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.

I’ve read the odd work by the author but wouldn’t exactly describe myself as a ‘fan’. I wanted to explore more of her work so decided to give Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions a shot. I’m glad I did. I had a great time reading the stories, a blend of horror and science fiction that really stand out from the usual fare. These stories explore rising sea levels that create new worlds, cyborg pigs and an alien life form that’s a little living and a bit dead. This collection was a treat. I especially enjoyed Clap Back, Inselberg, Jamaica Ginger and San Humanite. I’d recommend this collection.

“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”

I can't love this book in the same way as Hopkinson's previous collection, Falling In Love With Hominids. Not through any fault of the author's, but of the world's; that came out nearly a decade ago, in times a little less bleak, and my word does it show. And when I say times are tougher, I do so as a white guy, fairly straight-presenting, without much in the way of chronic health conditions - none of them luxuries Hopkinson shares. So little wonder if the mood here is more embattled, the mixture more science fiction and less fantasy, the horizons on that SF a lot closer, stories focused on survival in the coming decades instead of curators from distant eons. Not that it's a catalogue of despair, by any means: among other things this is fiction as resistance, with an eye to the spaces that can be carved out as the old order crumbles. Sometimes, especially in the shortest stories, there's a powerful sense of consolation; the one I found most moving was a working around how much is lost each time someone dies, and whether there might be a better way to memorialise them than name, numbers and platitude on a flat stone. There's also a delightfully icky new twist on that old standby of the plumber who's come to have a look at your...pipes. But for the most part the waters are rising, the authorities coming, the miracles about to be mined away. I'm not holding my breath, but I can at least daydream about another, much more upbeat Hopkinson collection a couple of decades down the line, and what that might imply.

(Netgalley ARC)

I really appreciated the chance to read this book early! I've only read one other book by Nalo Hopkinson, and this collection made me want to read more of her work. I especially liked her story introductions, which gave lovely insight into her process and some background on each piece. Overall I admired these stores more than I loved them, but they were extremely well crafted and I'm very glad I read this collection.

Highlights for me:
- Clap Back
- Pocket Universe
- Inselberg
- Waving At Trains

Thank you to Nalo Hopkinson, Tachyon, and NetGalley for generously providing an ARC for review.

I had encountered some of Nalo Hopkinson's stories before starting this collection, and admired them. So it's with pleasure I can say this is another varied set with which she shows a talent for making strange and thought-provoking tales with concerns including Western and Caribbean cultures, gender, climate change and adaptation and resilience. And cute swimming pigs!

'Broad Dutty Water' is one of the longest and strongest stories. Jacquee is a young female member of a 'taz', an ocean farming cooperative created after a catastrophic climactic flooding process, the Inundation, that has affected the local Caribbean environment. She has received a new 'wetware' cybernetic implant which allows her to bond with and control machines like her ultralight flying craft. Her unpreparedness with the implant is partly what causes her plane to crash on an isolated island, where she must fend for herself. While there, she discovers miraculous 'blob stuff' in a lagoon which may hold the key to preserving endangered species in the face of climate doom. But it is the engaging language and interaction of Jacquee and the other characters in the story which is the most enjoyable.

In 'Jamaica Ginger, we get a 'teslapunk' tale about another young female protagonist in a setting that resembles early 20th century America with many of its racial attitudes. But the usual steampunk cliches are flipped on their head, as the main characters are now poor, disadvantaged people of colour. Plaquette is at the mercy of a master in his workshop, creating mechanical servants or 'Georges', despite that fact that she is the real talent behind his inventions. It's a well-crafted tale with an ending involving a departure to her own personal freedom.

Things take a darkly humourous tone with 'Inselburg', which is an often funny narration by a future Caribbean native tour guide. During his imaginary tour ride, he also relates startling details about dire flooding and an environment that is surviving despite ecological poisoning and disaster. There are also some wicked jabs about foreign tourists and a stark lack of compassion by the guide, as he passes on his cheeky, deadpan way. 'Repatriation' is another related story, in which local Caribbean couple must deal with their own feelings when taking part in a tourist cruise, finding that all the serving people of their own background. But it ends with another burst of hope for the future against climate change.

It might be just my own preference, but the fantasy tale 'San Humanite' is my favourite. It is really just all about a general feeling and aesthetic, which really worked for me. It has the best weird atmosphere in any story this side of H.P Lovecraft. Also 'Whimper' is another tale with a surreal tone, but this time a nightmare.

I would say the parts of this collection that worked best for me were the author's energetic use of Caribbean vernacular, a grasp that is very convincing, at least to an outsider. There's a wide variety in the stories, from slice-of-life ('Waving at Trains'), to blisteringly fast microfiction, to eerie interactions with mysterious creatures ('Child Moon'). Hopkinson's focus on rising sea levels and their effects on island nations is a worthy one. However, her sometimes angry stories may not be for every one - despite how historically racially justified they may be. 'Clap Back' is a story that will get almost reader feeling indignant, and a viciously sly satire focused at the use of the people of developing countries in Western marketing and fashion. However, I was left wishing there was a bit more balance in the racial approaches in some of the stories.

The author has a great way of telling tales, regardless, and it's clear she has things that are important to tell.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)