How do I even begin this review? How am I supposed to talk about everything that is in this novella without spoiling it all before it's even out or without just saying "please go pre-order this and then read it ASAP" (though I do encourage y'all to do just that! It will be worth your time).

Taínofuturism is what the author calls this particular brand of ecological science fiction and it's an apt descriptor. He created a Puerto Rico that has suffered under the influences of other global powers, has been decimated by climate change and yet, a place of resistance and hope and perseverance.
The story follows Vero, a trans man who is searching for a way to help his community and escape their oppressors but it's also a story about people who have done terrible things and still lost a war, about finding the line between justice and revenge, a story about gods and revolutionaries infused with Indigeneity.

The novella gripped me in its unashamed battling of ideas and concepts of how life would be in a human-created climate crisis and how to reconnect with your roots and the growing pains of change. For all that this tackles some heavy themes, its general atmosphere is more invigorating than sad. There is simply so much life - in these characters, their surroundings and their story - that shows how important reclaiming land and language and culture can be.
On that note, this novel takes multilingualism to a whole new level! It is mainly written in English but with various forms of communication including ASL, dead and common tongues and a glossary, there a five different languages represented.

E. G. Condé' has written such a powerful novella of resilience and grace. Anchored around several main characters that feel very much alive - Vero (a trans man) and Dona Margarita (an elder), but also many of the supporting characters as well. I appreciated the different methods of survival and revolution explored in this book. Both the full on fight and battle to the more subtle community of care.

There is also thoughtful and respectful Deaf representation - Dagüao - being an active and included member of the revolution and community, in both action and technical expertise,

I was unfamiliar with Taino Arawak, Yucatec Maya languages, and got to encounter many in this text. Most were translated contextually, or within the text in someway, but there is also a helpful glossary at the back of words that might be unfamiliar. I found the language use important and intentional - and it only slightly slowed my pace.

There is so much love, and compassion within this book, but also anger, grief, and loss - some big topics - challenging re-colonization by foreign powers, the impacts of the climate crisis, the questionable intentions and priorities of aid efforts, the after effects of dictatorships, and collective resistance. I left feeling both energized, inspired, and also curious about the history of the areas mentioned.

The beautiful cover by Paulina Niño (yes I do occasionally judge books by their cover), curiosity about Tainofuturism, and a precedent of good instincts of the publisher, Stelliform Press made me pick this book up, and I'm glad I did.

I am grateful to netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC,

In E. G. Condé's gripping novel Sordidez, the author skillfully interweaves climate crisis, decolonization, and identity through the journey of Vero, a trans man in a ravaged Puerto Rico and Yucatán. With compelling characters and an eye toward the power of storytelling, Sordidez offers a sobering yet hopeful vision of the future, urging readers to face challenges with courage and determination.