To read a Nnedi Okorafor novel is to read a book featuring strong female characters. But calling Onyesonwu, the protagonist of Okorafor’s World Fantasy Award-winning Who Fears Death, “strong” feels like an understatement. In the novel, Okorafor imagines a grim, post-apocalyptic Sudan, one where rape is employed as a weapon of war and violence can seem omnipresent. But in learning to wield magic, Onyesonwu gains the ability to set her world on a new path. Okorafor, a prolific novelist who has written Wakanda-set comics for Marvel, is known for Africanfuturist stories that through their speculative settings hold a critical mirror to our world and offer sparks of hope. Amidst the darkness of Who Fears Death, Onyesonwu is that hope. —Cate Matthews
Buy Now: Who Fears Death on Bookshop | Amazon
- The Inside Story of Princeton's Cinderella Run at March Madness
- The Case for Betting on Succession's Tom Wambsgans
- For Both Donald Trump and Alvin Bragg, the Central Park Jogger Case Was a Turning Point
- If Donald Trump Is Indicted, Here's What Would Happen Next in the Process
- Alison Roman Won't Sugarcoat It
- Why Not All Observant Muslims Fast During Ramadan
- It's Time to Say a Loving Goodbye to John Wick
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
- Column: Ozempic Exposed the Cracks in the Body Positivity Movement