“When you are someone like me, one who is always fighting for herself, against oppression, hate, misunderstanding, fear, you move about the world with care. You seek out those places where people will accept you and you nest there.” -Anwuli Okwudili, aka AO

There are many silimaries between this novel and Okorafor’s previous work Remote Control. Both discuss the topics of hate, oppression and anti-capitalism. Both take place in the near future and are set in Nigeria.

Okorafor’s writing transports me to another place and causes me to compare these places to our own. We live in a world dependent on technology and materialism; a world controlled by the few (not the majority).

Rep: African (Nigeria)

This was my first time reading anything by Nnedi Okorafor, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. Whilst I enjoyed the Africanfuturism elements of the story, the actual plot and characters were quite basic. There were big plot jumps throughout the novel that made it difficult to enjoy the story and understand what was happening. I wasn’t a fan of the bond between AO and DNA – it was just too rushed and gave major insta-love vibes. When I finished the book, I felt disappointed. I didn’t like AO, wanted more world-building, and a more interesting story. For those reasons, I’m giving this 2/5 stars.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Nnedi Okorafor's writing is the type of sci-fi/speculative fic that pushes the boundaries and makes me go "well huh." Noor is a lot Afrofuturism and a bit Afrojujuism (which is a new to me term!). This is a speculative fic look at what it means to be "other," disability and mobility devices as we move into a more technological world, and the evils of capitalism.

There are several stories within the story in this book, and while some were interesting there was one very long one about the invention of the solar power they use that was just long and didn't seem to have a huge impact on the story itself. I found myself getting impatient with all the side stories and wanting to get back to the actual story.

While those side stories sort of slowed things down, the book overall remained quite fast-paced, especially the end which comes on, well, like a whirlwind. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, the winds changed and it swept along somewhere completely unexpected.

Full review posted at BookBrowse: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/4369/noor

This is a fascinating short novel (nearly a novella), and, as with most everything Okorafor writes, it's full of deep characterization and even headier sci-fi ideas, along with a heaping dose of sharp commentary on modern technologies, their potential, and their risks. It's by no means my favorite thing by the author, but it's a very solid work that gives a great disabled protagonist who is never shy of discussing her augmented body. I'd love to teach this book.

Sophie had heard a lot about Nnedi Okarafor for several years but never got around to picking up one of her books until recently. When she needed to read an Afrofuturist book for a reading challenge, she knew that Noor by Nnedi Okarafor would fit the bill perfectly.

Noor is a novella that follows a protagonist named AO, a young woman who lives in the small Nigerian town of Abuja. Born disabled and later involved in a horrific car crash in her early teens, AO has spent her life being fitted with cybernetic enhancements to the point where many now consider her “more machine than human.” While most locals happily accept those who have some minor enhancements, AO lives in fear of “jungle justice” from those who consider her a demon, witch, or simply an abomination. So when a bunch of men in a marketplace turn on her, AO uses all her superhuman powers to fight back.

Now on the run, AO escapes into the desert where she encounters DNA, a Fulani herdsman who himself escaped a massacre on his people along with just two of his cattle after some townspeople decided the Fulani are terrorists. The two set out together to try and find some peace, but they live in a world where drones fill the skies and everything is streamed, and now all of Nigeria is following the manhunt for the murderess and the terrorist. As they travel, they uncover truths about themselves and the world around them, but how will they reveal those truths to a world that considers them to be villains?

Sophie enjoyed Noor but didn’t consider it to be one of her favorite books of the year. She suspects that this was largely due to the pacing. Noor is a very short novella at just 224 pages and Sophie felt this wasn’t long enough to give the story the level of world-building it deserved. People and entities were introduced with little context so she often found that she was told something was bad or good without it ever being explained why that was and then the story would rush off to its next scene leaving her a little bewildered about how she was supposed to feel.

If it had space to grow, Sophie felt that Noor could have easily been a four or five-star read but with its wings clipped so heavily here, she ended up rating it a three instead.

I recommend this one. It's a good book and everyone should read. Of course I would love to have this book in my bookstore.

3.5 stars
In the beginning I was loving it: the mid 20s main character, a social outcast. The discussions of disability, capitalism, propaganda, hate crimes all drew me in.
But as the story went forward, it felt formulaic.. Almost like any other novel that recounted a dystopian world in the 2010s: the main character gets a superpower and has to take down the ultimate superpower. The main character discovers a city of outcasts that they believed was a myth. There may or may not be a love triangle. There are many conspiracy theories that are true etc.
The second half of the book, particularly the last few chapters , I felt was dragging bc I thought I knew exactly where the book was headed. And while I kind of did, the end was very satisfying. Brought my rating up from a 3* to 3.5*
I appreciated that the relationships throughout the book felt real. I was able to fully accept that AO and DNA had a bond (even though it may be based in trauma) and the entire novel happened over like two days. I wish that there was a chance to explore AO’s own familial relationships.
Yeah overall good read

I love how this author is able to create unique worlds and characters that, combined, help to discuss real life struggles and world issues. I don't think it is possible for me to get sick of Okorafor's books.

Thanks to the publisher for this review copy.

Nnedi Okorafor is the paragon of writing deeper into the story, and Noor is no different.

Albeit a quick read, there is much nuance that can be distinguished about issues such as privacy and disability.

Definitely a great read!

Steeped in culture and superstition this is a fast paced fantasy adventure. Born with deformities and surviving a severe accident, Anwuli Okwudili opted for body augmentation and built her once damaged body into a highly functioning semi-bionic one. She is comfortable with her choices, body and lifestyle even in a world where there is great distrust and prejudice against her appearance. Her carefully constructed world is blown apart by a violent incident and she goes on the run. What follows is a journey of self discovery and an adventure rich in characters set against a magnificent African futuristic landscape.

I have been wanting to check out a book by Okorafor for a while now. When I saw Noor on Netgalley, I immediately sent in a request. I was thrilled when I got approved.

I finished this a little before pub date however I got very sick with covid and my review went unwritten for a few days. I am immensely sorry for that. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Noor.

Noor was atmospheric from the very first pages. It's a scifi set in a future Nigeria. A vicious and bloody encounter leads her on a fugitives path. The pacing was good during the first half. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed. I am excited to read more from this author! I think Binti is next on my list.

This was a very interesting science fiction novel with prominent elements of African Futurism. For me, the best part of this novel was easily the worldbuilding. Just like with the Binti novellas, this story weaves cultural traditions into a futuristic setting.

I also really appreciated how the story incorporated body augmentation as a way to address disability. As an ownvoices story, Noor explores the challenges and stigma surrounding those with disabilities living in an able bodied world.

Admittedly, I did not completely connect with the plot and characters which held me back from really loving this one. Yet, I still really appreciated what the story was doing and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a diverse, fresh science fiction story.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the audiobook from LibroFM for review.

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

Noor is a quick but exciting, hard sci-fi novel that offers some really great commentary on ableism, privacy, and environmentalism. Not my favorite Okorafor, but a good one!

For you if: You are looking for more disability rep in sci-fi.

FULL REVIEW:

Thank you, DAW Books, for the electronic advanced copy of this book. I am a huge fan of Nnedi Okorafor — her novel Who Fears Death is a true standout — so I am always excited to read her new work. While this one wasn’t my favorite of hers, I definitely liked it, and I think it does some really great stuff.

The story is set in a future Africa, where a giant, ongoing storm (like the red eye on Jupiter) feeds the planet’s energy sources, making it the most commercially coveted area in the world. It’s about a girl named AO, which she likes to say stands for Artificial Organism. Born disabled, AO has chosen to embrace technological augmentations seen as unnatural by the rest of society in order to live a fuller life. A cataclysmic event in the beginning of the book sends her on the run from the Corporation and toward the heart of the storm.

This book is short and reads fast at 224 pages, but it manages to offer a ton of commentary on privacy, environmentalism, and ableism. I love Okorafor’s storytelling style, which is unapologetically rooted in Nigerian traditions, even if it leads some Westernized readers to say this or that thing (pacing, dialogue, etc) “just felt off.” This one is no exception. I think it’s more than worth the couple of hours it will take you to read.



CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Animal death/cruelty; Suicidal thoughts; Ableism; Violence; PTSD

It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I found it brilliant.
I think this story is an excellent speculative fiction, a futuristic view of Africa and of the world where human can be enhanced and what it means for their life.
There's plenty of food for thought but it's also a gripping story.
Great storytelling, world building and character development.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Earlier this year I read and loved Nnedi Okorafor’s Remote Control, which is a truly wonderful novella. Because of this, I was looking forward to Noor as I’m a fan of Okorafor’s take on Africanfuturism and of the way she seamlessly fuses folkloresque fantasy elements with sci-fi ones. While Noor certainly delivers on the Africanfuturism front, pairing this with a commentary on biotechnology, on humanity, and on the realities of being ‘other’, its plot and characters, to my disappointment, struck me as extremely derivative. A bare-bones version of Noor would go like this: we have a dystopian setting where the evil capitalist government is after the heroine who is not like other people and has special powers & her man who is also persona non grata and they eventually join a group of rebels where she comes across ex-lover before final ‘battle’ with the baddies. Anwuli Okwudili, who goes by AO, initials that stand for Artificial Organism, lives in a dystopian Nigeria. She was born with various physical disabilities which were later aggravated by a car accident. To her parents and her society’s disapproval, she goes on to have many body augmentations which enable her to be mobile and pain-free for the first time in her life. The opening sequence is rather clumsily executed as we are given vague descriptions about AO’s world (just how far in the future is it?). After splitting up with her partner who is openly repulsed by her ‘machine’ parts (why were they even together in the first place? she already had augmentations by the time they met, and all of a sudden he’s disgusted by her?) she goes to her local market where she’s attacked. AO is forced to flee and comes across DNA, a Fulani herdsman who is at first quite hostile to her (i’m pretty sure he threatens her...how romantic). The two have to survive the desert together and come across very few other characters, and if they do, it just so happens that those characters are just there to play the role of plot devices to further their story. The narrative allegedly takes place over a week but to be entirely honest the passage of time is rather unclear. It seemed to me that the events that transpire within these pages could have all happened in 1 or 2 days. AO and DNA’s bond felt forced and eye-rolling. They just have to fall in love because she’s a woman and he’s a man and they are both on the run from the evil government. While the first half of the novel is rather vague in terms of worldbuilding we, later on, get a ton of exposition that leaves very little room for interpretation (this is something i would expect from a ya novel, not an adult one). Noor has the trappings of a generic dystopian novel. What ‘saves’ this from being an entirely forgettable and uninspired read are the setting and the overall aesthetic which blends together folklore and technology. Okorafor also adopts the story-within-a-story device which works in her novel’s favour. I just found AO to be hard-to-like and at one point there is a scene about choosing your name which just didn’t go down that well with me (that this novel lacks lgbtq+ characters made it even worse tbh). AO’s ideologies were kind of murky and incongruent so that I found it hard to relate to her. The final section introduces a few more characters who are given very little room to shine as they are sidelined in favour of AO and DNA.
All in all, Noor was disappointing, especially considering how much I loved Remote Control. Ao is no Sankofa and in spite of the longer format, well, here the extra pages do more harm than good (they don’t expand the world or flesh out the characters but end up being about a weird romance and a final act that gave me major martyr vibes ).

After living one of the worst days of their lives, two people meet in the Nigerian desert. With blood on their hands they decide to journey together in this near future Africa.

AO (born Anwuli Okwudili , but renamed herself as Artificial Organism) is a human cyborg who has embraced the possibilities of trans-humanism following birth defects and a terrible accident. At the beginning of our story she is attacked in a market and in defending herself kills five men. DNA (his initials, full name Dangote Nuhu Adamu) is a nomadic herdsman who has had to defend himself and his herd from a reprisal attack after terrorists masquerading as herdsman robbed and killed several villagers.

Together AO and DNA journey into the desert to outrun those seeking to bring them to justice.

And in the world they live in, much of life is captured and streamed through cell phones, drones, and the green energy infrastructure. Much of it owned or controlled by Ultimate Corps. A wonderfully realized dystopia where one is almost always being observed and that technology if fueled by supposedly green technology. One of the big technological changes was the invention of wireless electrical transference.

Okorafor writes a short, fast paced science fiction thriller where two individuals from disparite backgrounds come together to fight for their lives and to fight against the global corporation controlling their country. This novel explores themes of globalism, trans-humanism, sociology, identity and technology.

The premise of this science fiction novel appealed to me. Now, I do not read a lot of science fiction novels, but one actually based on earth in the near future did not seem to much of a stretch from my usual reading.

I enjoyed this one. The setting in the Nigerian desert worked for me and the technology described in the story felt scarily realistic and not at all far-fetched. Unfortunately neither did the way people dealt with differences that they either feared or did not understand.

I think my main gripe was with the characters. I just did not feel I got a grasp on them and even after stewing on it for a little while I cannot pinpoint the reason. Yes, I cared about AO, our main character, and I cared about the world in general, but the side characters were just not as compelling to me.

Overall, I think this was a well crafted novel with a well thought out and executed plot. It was very believable. I just wished the characters had grabbed me more across the board.

I would recommend this novel and I would read more from this author.

Nnedi Okorafor is back with another brilliant novel, Noor. If you're a fan of science fiction novels that will actually make you stop and think – be sure to check out her works, including this most recent novel.

AO is a woman of many names – though she prefers the nickname. To her family, AO stands for Anwuli Okwudili. To AO, it stands for Artificial Organism – for that is how she has always felt. It's also how she has always been treated.

AO was born with health issues; issues made worse following an accident. Now she's heavily augmented, and most people around her fear the way she looks. This is the daily life of AO and the foundation for a new adventure, one that starts with everything going wrong.

The thing I love the most about Nnedi Okorafor's writing is that she always manages to surprise me. Her creative energy is endless, as evidenced by all of the brilliant plots she has given to her readers. Noor is no exception on that front and should happily find a place of honor amongst the rest of her collection.

To me, Noor almost read like two entirely different books. Or rather, two parts of the same story. The first half of the novel sets the scene – telling us about AO, her life, and what her body has gone through.

Then, in a wash of blood and horror, the scene changes. AO is suddenly on the run, the setting changes. The social commentary also gets kicked up a notch – and it was already relatively high, to begin with!

Noor is, at its heart, a criticism of overreaching governments, capitalist interests, and corporate greed. I feel like these are tones that many readers can empathize with, especially with the help of Nnedi Okorafor's writing.

I really don’t know what to say about this story.. I think a bit too much of it went over my head. Meaning there was quite a big part that I didn’t understand. And it already started with the prologue, which I didn’t get. Which didn’t worry me at the time, since that happens more often in books, and you will get it later on. But that didn’t happen with this book.

AO was mostly an interesting character, although she did make some decisions that I didn’t understand. Which I think comes both from me not fully understanding the story but also because we did not get much time to get to know her.

Same for the main side character, DNA, we didn’t really know him so that made it a bit hard to understand him.

In the first half of the story it was not very clear to me where the story was going, which probably didn’t help much with my confusion. The second half was clearer, and I did enjoy it more then. But since the first half was not so clear and confusing, the rating for plot, intrigue, logic and enjoyment are a bit lower.

I always quite enjoy Nnedi Okorafor’s writing, and will definitely continue reading her works! This one was just not really it for me!