Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

[secritcrush]

Novella it a tough length. Most of the time Novellas feel like they are either bloated short stories which could benefit from an edit or a story which really ought to be expanded into a novel to do it justice. Binti is one of the latter

Comments

[stevendj]

In the Acknowledgments, Okorafor writes, "I'd like to thank my daughter, Anyaugo, for essentially coming up the plot of this novella. When you get stuck, ask a plucky imaginative eleven-year-old what happens next in the story; you'll be unstuck in no time." It explains a lot of the odd pacing, plot swerves, and tone inconsistencies. Even so, I think it's a very strong story, and the best of the novellas on the ballot.

[secritcrush]

Even so, I think it's a very strong story, and the best of the novellas on the ballot.

Agreed.

Co-incidences

[ttppii]

There are _two_ stupid deus ex machinas. Not only Binti just happened to find a strange artifact which just happens to have effect agaist aliens, but her body paint also just happens to have an effect to aliens. Just too stupid happenstances for me.

Re: Co-incidences

[secritcrush]

I don't disagree with second one, but I think the way that reframes her thinking about the otjize that I'll allow it.