Unfortunately, I DNFed this collection.

I found myself uninterested in most of the stories. And then the few stories I read that included a version of Jamaican Patwa/Patois, I wasn't a fan of the way Hopkins wrote the dialect. I think Hopkins had too much Standard English in the dialogue that was supposed to be Patwa and it felt very inauthentic.

Nalo Hopkinson’s newest short story collection, Jamaica Ginger & Other Concoctions, is an immersive and enjoyable read. Within these fifteen stories you’ll find ghosts, aliens and cyborg pigs alongside discussions about the impact of climate change on the Caribbean and anti-Black racism. Amidst it all is the importance of hope, which is woven through the stories alongside queerness, humour, and grief.

I love the unique concepts of these stories—they captivated and fascinated me. Many of the stories focus on creating something new, whether it’s new cities or worlds, or new opportunities for a different life. The characters embrace wonder and possibility, and the stories are more hopeful because of it. This is especially true of the title story “Jamaica Ginger,” a story that’s about defying expectations and forging your own path. Other stories, like “Can’t Beat ‘Em,” “Covenant,” “Repatriation,” and “Propagation: A Short Story” defy reader expectations and imagine new futures.

I love most of these stories and my favourites are:
“Child Moon,” a story about motherhood and sacrifice.
“Covenant,” a story that focuses on community and healing the earth.
“Clap Back,” a story about injustice and truth that addresses anti-Black racism.

Overall, this is a well balanced and exciting collection full of inventive stories that dream of new futures and contemplate healing during times of grief and climate catastrophe. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve never read any of Nalo Hopkinson’s other works. This is a great introduction to her imagination!

Thank you Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to review.

Rating: 4.5/5

This was wonderful - short stories, that really opened my eyes, a lot of things I never thought about <3

This collection of short stories caught my eye on NetGalley because they were written by a notable author from the Caribbean who writes stories combining fantastical, folklore and sci-fi elements. But let’s be honest, the mention of a cyborg pig sold it to me! I was only too delighted to request a digital ARC, which in no way influenced my review. These stories are brilliant and I loved every one of them!

Nalo Hopkinson writes short introductions to each of her pieces. She explains that the first time she did this, when she submitted a previous collection, she thought this was standard practice. In fact, this is usually only done for multi-author anthologies. However, the reactions to it were so positive, that she decided to do the same for this collection. This really appeals to me. It’s like the personal snippets of information in blogposts that are often the best parts of a blog, making a personal connection, however tenuous, with the author.

She also tells us that she now rarely writes a story unless it is commissioned for a particular publication or event. Even though she writes down ideas for future use, she has no stock of stories ready to go. This makes her writing fresh and exciting because she’s not adapting something to fit a brief, but starting from scratch every time, pulling something from her inventive snd random brain. Here are the notes I made on each story.

And More Slow
After the discovery of an alien skeleton on the moon, two female scientists imagine how the creature lived, before life on Earth began.
Inspired by Particulates, a huge installation by visual artist Rita McBride at the Dia Art Foundation gallery in New York, filling the space, with an accompanying anthology curated by Hopkinson.

Can’t Beat ‘Em
A twist on the trope of woman falls in lust with a hunky workman who comes to her house, in this story the plumber who comes to unblock a woman’s sink is a sexy butch woman. In a further twist, the blockage is a lifeform known as a glup that cannot be killed…

Child Moon
A woman takes her baby to the spring in the mountains to be cured on the darkest night of the lunar month; a child with pointed teeth and a faint covering of fur, who drinks mixed milk and blood when it suckles.
Beautiful nature writing. A compelling, dark fairytale.

Covenant
The whole of humanity lives in a single city to allow the rest of the Earth to regenerate. One day, a woman pots up the eye of a potato and grows a plant with unexpected properties. She tries others with similar results. When she puts them on her groundfloor balcony, people start to interact and create community. Then the plant turns into something magnificent that will change their lives. All from one eye of a potato.

Ally
After a funeral, the dead man’s husband invites his trans woman friend Sally to meet for a drink. They used to be close, but after her transition seven years ago, their friendship had cooled. He tells her of how his foster mother used to physically and verbally abuse him, but how she suddenly changed one day.
The thing that stands out to me is that the trans woman is acutely aware of two women staring at her and doesn’t want to go to the toilet because they have “segregated bathrooms”.
“When one lives in a world in which large portions of it want one dead, every minute is a triumph, every breath a defiance, and, if one’s jib is cut that way, every statement a manifesto. The everyday vagaries of life and love are just writ that much larger because they mean that much more.”
This is a ghost story, or a story of possession, but I only know that because it was written for a collection of ghost stories, for which it was not picked. It is outstanding because of the trans angle, especially the final part.

Broad Dutty Water: a Sunken Story
The title comes from a Jamaican folk song:
De river ben come down
And how you cross over
De broad dutty water?
This story was awarded the Theodore Sturgeon Award in 2022, awarded by the University of Kansas Center for the Study of Science Fiction for the best science fiction short story in English.
A world where the seas have risen so much that many people have taken to living on artificial floating islands. Jacquee is flying her ultralight back home after having an operation to install new software in her brain. With her, her pet pig, Lickchop, who also has technology implanted so that he can communicate with a limited vocabulary. But then they hit a storm.
I enjoyed the Caribbean patois in this, even though I didn’t understand every word. I would have liked a little more explanation of the imaginary words such as taz.

Clap Back
An angry story inspired by researching ‘Black Americans’; I imagine butler trays held by a Black figure dressed as a servant. Indeed, in 2032, a student makes a display of objects made in the image of imaginary Black and Asian people, including a Jemima cookie jar.
Book serendipity: novelty cookie jars
One was just such a cookie jar next to someone’s bed in a Netflix series, the other was in Bonnie Garmin’s Lessons in Chemistry.

Pocket Universe
Somehow a woman’s memories of her bodily sensations (taste, touch, etc.) create an image that can be used to create a design for a personalised urn for her ashes; she is dying of breast cancer.

Inselberg
A guided tour of the “little nipple of mountain top that is all left of my country” and “Submerged cities, underwater skyscrapers, and an audience with the Wise Old Fish of the Mountaintop. If you ask him nice, maybe ‘im let us come down from the peak. But be polite, you hear me?” Tourists who ignore the tour guide’s warnings have a heavy price to pay.

Jamaica Ginger
A collaboration with Nisi Shawl, a story for a collection in honour of Samuel R. Delany (aka Chip), a Black author of speculative fiction. It was Hopkinson’s idea to feature Jamaica Ginger, a tonic sold during prohibition that caused nerve damage to hands and feet, ‘Jake leg’. In the intro to the story, she (they?) say that “we both liked the idea of going teslapunk with the piece by mainstreaming some of the technological advances the doomed inventor Nikolai Tesla [sic] was never able to take to market.” I’m intrigued!

We start right in with a mechanical man, George, that walks as if he has jake leg. This reminds me very much of Dr Coppelia’s mechanical doll (CHECK DETAILS). Plaquette works in Msieur’s workshop, correcting problems with the clockwork designs. She is also has to looking after her invalid father, who used to work as a porter on international trains, nicknamed a George. As a young woman, Plaquette is considering marrying the poor delivery man for love or perhaps marrying Msieur in a ‘left-handed marriage’, where her children would not be acknowledged by her richer but miserly husband.

This story was great! A strong female protagonist with brains and courage, refusing to be caught between impossible choices, but setting out for an adventure.

Waving af Trains
A disease has hit town… Very short but definitely not sweet.

Repatriation
This wonderful story features a real-life miracle cure for dying coral reefs: creating Biorock on a steel frame, growing a new reef just beyond the depleted and drowned natural reef, allowing natural regeneration land deposition of new beaches. Wow!

San Humanité
A spooky weird story.

Whimper
Dreams can be powerful and are often cut off short.

Propagation: a Short Story
“Strict science fiction protocols and narratives that assume cultural ownership of the means of technological progress often don’t fit quite fit stories total of perspective of marginalised communities

Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions is a captivating collection of short stories by Nalo Hopkinson, showcasing her incredible ability to blend speculative fiction with rich Caribbean culture, folklore, and mysticism. Each story feels like a glimpse into a world of magic and wonder, where the mundane and the supernatural are seamlessly intertwined.

One of the things I loved most about this collection is Hopkinson’s unique voice. Her writing is deeply rooted in Caribbean traditions, giving the stories a distinct cultural richness that is both refreshing and immersive. Whether it’s the folklore-inspired tales or the modern magical realism, there’s a sense of wonder that pulls you in from the very first page.

The stories themselves vary in tone and style, but each one carries a sense of depth and emotion. Some are lighthearted, others are more somber or thought-provoking, but all are thought-provoking in their own way. I particularly enjoyed how Hopkinson addresses themes of identity, community, and the intersection of the magical and the real.

The characters in these stories are vibrant and full of life, reflecting the diverse experiences of Caribbean culture. Hopkinson does an excellent job of creating characters that feel fully realized, even in short-form narratives, and each story has its own unique twist or element of surprise that keeps you turning the pages.

While the collection as a whole is impressive, there were a few stories that stood out more than others—Jamaica Ginger, the titular story, was especially gripping, combining elements of mystery and magic with a fascinating exploration of heritage and self-discovery.

Final Thoughts: If you're a fan of magical realism, Caribbean culture, or speculative fiction that pushes boundaries, Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions is definitely worth reading. Nalo Hopkinson is a master at crafting stories that are both thought-provoking and enchanting. This collection will resonate with anyone who loves a good story that blends the real with the fantastic. Highly recommend!

Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions is a great short story collection that feels cohesive while having a lot of variety genre and length-wise. A few of my favourite stories were the title story “Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions” (co-written with Nisi Shawl for a collection honouring Samuel Delany), “Can’t Beat ‘Em” (which features a plumber removing a very... interesting drain clog), “Clap Back” (featuring nanotech fashions), and “Broad Dutty Water” (a story set amidst risen water levels). I appreciated the inclusion of brief notes introducing and contextualizing each story. Definitely recommend this collection.

Thank you Tachyon Publications & NetGalley for an ARC to review.

4.5 stars. I've been interested in Hopkinson for a while. I highly enjoyed reading most of these stories and was pleasantly surprised by the casual queerness throughout. I loved the format of having an author's note before each which gave context. My favourites were Clap Back, Repatriation, San Humanité (only 2 pages!), and Whimper. Finding effective short stories is always a treat!

I typically don’t do short stories because I feel like they just aren’t complete. I can’t entirely say that with this anthology.

What helped me with this one was the author gave some backstory for each story. Some stories felt like ideas that she just wanted to get out, and honestly, I would love it if she flushed some out because I would love to read them. There were some really dope short stories here, such as Clapback and Whimper. (I loved the ending of Whisper. Never seen anything like it. diabolical) Some of her stories made me think of (I don’t know any other way to describe them) “Slice-of-Life” pieces.

One thing Hopkinson did that I immensely enjoyed was reading a piece that was F/F; however, they weren’t uber feminine. None of her stories follow any cliches, and that’s quite refreshing.

Because they are short stories, you could easily break them up or read the entire book in one sitting—it’s completely your choice. Either way, it’s enjoyable.

Rating: 3.5

Renowned author and Nebula Award winner Nalo Hopkinson’s latest work is a curated anthology of previously published short stories, available in a single volume for the first time.

As in her previous writings, Hopkinson combines her stellar storytelling talents with elements of fantasy, folklore, science fiction, and magic to create spellbinding speculative fiction rooted in Caribbean culture.

This collection features a diverse range of stories, from optimistic visions of the future to stark portrayals of the consequences of climate change. Readers will encounter a chilling narrative of a mother who gives birth to a wild creature, a story of a mysterious alien excavation, a tale of animated figurines that speaks of deep-seated anti-Black racism, and a touching story about a ghost who transcends death to keep caring for his love one.

In all of them, Hopkinson tells the stories of the marginalized with heart and humor. A distinctive feature of this collection is the inclusion of an introduction for each story, providing readers with valuable context and insights from the author herself.

Recommended for fans of speculative fiction with a Black , LGBTQ+ and Caribbean twist.

My previous exposure to Hopkinson is not as extensive as that of other readers; I read PM Press’s *Report From Planet Midnight* a couple of years ago, and haven’t read much else (I know!). And so this was my fun introduction to Hopkinson’s style. It’s a collection of quite varied short fiction; each story begins with the author’s note about how it came about, or something about its subject or theme.

*Can’t Beat ‘Em* has a “queer butch” woman, in the author’s words, as an “object of desire.” She’s a plumber who’s come to deal with a cosmic sink throat monster. *Covenant* is a creation myth about a post-apocalyptic city that all of humanity has retreated to. *Broad Dutty Water* is a wonderful, also post-apocalyptic tale that reminds me of Kevin Costner’s *Waterworld*: ocean levels have risen, and people live on moveable islands. This story is cool because it’s also a bit about multispecies futures. *Clap Back* is a clever and troubling story about the horrible knickknacks Hopkinson refers to as ‘Black Americana’ (so glad for my lack of exposure to these). *Inselberg* is brilliant and hilarious and horrific, I think my favourite story among many contenders; it’s about post-apocalyptic tourism, a bus tour.

The story *Jamaica Ginger* was co-written with Nisi Shawl, for inclusion in an anthology celebrating Samuel R. (“Chip”) Delaney. It’s delightful clockpunk that also, in Hopkinson style, doesn’t shy away from complicated themes: in this case, the talented young protagonist is considering becoming her employers mistress so as to help her family out of poverty, but this is also a story about mechanisation and labour. *Waving at Trains* is a piercingly sad story set after a terrible epidemic—yep, more post-apocalypse. *Repatriation* is a hopeful vision of a time when we can restore coral reefs, and is about homecoming (to the Caribbean, again). And then, *Whimper* is incredibly surreal, and fun because it ends in the middle of a sentence. (Please, what fun things are leggobeasts?!)

Hopkinson builds alternative and just worlds, where people are free to be themselves; and when she isn’t doing that, she’s creating critical commentary on the unjust one we* have built. I love the freedom in these stories, sometimes hard-won, but always won (Hopkinson must be an optimist, and this feels like hopepunk; there's joy in these stories!). I love, too, that these characters are gritty and determined, and very rarely cuddly. And I love the sensibility (often Caribbean-flavoured) that Hopkinson brings to her stories, particularly the ones about a changed climate.

Many thanks to Tachyon Publications and to NetGalley for early access.

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*a note on ‘we’: just some humans, not all of us

I first experienced Nalo Hopkinson’s unique literary brilliance six years ago, when I read her debut novel Brown Girl in the Ring on a friend’s recommendation; it was an instant 5-star read for me, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I still think about that book all the time. So of course, I was thrilled to read this new collection of Hopkinson’s speculative short fiction, and my high expectations were not only met but exceeded. Every single story in this collection is complex, inventive, strange, and wonderful, each immersive and memorable in their own way. The pieces range in length, some merely snapshots of an idea and others full narrative arcs, but they are all tied together by huge imagination and a tightly honed craft. I love that Hopkinson’s sci-fi work champions queerness and Caribbean culture, and her explorations of technological innovation and ever-growing ecological issues are always thought-provoking. I was especially interested in the short introductions before each story, which provided fascinating insights into Hopkinson’s inspirations, word choices, and thought processes. An incredible collection from an exceptional writer!

Thanks to Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nalo stan here. This collection gave me new and familiar or already read stories which I loved. She writes with feeling and questions and depth from her rich cultural background, part of which I share. Her stories share how vulnerable, observant, angry, empathetic, and open she is. The stories here thrilled me, gave me pause, shared experiences, and pulled from me an understanding and willingness to learn.

With characters at the heart of every story, there is relatability and strangeness for everyone who gives these stories a read. Her notes of introduction at the start of each story also shed some more insight as to where her head and writing peculiarities were at. I will keep coming back to Hopkinson for as long as she writes.

Like many Shortstory collections this one was a mixed bag for me. I really loved some and was kinda *meh*Ü about others. Sadly the former were the shorter ones and the longer the latter :P

This was a fun ride - I love that Hopkinson gave a prelude to each story to give us more context for what was going on in her head when she wrote/published it, or process items, and the stories themselves are wonderful. Definitely worth picking up.

“They,” the people who run the publishing business, keep saying that no one cares about single author short story collections. I disagree. I love them. Guess I’m nobody.



I kinda understand when a degenerate like me does one and it gets ignored, but you’d think the world would stop and take notice when a SFWA grandmaster has one come out. Come on, folks, where’s the social media buzz? The cultural groundswell of excitement? The dancing in the streets?


We’ve still got some time before the release, so let me tell you about Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions by Nalo Hopkinson and how wonderful it is.


The fifteen stories—one co-written by Nisi Shawl—were all originally published in the 21st century and are prime examples of what is, and is becoming. And if you haven’t noticed, there’s been a whole lot of becoming going on. None of the usual cornball sci-fi is here. Nalo can’t help but be different, original. This book just had to be diverse.


She’s Caribbean-Canadian, outside of the usual boundaries of traditional English-language science fiction that are centered around New York, and sometimes goes on field expeditions to far-off London. Both the fantastic worlds she imagined and real-world elements she uses are richly textured.


Rising sea levels creates a new world with, among other things, cyborg pigs. An alien life form crossed the line between living and dead. Stereotypes become real in an unexpected way. A cruise ship is hacked into a tool for decolonization. Queer love and relationships abound. No sign of the all-white future I grew up reading about.


She’s hip to what’s happening on the cutting edges of science and technology, but delivers far more than the usual hard-science take on things. The human element is always present. Sometimes things other than human. There is anger, but also optimism.


This volatile mix often steps out of the restrictions of the science fiction genre and becomes other kinds of storytelling. Some of these are more like folklore and fables, the literature you are more likely to overhear being told into a smart phone on public transportation and in performance art than in a book. Genres are just marketing gimmicks–we need to set our imaginations free to soar beyond the temporary, artificial cultural borders.


She is a true grandmaster. This collection of marvelous, delicious concoctions is a joy to read.


Those dopes who don’t like story collections don’t know what they’re missing.

This was wonderful: my first foray into Nalo Hopkinson's body of work but definitely not my last. I really enjoyed taking my time with this collection: each story invited attention and consideration, and I really appreciated the notes from the author on the developing of the stories. I would heartily recommend this to fans of scifi of Ursula le Guin variety: thoughtful, original, really inviting the reader to take the time and explore.

This is my first meeting with Nalo Hopkinson, even though shes been on my list for ages! This collection was the perfect first meeting though - the stories are imaginative and original, and I overall liked all of them. I found the small introductions to each story really fun as well, and they gave me a good impression of what kind of artist Hopkinson is. Highly recommend this collection if you also want to check out this author!

Nalo Hopkinson, a renowned Caribbean-Canadian author known for her imaginative tales, delivers a captivating collection of speculative fiction in her latest book. From cyborg pigs in a future waterworld to explorations of Caribbean folklore and climate change, Hopkinson's stories are vividly diverse and thought-provoking. While some tales resonate deeply with their powerful messages and vibrant settings, others might require a slower, more thoughtful read to fully appreciate their complexity and impact.

Nalo Hopkinson has an amazing way of writing short fiction. So many of the stories were incredibly engaging and thoughtful.I also really appreciated the introduction to every story, and how we really got to see the thought processes behind each piece. My main advice for readers is not to read this book in one sitting. Each piece is really meant to be given attention and thought about, so trying to read it all in one night doesn't let the stories sink in the way they should.
As with everything anthology, some pieces are stronger than others. My favorites were Clap Back - which was so brilliant and moving - and Inselberg which was haunting in all the best ways. Jamaica Ginger, which Hopkinson cowrote with Nisi Shawl, another amazing writer, was also so well done. San Humanite gave me goosebumps. Meanwhile, many of my less loved stories (but still liked!) were just ones that didn't feel developed enough. I really appreciated the thought and message behind Ally, for example, but felt like it could have used a little more of everything to drive the point home and make it engaging. Waving at Trains also didn't hit me as hard as some of the others. And in the forward of Propagation, Hopkinson notes that it doesn't work as well when you read it as if you listen to it, which makes me wonder if it should have been included or at least published with a link/recommendation to a recording of a live reading.
Overall though, it's a fantastic book and I would absolutely recommend it for anyone looking for thoughtful, unique, speculative fiction.

Hopkinson is one of my literary idols and has the rare combination of both her short stories being distinctive and amazing, as well as longer forms, including novellas and novels.

When I heard that she was releasing a new collection of short stories called “Jamaica Ginger and Other Concotions,” I leapt for joy, because her short stories are often little universes onto their own.

While I won’t be reviewing each and every individual story, I would like to highlight some of them that spoke to me more than others. These included:
* “Ally” which comes with a helpful note from the author at the start that gives more context particularly as this story features a trans woman protagonist.
* “Broad Dutty Water: A Sunken Story” which I previously read and enjoyed when it first came out
* “Clap Back,” which uses very interesting narrative devices to tell the story.
* The title story, “Jamaica Ginger,” of course, which was something for an anthology celebrating Samuel R. “Chip” Delaney, who was one of Hopkinson’s instructors when she attended Clarion.
* “Repatriation”
* “Propagation”