Namibia - Binti: The Night Maskerade - Nnedi Okorafor

Namibia - Binti: The Night Maskerade - Nnedi Okorafor

 The Story:
The Final book in the Binti series gets the story lines nicely wrapped up. It picks up straight from the second book (Binti Home) and can't be seen really as a stand alone book. I kind of liked the book, but it just seemed a little lacking in new ideas, it seemed to repeat the trials and tribulations of the first book, and even the solution was pretty much the same as the first book. So it just felt a little lazy. 

 

I still really enjoyed the book, and the series in total, and loved the Namibian influence and cultural references in the book. So the trilogy has opened my eyes to African Science Fiction, and I'm fully committed. I doubt ticking off every African country is going to be an easy task, or even a possibility. But I know I'm going to find some great books!

  

 

Namibia - Binti: Home - Nnedi Okorafor

 Namibia - Binti: Home - Nnedi Okorafor

The Story:
The Second book picks off straight after where the first book finished and is a continuation of the story. Binti returns to her home village back on earth, and more details of her history come out, with some unusual and interesting developments. This book introduces new political and strategical developments which added more twists and deeper plot lines.

The biggest disappointment was that this book just ended abruptly. It is almost impossible to view this as a book in it's own right, feels more like a chapter in a bigger book. It does draw you in, to pick up and read the final book in the trilogy.

Namibia - Binti: Sacred Fire - Nnedi Okorafor

Namibia - Binti: Sacred Fire - Nnedi Okorafor

This book appears second in the Binti trilogy (of four books) published by daw books. From the blurb in the book this book was written after the final book in the trilogy and slotted in the chronology between books one and two. 

It was a nice piece of character development and a nice story. Again was a little light on sci fi but I really enjoyed the story. And great to have a bit more about the character called Bear. She's very cool.

Namibia - Binti - Nnedi Okorafor

 

How I found the Book:
This book appeared on one of the science fiction book club I follow on Facebook, and was getting great reviews. So I ordered a copy of the trilogy (of four books) straight away.

The Story:
This is the first science fiction book I've read which is based on African culture and characters and it's just great to read something new and different. I really enjoyed the references to certain cultures and rituals even though it's set in a very futuristic earth. 

The book had some great ideas and concepts, but, for me, the book was a little light on 'science fiction' and more of a coming of age book. However, Binti, the main character was very likeable and had great depth. I really enjoyed the book and are going to move straight onto the next books in the trilogy (and the bonus book too).

How Namibian:

Technically Nnedi is American, as that is where she was born. Sorry not technically at all. However for this project i'm using place of birth to define the author's 'country'. Her heritage is Namibian, and the book is hugely based on African culture and geography, so I'm putting this, and other books by Nnedi, under Namibia. For the purest in me, it just means the hunt is still on for a science fiction Namibian Author born in Namibia.