Noor

Nnedi Okorafor

With Lagoon set in Lagos, Noor is set in the north (Abuja and into the desert). Far future Nigeria means that there is less direct "culture" here than near-future Lagoon and more likely remnants of culture to inform the story. A cybernetic woman (named OA) and a traditional herdsman (named DNA) are coincidentally thrown together in a series of traumatic events. They are on the run from the government, and more dangerously, from the Ultimate Corporation (imagine Amazon or Apple 30 years in the future). Each is learning how naive they were, and how much power they actually have to change the future of the country they love. The plot is thin and a bit too convenient, but it is a quick read and a not-so-unbelievable portrayal of "Ultimate Corporation". 

3 stars (out of 4)

A Closed and Common Orbit

Becky Chambers

Book 2 of the Wayfarers series

Set in the same world as the ...small angry planet we get the backstory on Pepper (the tech), and the next chapter for Pepper and Lovelace (the sentient AI). This is a 2 character story, with 2 supporting characters. And it is outstanding. Lovelace is an infant in many ways, learning to grow into a new body. Too smart and not smart enough, booksmart not streetsmart, etc. And damaged goods psychologically. So it makes all the sense in the world as we learn of Pepper's origin and how she also was raised by a ship AI, that these two are learning how to be people together. Chambers is a master craftswoman. 

4 stars (out of 4)

Lagoon

Nnedi Okorafor

I found this book on a list of fascinating near future sci-fi. Actually, on the list was Noor by Okorafor, but that wasn't available at my library. Glad I got this one. Set in modern day Lagos, Nigeria - alien first contact is made and the novel tells the story of the first week or so after first contact. The aliens are not violent, looking to colonize. But they are looking to move in and become part of the earth's biota. It is super fun to get a window into Lagos culture, as the story is really just a revelation of its priorities, lifestyle and social groups of the city. The situations that develop throughout the storytelling are dramatically different than stories you can imagine would be told if first contact with this particular species occurred in the west, or Asia, etc. The specific and particular culture of Lagos is what makes this novel fascinating. At the same time, even though the culture is so different than my own experience, this very fact lets me see what kinds of reactions are part of the human experience. 

4 stars (out of 4)