Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor hooked me in from the first chapter and continued to reel me in until I finished the book. How creative and ingenious. this book was. I love a book that I cannot tell what is going to happen. The author creates a tale of a boisterous loving family with so many characters that it takes a bit to remember everyone. I love how the book intertwines the sci fi book Rusted Robots that the main character Zelu is trying to write and then follows her life and family.
I also found the interview parts with all that know Zelu (the main character) and how you get their point of view of how they feel about Zelu or what is going on from their side of the events. I was so invested with the authors description of food that I found a recipe for Jollof Rice and made it for my family who loved it. I liked it, but was too spicy for me to enjoy. The book also explores the different African cultures and their different myths or stories. I am so grateful to Netgalley for allowing me to read this amazing book. The title had me curious and then I dived in and couldn't wait to find out what happens. I felt sad at the end because I loved having those characters in my life and now the story ended and I cannot enjoy any more moments with Zelu.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Death of the Author was an interesting and completely unexpectedly meta take on the art of storytelling in a sci-fi setting. Love her or hate her, Zelu as a main character is really a force to be reckoned with. As she maneuvers her way through newfound stardom as an author and the changes it means for her relationship with her friends and family, she never loses her core beliefs and dreams. Though the parallel story focused on the plight of robots in a distant future, their stories felt oddly human and really emphasized the mark of humanity.

Sometimes when you read a book, you feel that you devoured it. When you read this book, it will devour you. Completely engrossing and overwhelming and exhilarating. It makes you think and feel and explore minds and space. Zelu and Ankara are two of the most amazing characters. There is a wedding and a funeral, and love and friendship between humans and not humans, and change, always changes, and those who do not want us to change.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this DRC.
#DeathoftheAuthor #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Nnedi Okorafor does a wonderful job crafting her characters and her storytelling is always above par. This is a nice addition to her repertoire.

This book was absolutely brilliant! The real life cultural aspects mixed with science fiction really had me intrigued the entire time!! I genuinely put all other books on hold to read this because I could not put it down. That swap at the end with who was telling the story was absolutely fascinating as well. I will be pre-ordering a physical copy of this book so I can re-read it when it releases.

Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author is a compelling metafictional journey that intertwines a sci-fi epic with the personal struggles of its author, Zelu. The novel masterfully explores themes of identity, art, and the power of storytelling. Okorafor's vibrant characters and intricate world-building elevate the narrative, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining. While the story within a story can be dense at times, it ultimately adds depth to this unique and engaging read.

Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author is a compelling blend of literary fiction and Afro-futuristic sci-fi that explores the life of Zelu, a 32-year-old paraplegic writer grappling with creative frustration, personal hardships, and sudden fame. The novel is structured uniquely, with three intertwined narratives: Zelu’s life, chapters from her breakout sci-fi novel Rusted Robots, and interview snippets with Zelu’s family and friends. This layered storytelling adds depth and perspective, giving readers a full view of Zelu’s struggles and triumphs.

Zelu’s journey is both relatable and emotionally complex. As a disabled Nigerian-American woman navigating ableism, sexism, and racism, her character is raw, multidimensional, and captivating. Okorafor masterfully intertwines Zelu’s personal experiences with her sci-fi narrative, using the novel-within-a-novel format to explore larger societal issues like discrimination and bodily autonomy. The inclusion of Rusted Robots—a thought-provoking story about androids and AI taking over a post-human world—mirrors Zelu’s own struggles with identity, empowerment, and belonging.

Okorafor’s writing shines in its ability to balance serious themes with moments of humor and lightness. Zelu’s relationships with her family, particularly the complicated dynamics with her overprotective parents, add a layer of emotional depth to the story. The interviews with her loved ones offer poignant insights into how they see her, often contrasting with how Zelu sees herself.

Fans of metafiction and Afro-futurism will appreciate the intricate world-building and thematic richness. Although Death of the Author tackles heavy topics, it remains an engaging read, with sci-fi elements seamlessly blending into the more grounded, personal narrative. The book also raises fascinating questions about art, authorship, and the power of storytelling. Okorafor’s references to cultural touchstones like Doctor Who and Douglas Adams add a playful intellectualism that enhances the overall experience.

In short, Death of the Author is a brilliant, thought-provoking novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy speculative fiction, stories about personal growth, and reflections on societal issues. It’s a layered, rich narrative that makes you think about where the lines between fiction and reality blur—and what happens when an author confronts her own story.

Highly recommended for fans of Nnedi Okorafor and anyone seeking a fresh, innovative take on both literary fiction and sci-fi.

Nnedi Okorafor's writing is a work of genius. Death of the Author reads like two novels in one, where Zelu navigates her troubled relationships with family, love, and herself, and indulges in her passion to enhance storytelling. Zelu's Rusted Robots is a moving epic answering society's burning questions of what the world would look like if humans went extinct and were run by androids and AI. In a way, Zelu's novel integrates her real-life discrimination and internalized ableism, serving as a medium for Zelu to feel more empowered and find solutions to apply to her own life. I didn't know what to expect with the title and description of the book, but Okarafor kept me on the edge of my seat. I particularly enjoyed each interview, adding a new narrative to my understanding of Zelu's family dynamics and how her parents admire her, even if they don't understand her passions. This Afro-futuristic sci-fi novel is an unexpectedly fresh take on Nigerian storytelling and disability narratives, perfect for readers who love world literature, heartwarming family stories, or those interested in learning about different cultures.

Wow! I started this book and was really expecting Okorafor to dive into the story and take me to some faraway lands; so, imagine my *initial* disappointment when I had to read about complex and deeply rooted family drama. My heart sank….

“ the one thing Seth Daniels knew was when a story was worth following. And the one thing Zelu never failed to be was a story.”

And I began not only follow the story but to become invested in Zelu; I didn’t think I would.

I laughed,
“Girl, what the f*ck you got bouncing around in your head?”

I cried,
“You're just expected to keep going. Watching people you love drop off, one by one. Then you keep going until it's your turn to drop off and be gone and then people weep over you. Sometimes I feel like l'd rather be a fucking robot. No pain. No death. No finality. And no need to fear life.”

And I felt seen.
“…you loved swimming in the ocean because it was a reminder that you were part of so much more. And that vastness didn't make you feel insignificant. It made you feel specific and powerful”

I don’t know if I needed this book at this time in my life but it was perfect. Perfectly odd with imperfect characters. I genuinely cannot wait to read this again when it’s published.

Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author skillfully merges literary fiction with Afro-futurism, exploring complex themes of identity, disability, and societal expectations. The novel follows Zelu, a 32-year-old paraplegic woman navigating professional and personal challenges. Fired from her adjunct teaching position and struggling to sell a previous novel, Zelu’s creative breakthrough comes during her sister’s wedding, leading to her rise as a sci-fi sensation.

The book’s structure is notable, alternating between Zelu’s personal narrative, excerpts from her in-universe novel Rusted Robots, and interviews with her family and friends. This metafictional approach enhances the novel’s thematic exploration, particularly around issues of bodily autonomy, ableism, and technology’s potential impact on disabled individuals. Okorafor’s depiction of Zelu is nuanced and compelling, providing readers with a deeply human protagonist who is relatable despite, or perhaps because of, her flaws. The novel’s exploration of these layered dynamics offers a rich, thought-provoking reading experience.

Nnedi Okorafor always does a fantastic job in writing a interesting and unique concept and world. I thought the use of drama about art worked with what I’ve come to expect from the author. The characters in this worked well and were beautifully done with the story, I thought the use of metafiction worked overall and glad it continued to had that element that I was expecting. I’m glad I got to read this and left me wanting more from Nnedi Okorafor.

This book has so many interesting elements to it: a larger-than-life main character, fascinating cultural insights, near-future scifi technology, a book-within-a-book storyline, and more. I felt the ending was a bit inconclusive, particularly since I felt the interviews with Zelu's family/friends throughout seemed to be building up to a final climactic ending, so to not have it be clear was a bit of a let-down and made me rate this as a 4 instead of the 5 star read I thought the story was building up to. Definitely a book I will be recommending to others (including my creative writing students).

I love Nnedi Okorafor and when I saw she was writing a lit fic with both an Afro-futurism plot AND contemporary plot following the author, I knew it would be amazing.

This was great!! I loved all the characters, especially Zelu. Zelu's family, ethnicities, life experiences, and disability all contribute to her personality, and this book does a wonderful job depicting such a complex, interesting character. The novel depicts sexism, ableism, and racism showing up in job discrimination, condescension, judging personal choices, and much more. I understood why Zelu made all the choices she did. Feeling overprotected pushed her already brilliant, adventurous personality to prove herself repeatedly. In a well-constructed novel like this, choices need not be inevitable to suit the character perfectly.

With metafiction, I sometimes get bored with the story within a story, but not in this case. Zelu's narrative is interspersed with her novel, Rusted Robots, and I loved even the robot characters by the end. All the best scifi has fascinating themes and ideas. Here, these include bodily autonomy, technology helping or hurting disabled people, whether AI will ever create its own stories, and much more. This is a great balance of character, plot, and ideas. Although mostly serious, some characters have realistic senses of humor. The novel has allusions to Doctor Who, Douglas Adams, and Roland Barthes. At least, those were some that I picked up on.

Loved everything about this book it is a must read just like every other book by this author. I can’t wait for her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was such a compelling read that I read the entire book in one sitting. At its most basic, the MC is trying to find out where she fits - in her family and society at large. She isn't always likeable but is completely relateable.

I found the story within a story added another layer of complexity and interest to an already fascinating book.

I highly recommend this book

Zelu is a 32 year old paraplegic woman with an MFA in creative writing, a novel she wrote six years ago she can't sell, and has just been fired from her adjunct teaching position. At her sister's destination wedding inspiration for a sci-fi novel hits and she writes a breakout hit, but what will change as she rockets to fame?

I would describe this book as literary fiction joined alongside Afro futurism sci-fi, as there are two works alongside each other. You get the unfolding story from Zelu's perspective, chapters of Rusted Robots, and chapters of interview snippets with Zelu's family and friends. I think if you enjoyed Yellowfave by R. F. Kuang, you will likely enjoy this; there are some similar themes even though the protagonists and genres are very different.

Thank you to William Morrow Books for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 1/14/25.