If you’re reading this review, chances are that you are well indoctrinated in “American” culture, where all the villains strike at the heart of New York City or Washington D.C.; the zombie apocalypse originates in Atlanta; and all the aliens visit white English-speaking people from western-civilizations (probably Americans). Considering the United States supplies just over 4% of the world’s population, we really do have an oversized view of ourselves, don’t we? 

So when Wole Talabi’s new novel, The Fist of Memory puts a first contact situation firmly in Africa -- Nigeria namely -- it’s refreshing and enlightening about what possibilities are out there for other stories in the future. Those stories can absolutely exist and be great, but there is a bit of a step of faith that we Americans have to take to engage with them and allow them to get past our own filters and biases. 

As for The Fist of Memory, it absolutely is a first-contact story, but there is a technothriller that dominates a good chunk of its pages, providing an action-packed near-future thriller that works in multiple ways. Talabi takes science and technology and juxtaposes them with faith and tradition in a brilliant way that spoke to me almost on a spiritual level.  

At the core of the story are three seemingly disconnected characters -- Itumeleng, the South African astronomer who first discovers the aliens approaching Earth; Tope, an assassin-for-hire who seemingly has some morals; and Ahanna, a killer who has just one mission left. For the reader, it feels like the characters of Tope and Ahanna must have some sort of connection, but it takes a while in the book to find out what that is. 

For me, Itumeleng is the primary protagonist. A man who is dominated by science and technology and has given up on the traditions and faith of his family. But something is reaching out -- trying to communicate through the vast distances of space. For Itumeleng, the tug of his past against the inertia of his present are the forces at play throughout. In some ways, I couldn’t help but think of the M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs as I read this novel. Yes, they’re both first contact stories, but they play out in very different ways. However, the role of faith has a profound impact on both stories and I felt similar vibes as I got into the heart of The Fist of Memory. 

This book has something to say about faith and science together. Itumeleng’s ancestral faith and traditions may seem like a relic of the past, but when he needs them the most, they are right at hand ready to work hand-in-hand with the unknown future. 

Ultimately, this is a very African story as well. The names might be hard for Western audiences and the locations may be unfamiliar, but the themes, action, and tropes should be familiar to readers. There are very few chapters that take place outside of the continent -- and frankly most of those are presenting the alien POV from space. The Fist of Memory doesn’t shy away from some of the stereotypical corruption you might find in post-colonial African governments (playing a key part in Tope and Ahanna’s stories), but also shows a future where Nigeria is center-stage in astronomy and space technology. 

I found The Fist of Memory to be intellectually and spiritually stimulating as well as refreshing for its take on geopolitics, putting the focus of a first contact situation away from North America. I highly recommend the latest from Wole Talabi, out on Oct. 27, 2026. 

Thank you to DAW for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Big thank you to NetGalley, DAW Publishing, and Wole Talabi for the eARC of this book.

I don't rate books five stars often. Most of my favourite books are a 4.5 or a 4.75, but I genuinely cannot think of anything I would change about The Fist of Memory.

It's expertly crafted, thought-provoking, action-packed and heavily philosophical. Talabi's prose is beautiful, descriptive without becoming info-dumping, and as someone who struggles to picture scenes, I actually found myself fully immersed in the world.

The book follows four POVs during a first-contact event: an assassin working for a witch doctor, an astrophysicist, an ex-killer-for-hire out for revenge and a government employee. Each perspective feels very much its own, and I found myself enthralled by their stories and how they all intertwined. Each character is fully realised, with their own motivations and arcs. None of them are particularly likeable, but I don't think they are supposed to be. However, I did have a favourite, and I am so glad their story concluded the way it did.

The setting is also really fascinating, set in a near-future Nigeria, and masterfully connects ideas from spirituality and religion with futuristic concepts like integrated AI systems embedded into people's brains. I really appreciated that Talabi does not whitewash the concepts, culture, and languages used in Nigeria. It is a culture I admittedly don't know enough about, but the contextual clues throughout the book make it easy to follow without sacrificing its authenticity.

Overall, it is probably one of the most unique books I have read, and one I can see myself revisiting in the future. It is a beautifully written combination of action-packed, often violent scenes and some of the most thought-provoking, philosophical ideas I've had the pleasure of reading.

The Fist of Memory follows a fascinating cast of characters pursuing their goals in a world facing the impending first contact of an alien civilisation.

Tope, orphaned at a young age by secessionist violence, has been trained as a killer ever since; with high-end technology and Baba’s juju, she engages in high-profile assassinations while haunted by her mother’s death. Her latest contract puts her in contact with Lolade, abused wife of one of Nigeria’s most powerful men, who she’s compelled by. Itumelung is an astrophysicist who refused to succeed his grandmother as iSangoma, a conduit to the ancestors; in dreams and waking, he sees visions of a woman he’s never met and a strange cylinder floating over a terrestrial monolith. When his work detects an unknown object on a direct course for Earth, he is swept up in the efforts to track and identify these objects that puts him on a collision course with Tope. Having grown up on the streets with his sister, Ahanna’s work as a contract killer secured them wealth and comfort before his peaceful retirement was shattered by killers seeking vengeance; now he enacts murderous justice at the order of the mysterious General in exchange for information on the people who killed his family, while haunted by their ghosts. Ufuoma is the personal assistant to the President and conduit to the shadowy Elders who really control Nigeria. Interspersed with these human perspectives are the Irunmole on their journey towards Earth. Tope’s perspective is present first person, while the others are close third person.

As you may expect from a cast with multiple professional killers, there’s a fair amount of violence and brutality, including animal death. Equally, while this is a first-contact story, the contact itself is very much the finale, with how humanity deals with this impending unknown forming a backdrop to the story. Beyond this, the world blends science and magic; juju and contact with the ancestors are very much tangible and undeniable, while characters are accompanied by their implanted Neuranexus companions and animal companions can be cloned and implanted with memories of their original.

The pacing is tight and driven and the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense throughout the story, such that the release of this makes the finale is incredibly satisfying; the multiple perspectives and storylines are woven together expertly. The characters are profoundly compelling, even where they aren’t necessarily people you want to root for. The worldbuilding is excellent and creates a vibrant vision of near-futurist Africa. Overall, The Fist of Memory was an incredibly enjoyable read, and I look forward to more from this author.

this writer is brilliant! whattttt
i’ve never read something like this before and this is no exaggeration.
i love the philosophical depth of this book. the way it juxtaposes african traditions with space technology and also what it says about memory
this book is a must read! i am going to read more books by this author

This Africa-centric, first-contact science fiction novel has an almost literary feel to it in its character work, prose and thematic depth. Talabi masterfully weaves this together with a plot that never feels slow and grips you from page one. And for once, not in the US.

Tope, a deadly Nigerian assassin, has dealt with the death of her imagined and future self. She is empty inside, cold and calculating. Until one day she receives a job that makes her care. Itumeleng is plagued by visions he doesn't believe in. But then an alien object is heading for Earth and he cannot seem to untangle himself or his visions from that. Or the woman he keeps seeing.

Woven together, their lives can never be the same. I love how Talabi managed to mirror the separateness and connectiveness of their stories and plot arcs with the overarching theme of how we need togetherness as a species - without losing our individuality - in order to rise to the next level of consciousness and survive. On top of that, this story tackles our world's cracked sense of individuality in a profoundly non-Western way.

Overall, a captivating novel combining several strong plot arcs with deeply human themes and masterful prose. I highly recommend this one.