, speculative fiction and metafiction will adore this one.

Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, she’s unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It’s a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots.

When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey—one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu’s novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next.

Death of the Author is a tremendous book. Straddling the division between human and robot, we see humanity on full display in Okorafor's writing. Excellent literary feel with Afro scifi. A brilliant combination and well-done. I'll remember this one for a long time! 5⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Death of the Author is a 3-in-1 novel, comprising the narratives of Zelu – a thirtysomething, female, Nigerian-American, paraplegic, adjunct professor turned bestselling writer – sandwiched between interviews about Zelu from her friends and family, and excerpts from Zelu’s bestselling in-universe Afro-futuristic book Rusted Robots. In telling the story this way, Zelu’s story is never completely in her control. Zelu’s existence is fraught with adversity at all sides with a flailing career and an overbearing and not-always-supportive family. This is channeled into her novel – a post-humanity future where humanoid robots in “rusted” bodies are at war with formless AI’s that seek to “fix” them. The runaway mainstream success of Zelu’s work affects her life and relationships in countless ways, wreaking havoc on her mental health and besetting her with a case of writer’s block as the fans clamor for a sequel. However, the attention of her new-found fame also provides her with opportunities to advance the future of technology shown in her book, with participation in a trial for robotic prosthetic legs that blends fiction and reality.

From Rusted Robots’s toxic fandom, to the relationships in first-generation immigrant families in the US, to racism in academia, to body autonomy of disabled people, to AI’s encroachment on humanity, Death of the Author weaves in various thematic elements that are relevant today but also relevant always. Zelu’s life and struggles to navigate everything without having a template prime her to be remembered as a pioneer, but this story details the toll the messiness of the situation can take on a person. That’s why Zelu is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever read. She’s bold, impulsive, decisive, but also insecure, angry, and insensitive. She’s a mess but so, so justified in being one. That also makes her triumphs feel so much brighter – professional advancement, technological advancement, adventure, and finally love for herself.

I will say that for me, this book failed to have an ending as compelling as the set-up. The final third rushes through the action so much that Zelu’s mental health situation feels glossed over despite informing her impulsive actions, the side characters blend into background noise, and the above-discussed themes feel more like observations than a meaningful statement. It’s worth the read for those who like to ruminate on those topics and discuss further. I am left thinking more about the ways the book hits a myriad of intersectional issues rather than the story’s plot.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. Death of the Author will be published January 14, 2025.

I need to talk to someone about this book for hours.
I love a book within a book and it’s done so well here. Both stories manage to explore so many big topics. Grief, autonomy, the future of AI and humanity, balancing personal freedom and relationships, and the reality of creating art and facing the inevitable fact that the world will interpret and reshape it as it sees fit.

BRB while I read everything Nnedi Okorafor has ever written.

hmm I love Nnedi Okorafor as an author, and her afterword mentioned that this is a book she'd wanted to write for a long time but didn't feel ready to write until now, and I get that because even for her this is really ambitious and high concept. And I think very cool and well-executed!

My problem is just I was more invested in the human storyline than the robot storyline so the ending felt like a bit of a bait & switch that made me like it less overall?

But still: very fun, very thought-provoking.

There's a sci-fi bent to this book which is typically not my favorite but the characters and overall story and humanity won me over - loved this read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

READ THIS BOOK!

I don't want to say too much because I think going blind is the best way to experience this masterpiece of a story. The writing is immaculate - sharp, authentic, and profound while maintaining an accessibility that keeps you turning page after page. The plot and characters have incredible depth. There were several moments when I had to stop reading to just stare at the wall and collect my thoughts. Everyone should and NEEDS to read this book. I hope it is on every “best-of” list in 2025 because it deserves all the critical acclaim and then some.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this stunning novel.

I appear to be in the minority here, so hopefully that remains true and this particular one just wasn't for me. I've enjoyed books by Nnedi Okorafor in the past.

This was a slog for me. I DNF'd at 60%, but getting that far was just... painful. I couldn't stand any of the characters, and I kept finding myself getting actually angry as I was reading. I couldn't stand Zelu's attitude or personality, but I also couldn't stand how her entire family treated her. I think I also just don't care for the "book within a book" concept - something about hearing about how fantastic this book is, how it's the best thing to have ever been written, just rubs me the wrong way (especially when I didn't find anything special about it myself). I was getting frustrated because the book had been marketed as sci-fi, but there just... wasn't anything sci-fi about it.

So that's when I started skimming. I did read the end chapters, so I DO understand what connections and "ah-ha!" moments I was supposed to have had. But it just didn't work for me, at all.

I'm marking it as a DNF on Goodreads and will not be leaving a review there.

I really like Nnedi Okorafor's work. It always makes me think about things. This book was the same. It had storylines around the whitewashing of diverse stories and people, the tension of belonging and yet not belonging to multiple communities, our expectations for ourselves and one another, and the way technology has the potential to change our lives for better and for worse. It was a complex book that I very much enjoyed reading. Having said that, I am still working through the end of the book. I have enjoyed attempting to unravel what was supposed to be true vs. fictional. It was a very interesting end. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy sci-fi. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I have loved every book Nnedi Okorafor has written and this was no different. Her writing is so intelligent and emotive. I feel like her main characters are real. While I'm reading her works the outside world fades away.

From another perspective, the book within a book trope is a favorite of mine as well. Her writing for me is among the best literary fiction you can find.

I think I went into this with the wrong expectations. I know Okorafor from her other acclaimed sci-fi series, and given the story-in-a-story of Rusted Roots, I think I didn’t give enough consideration to the General Fiction tag on Netgalley. And while I can understand wanting to comp it to Yellowface, I think that also gave the wrong impression; what made Yellowface so readable, for me, was what an absolute nightmare of a person the MC was and watching her make the worst, most out of pocket choices over and over again was like watching a train wreck. That is not remotely the vibe here.

Zelu is a deeply relatable character, and the messy relationships with her family felt very real, and I think at a different time and with better genre context I could have enjoyed this, but I was already struggling and then got to Legally-Distinct-Elon-Musk and decided I just wasn’t in the headspace for this.