Paperback, 94 pages
Published Sept. 22, 2015 by Tor.com.
Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, …
Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself — but first she has to make it there, alive.
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.
