In 'Death of the Author' by Nnedi Okorafor, the narrative follows Zelu, a Nigerian American writer navigating fame and personal challenges. The book presents a dual perspective, blending Zelu's life with her bestselling novel, 'Rusted Robots,' which depicts a future shaped by robots and AI. As Zelu, a disabled woman in her mid-30s, faces societal perceptions and family dynamics, the story explores her growth and the impact of technology. Okorafor introduces 'Africanfuturism,' emphasizing African cultural influences in science fiction, setting this book apart from its more familiar American counterparts.
Okorafor coined the term "Africanfuturism," describing a subcategory of science fiction that's "more directly rooted in African culture, history, mythology and point-of-view".
Death of the Author is kind of like two books in one, following Nigerian American main character Zelu through her meteoric rise to fame as the author of an unexpected hit novel.
The family dynamics and the world she lives in felt very real, and I became much more invested in their drama than what was playing out in Rusted Robots.
Zelu, a disabled mid-30s writer, faces constant pushback as she tries new things like self-driving cars and an exoskeleton mobility aid.
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