120 pages
Spanish language
Published Feb. 15, 2018
Su nombre es Binti, y es la primera de los himba a la que se le ha ofrecido una plaza en Oomza Uni: la mejor institución de enseñanza superior de la galaxia. Aceptar esta oferta significará abandonar su casa, su familia y viajar a través de las estrellas entre extraños que no comparten su forma de ser ni respetan sus costumbres.
Lo que Binti no sabe es que el conocimiento le costará caro. Una sanguinaria raza alienígena, las medusas, amenazan su viaje y, para poder sobrevivir, necesitará la ayuda de su pueblo y de la sabiduría contenida en la Universidad.
Ganadora de un premio Hugo en 2016, un Nébula en 2015 y nominada al Locus, Binti es una historia intensa y condensada. En Binti comprobaremos cómo funcionan los prejuicios con los que crecemos y cómo se desmorona este sistema de creencias cuando se trata de afrontar lo desconocido. Nuevos lugares, …
Su nombre es Binti, y es la primera de los himba a la que se le ha ofrecido una plaza en Oomza Uni: la mejor institución de enseñanza superior de la galaxia. Aceptar esta oferta significará abandonar su casa, su familia y viajar a través de las estrellas entre extraños que no comparten su forma de ser ni respetan sus costumbres.
Lo que Binti no sabe es que el conocimiento le costará caro. Una sanguinaria raza alienígena, las medusas, amenazan su viaje y, para poder sobrevivir, necesitará la ayuda de su pueblo y de la sabiduría contenida en la Universidad.
Ganadora de un premio Hugo en 2016, un Nébula en 2015 y nominada al Locus, Binti es una historia intensa y condensada. En Binti comprobaremos cómo funcionan los prejuicios con los que crecemos y cómo se desmorona este sistema de creencias cuando se trata de afrontar lo desconocido. Nuevos lugares, nuevos modos de comunicarse y el temido y a la vez cautivador contacto con el otro, ya sea una raza alienígena o una cultura africana, tan distante de la nuestra, que podríamos sentir de otro planeta diferente.
Este viaje transformará a quien lo emprende de forma irremediable, sin posibilidad de volver atrás.
there were so many fresh ideas in this book and I really enjoyed Binti's perspective, and how the main "superpower" is understanding one another.
I wasn't a big fan of the "mathematical trance" thing, idk it felt weird. If it had just been meditation, it would have been more convincing for me.
Liked it very much. Short but I got a good feel for the characters and enjoyed the story's progression. Will definitely continue on to the next book.
Yes, there are plot holes. They did not diminish my enjoyment of the story. I enjoyed this exotic point of view, and felt a sense of wonder that grew as the story unfolded.
A quick read with a lot of unsettling twists in both plot and character development. The main character is very appealing I think who comes pout of the harrowing experience by the end almost too well.
This book was recommended to me by a librarian friend when I asked friends for suggestions of something light to read on the plane during my trip to Namibia. Since there are Himba people in Namibia, the Binti books were the perfect suggestion.
I really enjoyed this story. It was fresh and original, and I enjoyed the elements of Himba culture that were woven into the story.
My only criticism is that Okorafor rushes the story in spots. She does too much telling, and not enough showing. I needed more time to see Binti adjust to being on the ship and away from home and to develop relationships with others on the ship. Similarly, I needed more time to understand her ultimate transition from fear to acceptance. The bones were there, but Okorafor could have fleshed this out more.
Still, the book held my interest and I looked forward to …
This book was recommended to me by a librarian friend when I asked friends for suggestions of something light to read on the plane during my trip to Namibia. Since there are Himba people in Namibia, the Binti books were the perfect suggestion.
I really enjoyed this story. It was fresh and original, and I enjoyed the elements of Himba culture that were woven into the story.
My only criticism is that Okorafor rushes the story in spots. She does too much telling, and not enough showing. I needed more time to see Binti adjust to being on the ship and away from home and to develop relationships with others on the ship. Similarly, I needed more time to understand her ultimate transition from fear to acceptance. The bones were there, but Okorafor could have fleshed this out more.
Still, the book held my interest and I looked forward to reading the next book.
So this novella has been nominated for a Hugo award for this year, and it does deserve it!
Many of the Okorafor hallmarks are here. Creative environment, ancient history that is hinted at but not explained, and interactions (or clashes) between different cultures.
This is all pretty well accomplished through the main character Binti, who anchors the different themes and conflicts in her own person: a Himba who desires to go to a galactic university contrary to her own heritage and upbringing.
Perhaps the biggest issue that Binti suffers is that, being a good novella, you do not get nearly as much story as you want. Luckily, at least two more books (novels, no less) are forthcoming, so we can view this novella as an opening act for a larger story.
A novel and ambitious concept, but I felt it might have worked better in a full full length novel, everything felt a little cramped and under-explored in a novella.
Excellent short story. Coming in at under 100 pages, I'm not certain it qualifies as a full-length novel, but what do I know? :)
Regardless, it was wonderful. And Robin Miles (the audio narrator) brought the book to life in a way I'm not certain my imagination could have managed alone. Very well done.
