This book was a great combination of science fiction and literary family drama. We first meet Zelu, the main character, soon after she has been fired from her job teaching writing at a university. She is driven that night to sit down and write a novel different than anything else she’s written before.

This story then follows Zelu as she deals with the success and spotlight that the book brings. It also includes a story within a story, of a dystopian world with robots.

I loved the layers that this story had with Zelu and her family and the dynamics around her family here in America and also Nigeria. How Zelu was often seen as different and less-than because she is in a wheelchair. How her success both did and didn’t change that. Sometimes the choices Zelu made were frustrating, but Okorafor did a great job of explaining the why behind those choices.

Thanks to Bill from @anunlikelystory story for highlighting this book on @currentlyreadingpodcast Indie Press List episode. It was a good read that took me out of reality for a while.

Death of the Author tackles several themes, it's speculative, thought-provoking and uncomfortable. The key to this book are the dynamic very real and flawed characters. This reads as more literary fiction with sci-fi elements and it's different from her other work and it was well done. The story within a story can get trippy but it's worth the ride.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC.

Thank you William Morrow, Nnedi Okorafor, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Death of the Author is a unique, genre blending novel that follows Zelu, a Nigerian writer who skyrockets to fame after publishing a sci-fi novel in the middle of a dark time. The book within a book structure was intriguing, I enjoyed the layered storytelling! At times, the sci-fi elements felt jarring and rushed, but I appreciated the overall journey. Zelu is a sharp, complicated protagonist who's tale brough many issues to light; family, power, identity, and who really gets to tell a story.

I wanted to like the book, since Nnedi Okorafor is a highly acclaimed author, and I love science fiction, but I just didn't enjoy the writing or the characters. I stopped reading the book at 30%.

I love Nnedi Okorafor! To me, she's a modern-day Octavia Butler, who I believe has a lot more to offer, and I look forward to all of it. Literary mixed with genre is definitely in my wheelhouse. Our main character, Zelu, is an outcast in a successful Nigerian-American family. She is wheelchair-bound due to a childhood accident, recently let go from an unfulfilling teaching job, and dreams of being an author. Fed up with her situation and fed up with her judgmental family, Zelu writes a sci-fi book that propels her into overnight success, a success which introduces her to people working on a new scientific discovery that may help her walk again, so a bit speculative as well. The book within a book is not something I typically enjoy, but it is spread out enough not to bog down the original story. This has it all: plot, character development, imagination, and stellar writing.

This book was so captivating and such an intricate read, exploring themes of cultural struggles, identity, and the pressures of pleasing both audiences and critics as an author. The story, rich with hidden meanings, is told through interviews, Zelu's perspective, and the viewpoint of the robot Ankara, offering multiple layers of interpretation.

The characters, especially Zelu and the side characters like her family, love interest, and doctor, are deeply developed, and the cultural insights into Zelu’s experiences were particularly helpful in understanding her character. The narrative does an excellent job of showcasing her complexities and personal growth.

I highly recommend this book for fans of both science fiction and literary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Nnedi Okorafor for the ARC.

Quite honestly, I had really high expectations for this book, but it ultimately fell into the category of being poorly marketed. Given the author’s previous works, I was expecting a sci-fi novel with heavy, transportive world-building. I was really intrigued to see where the story would go, especially since it was marketed as a sci-fi book some months ago.

I always aim to be honest in my reviews and reflections, and I have to admit—I read about 60 to 70% of this book, took a moment to predict the ending, and then skimmed the rest. Come to find out…..the big twist was exactly what I thought it would be. I won’t spoil it outright, but as someone who went in this read expecting sci-fi and instead got an immigrant story/toxic family drama/character-driven literary fiction, the minor sci-fi elements stood out in a way that made the direction of the story really obvious.

This is a story within a story. We follow an author, Zelu, who has just lost her job and commits to writing something completely new. Her book, Rusted Robots, becomes a huge hit, catapulting her to success. But what tipped me off early on was the excessive amount of hype surrounding Zelu’s book. The way it was being praised didn’t align with how Rusted Robots was being presented to us. I also found the interviews interwoven throughout—featuring people in Zelu’s life—felt hyperbolic at times. While they ended up serving a purpose by the end, these also played a part in my disconnect and prediction of the large twist.

I think readers who go into this without expectations might enjoy it more. The cover is stunning, and I can see people picking it up for that alone. For readers who enjoy messy family dynamics or unlikable characters, this book will likely be gripping. They’ll be drawn into Zelu’s life, her choices, and the overall messaging behind the story within the story. However, for those who, like me, were expecting a true sci-fi novel, the execution may feel mismatched. I plan to revisit this book with the knowledge I have of it now. I hope that reread will increase my enjoyment.

DNF @20%

I need to preface the review with this: I L O V E this author. Absolutely adore her. With the exception of this book and one other [that I need to reread because I found I read it out of context], every book I have read by this author has been outstanding [ I started with Binti, was blown away and immediately dove into whatever I could find or was available to me], and I have been anxiously awaiting this audiobook so I could dive into this book and fall in love again.

Ummm...no?

In the 20% I read, I kept wondering if someone else [like a ghostwriter] had written this [until the first section of the the "Robot Story <--the book within a book, and then I *KNEW* it was truly Ms. Okorafor as that "voice" I knew/loved just came flooding out until it was over and the jarring "voice" of "now" yanked me back to the parts I disliked], and I struggled with the characters [who are truly just awful people], the story itself [which is insipid and surprisingly, very boring], the multiple narrators, and the gratuitous vulgar language until I found I just couldn't continue, and I am left confused and very disappointed. This was a book I was highly anticipating and it just didn't work for me and even now, a couple days after deciding to DNF, I am sad over the loss of this book.

I will say that I will keep reading Ms. Okorafor because I know that not every book is for everyone and not every book will work for all, even huge fans of an author's previous work. I have loved her books before and I will love them again; even in my disappointment, I am already thinking of what else of hers I can read [to make up for this] and I look forward to her new book in April.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and William Morrow for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Death of the Author is the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re in on some grand literary joke—until you realize the joke might actually be on you. Nnedi Okorafor serves up a mind-bending mix of speculative fiction, metafiction, and philosophical musings, but somewhere along the way, the plot starts to feel like Schrödinger’s storyline: both present and missing at the same time.

The prose is sharp, the ideas are fascinating, and the book plays with reality in a way that’s undeniably cool... but also frustrating. Characters wax poetic about the nature of stories and authorship while the actual story sometimes takes a backseat. It’s as if the book is daring you to question whether you even need a coherent narrative—spoiler alert: I kinda do.

I’ve been a Nnedi Okorafor fan for a long time, and her new releases are always cause for excitement in the SFF community. But this one felt like it was getting some *extra* buzz, and from a broader range of review publications, which made me even more excited to read it. Unsurprisingly, this genre-bender not only delivers but also hits differently than anything else she’s written.

Death of the Author gives us a book-within-a-book, going back and forth between the story of a quadriplegic Nigerian-American woman writer named Zelu and the post-apocalyptic science fiction robot novel that catapults her to fame. Both stories function amid the backdrop of Nigerian culture, storytelling, and mythology. Zelu is expertly crafted: fierce, compelling, and believable. I didn’t like her much, but I was rooting for her, especially with all her family drama (even if there was a bit too much of that in this story for my personal taste).

Okorafor not only blurs lines between genres but also, at the end (that ending!!), subverts our expectations in a way that challenges us to reconsider the very act of storytelling — the thing that makes us human — itself. Readers who like both contemporary fiction and sci-fi will love this, probably followed by contemporary fiction readers who don’t mind added sci-fi or speculative elements, followed by die-hard sci-fi readers. Either way, definitely read this if you like genre play and exploration and books that challenge how stories can work.

Thanks to William Morrow for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

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

———————-

Gosh, I’m not even sure where to start describing this one. It is one of the most deep and overwhelming fantasy / contemporary fiction books I’ve ever read. Zelu is a Nigerian American woman, writer, who had an accident as a child and is in a wheelchair. Her family is overbearing and protective and does not understand her unconventional ways and need for adventure. When she fluently tells off a student, she is fired from her creative writing professorship and her life takes a turn. Moving back in with her parents she slowly chips away at a fantasy novel which will catapult her to fame and change her life forever.

The writing in this book is incredible, it alternates chapters where you get pieces of Zelu’s life go through her own eyes and those around her. We know she is now famous, and something has happened where her family and friends are filling us in on who they think she is. In parallel with this, we get chapters of her book which is focused on a future where humanity is gone and robots and AI are fighting a genocide against one another.

You 100% will be confused as to where this is going for a good portion of the novel. You will feel for Zelu as her family constantly belittles her, you will feel for her family as she makes reckless choice after reckless choice and you will be amazed by the humanity of her creations on the page. How it all came together in the end was absolutely stunning. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

This book was not at all what I thought it would be. Equal parts sci-fi and contemporary fiction, I don’t think I’ve ever read something more genre-bending. I loved the store within a story (within a story?). I loved Zelu and hated her, admired her strength and ability to know what she wanted, but got annoyed with her somewhat self-centered nature and sometimes woe-is-me attitude— all the complex emotions a real person would exhibit. I was annoyed by her family, but accepted that I do not understand the inner workings of a Nigerian-American family. All in all this book really made me think, but was also fun. I enjoyed the circular nature of it as well.

Nnedi Okorafor’s "Death of the Author" is a spellbinding blend of personal struggle, speculative imagination, and incisive social commentary. At its heart is Zelu, a paraplegic Nigerian American writer grappling with profound setbacks at a destination wedding in Trinidad and Tobago. Fired from her teaching job and facing yet another rejection for her decade-long novel project, Zelu reaches her lowest point. Yet, out of despair comes inspiration as she begins penning a futuristic tale of rusted robots on a post-human Earth. This story within the story breathes new life into Zelu's career, mirroring her own journey of resilience and transformation. The intertwining of these narratives creates a fascinating meta-layer that keeps readers enthralled.

Okorafor’s characters leap off the page, with Zelu leading the charge as a dynamic and multifaceted protagonist. Her struggles with family expectations, newfound fame, and life as a disabled woman are handled with nuance and emotional depth. The novel’s secondary narrative—centered on the Hume robot and disembodied AI Ghost—acts as a compelling parallel to Zelu’s life, exploring themes of identity, connection, and overcoming division. The richly imagined robotic society offers a canvas for Okorafor's exploration of humanity, making the novel not only deeply personal but also thematically profound.

The book’s pacing and vivid prose make for an immensely satisfying read, effortlessly toggling between the near-future reality of Zelu’s world and the far-future imaginings of her novel. Okorafor weaves humor, tension, and introspection into a cohesive tapestry, delivering a story that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. "Death of the Author" is a standout work that showcases Okorafor’s unmatched ability to seamlessly blend speculative and literary fiction, solidifying her place as one of the genre’s brightest voices.

Metafiction done well is hard to find, and I am happy to say that Nnedi Okarafor succeeded in DEATH OF THE AUTHOR. I read this book in one sitting! I loved the storytelling and how racisms, ableism, and sexism are deftly incorporated. An engrossing and timely book.

Intense and thought provoking read. After finishing i had to let the book marinate to give it the right review. Days later, the book remains in my head. I laughed, cried, got angry, my emotions were all over the place! I enjoy this author previous books, but this one hit me differently. Can't wait to see what they comes up with next!

#Death of the Author
#NnediOkorafor
#NETGALLEY

3.5 rounded up! I liked this a lot! I liked the multiple storylines and though a bit slow, it definitely kept my interest! I'm not sure if the summary was a great reflection of where the story actually went, I kept waiting for something else to happen that was actually her book coming true, so if I hadn't been expecting that I think I would have loved it.

A book within a book about a disabled author who pens a brilliant sci-fi novel that catapults her into the spotlight and brings along a tidal wave of changes for humankind (and robotkind). This stunning work of metafiction by master of the genre Nnedi Okorafor is brilliant, expertly written, and so full of heart! Sure to delight both her avid fans and new readers alike who read more within the literary fiction space.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to preview Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor in exchange for my honest review. I don't read much sci-fi, so I hadn't been exposed to Okorafor's previous work. After reading this, I will absolutely be searching out more of her writing. This book was very well written with a case of believable characters and a fascinating metafiction element. I adored the robot storyline, particularly the interactions between the AI robots and those with a more human-like presentation. The way this mirrored the experiences of the main character as she writes her new book was unique and provided a different way of understanding both the human and robot characters.

Death of the Author was such a lovely book; it made me feel the emotions of the main characters and kept me fully engaged throughout. I can't wait to read more from Nnedi Okorafor.

I loved Nnedi Okorafor's YA series, Akata Witch, so I was excited to read this adult fiction novel. It was an interesting story with a lot of reflections on humanity, AI, and. At first, the Rusted Robot story line caught me off guard but I really enjoyed it by the third time it came up and I found myself wanting more! Overall, a great novel.

A young woman fights through the obstacles in her life in a parallel of her stellar debut novel. I enjoyed the rich scifi story interwoven with the plot, the beautiful picture of Nigeria and the cultures of the people, and the technological possibilities explored. I find novels set and steeped in African culture a little slow and hard to enjoy as a rule. They seem to read like morality plays and are hard to get through for me. This is just a personal preference, but it influenced my opinion of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy. These opinions are my own.