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Death of the Author
Death of the Author: A Novel | Nnedi Okorafor
14 posts | 7 read | 1 reading | 14 to read
"Her best work yet... about fame and family, culture and change, the power of story, the writers life... and robots. This one has it all. George R.R. Martin In this exhilarating tale by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the narrativea surprisingly cutting, yet heartfelt drama about art and love, identity and connection, and, ultimately, what makes us human. This is a story unlike anything youve read before. The future of storytelling is here. Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sisters lavish Caribbean wedding, shes unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. Its a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots. When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journeyone that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelus novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next. A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, Death of the Author is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of Yellowface with the heartfelt humanity of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it.
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underground_bks
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Pickpick

An absolute masterpiece, this book-within-a-book follows a disabled Nigerian-American author as she skyrockets to fame—and the main character of her book, Ankara, a “rusted robot” and android scholar on a post-human Earth. Disability, identity, family, fame, what it means to be the author of your own story, Okorafor offers a rich and razor sharp exploration of it all in Death of the Author, with an ending that made me want to start all over again!

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swynn
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Pickpick

(2025) This one was a delight. A disabled Nigerian American with a habit of being her own worst enemy writes a runaway bestseller, which gives her freedom she didn't have before. There is so much going on here, about family, identity, creativity, celebrity, technology, and the functions of story that I always had at least three different things to be thinking about, and the resolution left me wanting to start again. Enthusiastically recommended.

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Hooked_on_books
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Bailedbailed

I struggled along past 10%, but this is not the book for me. The main story is quite slow to get going and while the book within the book is written quite well, it‘s not my style. Others love this, though, so if you think you are the right reader, don‘t let me deter you.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2w
58 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Decalino
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Pickpick

This extraordinary book toggles between the life of Zelu, daughter of Nigerian immigrants & author of a surprise SF bestseller called Rusted Robots; and the story of a post-human landscape populated by rival factions of robot intelligence. Confined to a wheelchair since a childhood accident, Zelu must navigate the publishing industry and her relationships with a loving family that never quite understands her. A brilliant look at the power of story

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JenP
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Pickpick

Loved this book. Book within a book featuring a blend of literary fiction and science fiction. Protagonist Zelu is a disabled Nigerian American author who experiences a wild climb to fame (with her novel about robots) which comes with its consequences. This is a touching book that covers themes of art, love, identity, and humanity. Power of stories and storytelling is central to the novel. Would make a great book for discussion.

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JenP
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JenP
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I‘m doing the American cancer society read every day in Feb fundraiser. Normally would feel a bit like cheating since I usually read every day. But as you can see I had some days last month where I didn‘t read anything. I‘m a federal employee (psychologist and researcher). Last few weeks have been chaos.

Halfway through this book. I love this author and the book is really solid. Book within a book that blends literary fiction and science fiction

Bookwormjillk I‘m sorry about the chaos. Just wanted to say I appreciate all of our federal employees minus the recent new hires causing this chaos. Good luck with the fundraiser. 2mo
JenP @Bookwormjillk thank you 😊 2mo
TiredLibrarian I'm sorry about all the chaos; I can't imagine. Just curious, how does the fundraiser work? This sounds like something I could do. 2mo
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JenP @TiredLibrarian I think it‘s only on Facebook. You just sign up and you can ask friends/family etc to donate 2mo
Deblovestoread I can‘t imagine the anxiety you must be feeling. Mine is next level and I‘m just at home mostly avoiding the news. Sending peace and light! 2mo
31 likes6 comments
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BekaReid
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And it's a wrap. At least January turned out to be a solid reading month in spite of the rest of the month's events.

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Megabooks
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In the midst of chaos, there are always books. My dad has had another stroke. It is a long story that I am still too exhausted to tell fully. Mom and I are working to get him in a nursing home next week. Idk guys. Life is never fair.

Filled my @AardvarkBookClub box 💜💜 #aardvark

@BarbaraBB and @squirrelbrain I‘d love to hear from you if you have time, but I can‘t promise a quick reply. 😘😘

Librarybelle I‘m so sorry to hear. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts. ❤️ 2mo
kspenmoll I am so so sorry. Sending love.❤️ 2mo
merelybookish Sorry that things are chaotic and hard. 😔Hope your Dad gets settled soon. 2mo
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vlwelser Sending you lots of love and positive thoughts. 🤗😘 2mo
Flaneurette Sorry to hear this, keeping you in my thoughts 2mo
ShelleyBooksie Sending you strength, you are in my thoughts ❤️ 2mo
AmyG I am so very sorry to read this. Saying a prayer for you and Mom….may he get settled in soon. 2mo
Jas16 I am so sorry to hear you this. Sending you love and keeping your family in my thoughts. 2mo
sherrisilvera Wishing him a speedy recovery! 2mo
Deblovestoread Oh Meg, I‘m so sorry! Sending ❤️ 2mo
Billypar I'm so sorry to hear this. Wishing him a successful recovery, and my thoughts are with you and your family 💙 2mo
Leftcoastzen So sorry there are so many struggles right now. Keeping you and yours in my thoughts. 2mo
MaureenMc I‘m so sorry. Sending you all 🙏 2mo
BarbaraBB Oh Meg I am so sorry. You‘ve been expecting it but this is so irreversible. I‘ll email you and wish you all the strength to cope ❤️‍🩹 2mo
LeahBergen I‘m so sorry to hear this. 💔 2mo
CoffeeK8 I‘m so sorry to hear this. 2mo
youneverarrived So sorry to hear. Sending lots of love ❤️ 2mo
Readerann ❤️ 2mo
CarolynM Sorry to hear this, Meg. It‘s a tough road, you can only do your best with what‘s in front of you in the moment. Sending love and hugs💕 2mo
staci.reads Very sorry for your family ❤️ 2mo
Jeg ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
janeycanuck I‘m so sorry to hear this. Thinking of you & your mom & dad ❤️ (edited) 2mo
Centique Oh no i am so sorry to hear this. 💔These events are so frightening in themselves and then carry further worry and work in their wake. I hope you can get your Dad into a good place and he will recoup and stabilise. Xxxx 2mo
Chelsea.Poole So sorry for your family. Caregiving is such an act of love, though stressful. Take care of yourself too! 2mo
BarbaraBB How are you holding up Meg? Any updates on your dad? 🩷🩷🩷 2mo
Bookwormjillk Sorry to hear this 💔 2mo
Suet624 I‘m just seeing this. My heart goes out to you. 1mo
73 likes27 comments
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BekaReid
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Pickpick

Lit-fic meets sci-fi meets meta-fiction, Okorafor's new novel is my first 5⭐ book of 2025. The story is told from various POVs: Zelu, a complicated woman who refuses to be put into a box (& we're pulled deeply in her innermost workings), interviews from family members portraying how different aspects of Zelu are viewed by them, excerpts from Zelu's novel (Rusted Robots). ⭐Because sometimes a story really does have the power to reshape the world.⭐

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BekaReid
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Seren is a bit concerned about this chapter.

Leftcoastzen 😃😻 2mo
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JenP
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I‘ve been sick for the past week with the kind of cold that gave me so much sinus pressure, I couldn‘t really read. Finally emerging headache is gone and I can get to this. It‘s so pretty and I love this author‘s work. After struggling with Caledonian road (hard to read about narcissists and corruption right now), I‘m hoping this one will be all that I expect it to be

Ruthiella Glad you are feeling better! ❤️ 2mo
dabbe Glad you're on the mend! 🩵🩶🩵 2mo
sarahbarnes Glad you‘re feeling better ♥️ 2mo
BarbaraBB Feel better soon ❤️‍🩹 2mo
Suet624 Glad to hear you can read again. 😊 2mo
32 likes1 stack add5 comments
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BekaReid
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Prepared to say inside as the snow continues to fall all day and then ushers in the subsequent cold this week.

rachaich I have heard good things about this book... 2mo
BekaReid @rachaich it's been a long work week so i haven't been able to get too far yet, but I def have high hops for it! 2mo
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Chittavrtti
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