The main character here is Zelu. Her parents were born in Nigeria, but she and her siblings were born in America. This whole branch of the family now lives in Chicago. (I should say, also, that the “now” of this book has to be a few years in our own future, by my math.) Many of her siblings are successful in their careers, but we first meet Zelu as she gets fired from an adjunct professor job. But what she really wants to do is write!

Feeling like she’s hit rock bottom, she moves back in with her parents and starts writing something different from her other works, just for fun. The book within the book, “Rusted Robots,” takes place on Earth after humanity has died out. There are different kinds of robots and AI still roaming the planet, and they also have their own differences and feuds.

The book sells, and sells big. A major studio buys the movie rights. Suddenly, Zelu has money and fame. She’s finally able to take care of herself. Or so she insists… but her family still treats her like she needs their help and supervision.

One major theme in here is that Zelu has lost the use of her legs. This happened when she was 12, so it’s not new to her or her family. But of course, their insistence that she is helpless – because of her physical abilities, and her lack of a “real” job, and so on – persists. Old roles can be hard to break out of.

Zelu starts this story in a wheelchair, but her fame nets her an opportunity to get some “robot” legs. She wants the autonomy, but her family is focused on “what if it fails?” This is only one of many battles she faces with them.

Ideas of bodily autonomy are present in her work, as well. There are “Rusted Robot” chapters scattered within the book, so we see the parallels along the way.

This is a long, juicy journey, which spans about ten years of Zelu’s life… with her family, her fame, her learning a new way to walk, and so many other opportunities for both growth and making mistakes. The science fiction elements are present in the book within the book, but we spend more time in the nearer future of Chicago, with our human characters.

This book was such a unique, captivating read - it integrates literary fiction and science fiction so completely, mirroring Zelu's narrative with the excerpts that we get to see of <i>Rusted Robots</i>. While parts occasionally dragged a little bit, overall the whole story arc was extremely compelling, which is why I rated this four stars.

For me, it was also fascinating to get a glimpse into what clearly was a narrative near and dear to the author's experience. I really loved being able to watch Zelu explore and define what it means to be a disabled Nigerian-American woman and all of the joys and pains that go along with that identity. And the writing was superb; the author paints such a rich picture that it was easy to imagine being there in the scenes as they unfolded.

Lastly, I have to give a huge shoutout to the narrators of the audiobook. Narrators really make or break an audiobook for me, and the cast that performed Death of the Author was absolutely phenomenal.

I loved this book! I was not prepared for the ending! In true fashion, it was brilliantly written. I appreciated the light and respect shown to the main character, her different ability, and her courage. I was upset with her family for MOST of the book! We have to be careful that our care for our loved ones don’t turn into prisons!

I absolutely love Nnedi Okorafor, but this book transcends any of the previous books I have read by this author. Death of the Author is a game changer, not only for Okorafor, but for literature. The way the story weaves between the author and the story, addressing themes and ideas that are complex and deep, will have readers desperately wishing this book would never end.

I do not want to give away anything about this novel because reading it will change you.

One of my favorite reads this year, and it will stay in my favorite books for life.

Everyone should read this book!

Zelu is a complicated character dealing with professional rejection and a family that doesn't understand her. Paralyzed from the waist down since a childhood accident, she struggles to prove her worth in a world that condescends to her existence. At a very low point, she writes a novel that will completely change her life's trajectory, for good and bad.

Told through multiple viewpoints, we read Zelu's story, interspersed with selections from her philosophical science fiction novel about a post-human world populated by robots and AI. There are also interviews with those in Zelu's orbit. She's not the easiest character to love, but as the novel progresses, so does our understanding of her. The novel takes lots of zany turns, and as a reader, I was never sure what might happen next, but at its heart, I think the novel is an examination of what makes us human, what motivates and connects us to the world, and what role technology can play in that. Highly recommend!

I wanted to love this book. I've loved every single other book written by this author. I loved the premise and parts of the story. But I think I lost the point of it somewhere. At some point it felt like Zelu became less a person in her story and more an avatar. And maybe that was the point. But I got lost in there. She also felt whiny at times rather than fully empowered. And I realize that a whole person is supposed to be whiny, but it just added to the feeling of slight disconnect.

Again, the story and the premise were super interesting. I enjoyed the sci-fi aspects to what would be a family drama (African) story. But maybe this one wasn't my favorite of hers. But I would recommend every other one, so I will continue to keep reading Nnedi's books.

I’ve never read a Nnedi Okorafor book and didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into but I was so glad that I did. It starts off with Zelu spinning out of control. But I loved seeing Zulu’s rollercoaster journey after writing “Rusted Robots.” Having the snippets of that book throughout was giving the best of both worlds. Plus, I loved seeing the parallels between Zelu and Ankara. Zelu’s family got on my nerves so much! I’ just wanted them to be supportive of Zelu in every way. But the action at the end and then the twist… yeah I loved every minute of this and I have to check out Okorafor’s backlist as well!

Rounded up from 4.5 ⭐️

I've been wanting to read a book by Nnedi Okorafor for a long time now, and I love a good science fiction title, so when I saw this, I was quick to request it to read through NetGalley.

Zelu is a strong, independent black woman, who is constantly getting back up, every time the world, and her family, try to hold her down and give her a million reasons why what she is trying to accomplish is dangerous, or selfish, or useless. From the time that she writes her novel, Rusted Robots, while unemployed and depressed at a wedding, and her world transforms completely, the book alternates between chapters of what is going on in her life and what is happening in the book that she writes. As Zelu progresses in her journey, becoming more sure of herself, and learning how to navigate her new life of fame, and a new romantic relationship, her robot journeys forth in search of stories of humanity, learning lessons about friendship, loyalty, and the magic of storytelling.

It was interesting to read about the loudness of the Nigerian family, the way that they interacted, and the nature of their relationships. It was interesting to see too, how technology impacts Zelu's life, from the autonomous cars that she travels in, to her robotic legs, and to see the way the lessons that she was learning in her real life were reflected in the novel that she was writing. One of the things that I thing was especially interesting in this book, was how at one point, Zelu was asked if her behavior was appropriate, as she owed something to her fans, and was, essentially, an example of what disabled writer should be. She really bristled at this, saying she owes her fans nothing, and that she doesn't want to be an example or a exemplar of anything. That she is just herself. I wonder how many people of color feel that way too, or how many minorities who achieve something, and then are upheld as the shining example of --- It must be so frustrating, to know on some level that your identity has been taken from you, in favor of what someone thinks you ought to be.

Anyway, I liked this book, though I think the ending could have been a little stronger. That would have made it 5 stars for me.

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor is a story within a story. When Zelu loses her job at the university where she teaches, she decides to focus on writing the book she's always wanted to write. And that story is included within her own story in this book. This was a fascinating look at Zelu's family culture, her disabilities, and the way that all relates to the publishing industry. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

For fans of Percival Everett. Zelu is struggling, her adjunct professor job is pretty much a dead end, she hasn’t really written anything in a very long time, and her family continues to treat her as the little kid that can’t do anything right but also is unable to do anything right. And inspiration hits. A spectacular sci-fi tale that changes her life and everything around her some for better and some for worst. But isn’t the truly brave who can touch the face of God? Nnedi Okafor writes a beautiful, strong, vulnerable character in Zelu instantly dropped into the world of fame and success that can be nothing but herself.

OMG this is good. I loved our disabled black professor. I love everyone actually.
To me this is a book to be savored and read a chapter at a time so I took a little longer with it. There is a lot to think about on every page, unlike my usual thriller read.
It is good.

Not my normally a story that I would be interested in however, the concept was mind blowing and sucked me in after about the first 50 pages or so. As far as genres, I’ll classify it as a mix not truly science fiction but something else entirely. At some points I was lost in the story but I believe that was part of the point getting lost in the storytelling. There was cultural aspects, family drama, life dilemmas and so much more in this one story. If you can wrap your head around multiple stories in one, I think you’ll truly enjoy this book. If you’re interested, in futurism, AI, and robotics you’ll also enjoy this book. All in all, it’s different abd I’m happy I gave the story a chance instead of making assumptions. Thanks for the ARC.

“Stories are what holds all things together. They make things matter, they make all things be, exist.”

Sometimes I struggle to write a review because a book just leaves me speechless. A beautiful genre-bending book, Death of the Author beautifully blends contemporary literary fiction with science fiction. It’s a book about stories, about family, about technology, and about the best and worst of humanity.

The format of the book is wonderful, with half of it following our protagonist, a Naijamerican writer named Zelu. We see her navigate life as a daughter of Nigerian immigrants from very different backgrounds, a sister who has complicated relationships with her many siblings, a writer dealing with sudden fame, and a person with a disability striving for autonomy.

The other half is made of excerpts from her book, the writing of which has changed Zelu’s life. Humanoid robots clash with bodiless AI, and through this we explore the importance of story and the legacy of humanity in a post-human world.

The stories’ ideas are woven together in beautiful ways, circling around an overarching theme of what it means to be human in the best and worst of ways.

Some other aspects of the book I loved included:

✔️ A fascinating look at how family members view each other and themselves in relation to the others.

✔️ An engaging and dynamic protagonist who I didn’t always agree with, but is such a force of nature.

✔️ A variety of sci-fi elements that are accessible and uniquely interesting.

✔️ Excellent intersectionality in the characters and their individual and collective back stories.

✔️ Many topics addressed that include ableism, social media fame, complex family dynamics, technological advances, and humanity’s tendency to put off solving problems until it’s too late.


This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but it certainly won’t be the last! Thank you so much for the advanced e-book, William Morrow and Netgalley!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. I knew the author was mainly a sci-fi writer? But the premise of this book had me curious so I decided to dive in.
I LOVED this book.
The premise: Our novel starts when Zelu, loses her job as a professor after offering lets say harsh feedback in class. She is a disabled Nigerian American writer who most recent novel has been passed over by numerous publishing houses, So she sits down and writes the book within the book, Rusted Robots, makes her an overnight sensation.
It kind of reminded me of Erasure in a way ( the novel within the novel that goes viral) but there is where the similarities stop.

I loved this book even though it got a little slow in the middle.
I highly recommend.

Death of an Author by Nnedi Okorafor blurs the lines of genre to great effect, something hinted at from the title. As a fan of Okorafor's Binti novellas, I was eager to dive into the newest novel, intrigued by a novel about a writer. The main character, Zelu, loses her job as a writing professor at the start of the novel after offering straightforward feedback in class. A disabled Nigerian American writer who most recent novel has been passed over by numerous publishing houses, Zelu sits down and writes the book within the book, Rusted Robots, a novel about Earth after humanity which makes her an overnight sensation. I enjoyed how the novel moves between these two narratives, exploring storytelling, disability and ableism, and authorial intent. I really liked how both of these narratives mirrored each other, stories of what it is to be human from two different perspectives. While the pacing lagged a bit in the latter third of the novel, I was invested in all the stories woven together in this novel.

Death of an Author is a brilliant fusion of literary and science fiction, following Zelu, a disabled woman who, after losing her job and facing rejection from the publishing world, moves back in with her parents. In a bold move, she writes Rusted Robots-an Afrofuturist novel about a human-shaped android navigating a post-human world. This story, unlike anything she's written before, resonates deeply with her.
The novel weaves Zelu's personal journey with the evolution of her robot protagonist and adds depth through interviews with Zelu's relatives, friends, and colleagues. These perspectives highlight the disconnect between Zelu and her family-who struggle to recognize the value of her work-and the societal pressures shaping her identity and ambitions.
As Zelu's story and her android's quest for meaning intertwine, the novel becomes a meditation on humanity, storytelling, and legacy. While the pacing occasionally wavers, the bold blend of genres and cultural insight makes Death of an Author a powerful exploration of disability, authorship, and identity. It's an intimate character study and a sweeping speculative tale-perfect for readers ready to embrace its layered, thought-provoking storytelling.
All the stars for DEATH OF THE AUTHOR!

I was introduced to Nnedi Okorafor through the Levar Burton Reads podcast, and I was excited to read this novel. Zelu is at a crossroads in her life. She has lost her career, her novel has been rejected, and there's drama at her sister's wedding. Disabled from a childhood accident, frustrated by the overprotectiveness of her Nigerian family, Zelu writes a science fiction novel about robots, AI, and the fall of humanity.

That summary barely scratches the surface. This is a story of love, loss, identity, connection, and the power of story. Zelu is multilayered, complicated, and raw. Her relationships with her family & other loved ones are wonderfully crafted, poignant, and real. Her lived experience speaks volumes about the life of a disabled, African American woman and how American and Nigerian societies view both women and people with disabilities. The interwoven novel only highlights the story. The perspective of this story was informative, enlightening. It's a thought provoking novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read & review this title. The opinions here are mine & freely given.

This is such a unique perspective of storytelling. A book within a book. I really enjoyed it. It did get slow a little in the middle but i think that’s just due to the length and trying to intertwine 2 stories. I wasn’t expecting the ending.

I’ve never read Okorafor before and was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The main story starts unfolding so slowly that it was hard to get invested, and the book within the book, while really well written, just wasn’t to my taste. I tried hard but gave up just shy of 13%.

I don’t like to give star ratings to books I don’t finish, but this site requires me to do so. I’d rather you not draw any conclusions from it.

I am late to the party on "Death of the Author" by Nnedi Okorafor, the curse of being a mood reader. Thank goodness I was not spoiled for anything because this was a treat.

Zelu has a rough hand, legs are paralyzed at 12, large family of high powered professionals, and she wants to write. When her life is flipped on its head and she hits a low point the words pour out and she crafts a book that takes the world by storm. "Rusted Robots" launches a bidding war with publishers, movie options, the whole deal. But that isn't all this story is. We get chapters from the story in the story so we see that story. These stories touch on each other and weave together so you get invested in both. Once I started I couldn't stop.

Reasons to read:
-A point of view and frame of story I don't think I have ever encountered before
-Zelu dealing with where she fits in her family, in the world as a Nigerian American, how her family sees her and what they think she can do, damn
-Got wrapped up in the stories on the stories, will always mark out at that
-I laughed, I cried, I felt waves of anger
-The food, got so hungry

Cons:
-Noooo bad adaptations in the fiction! Escape is impossible!