The Book of Phoenix
by Nnedi Okorafor
science fiction
copyright 2015
read in September 2023
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
This book has several aspects.
It is science fiction: where the science may as well be magic. As SF the book is good fun.
The book is also fantasy. A special class of fantasy where all problems can be solved by chanting mystical spells while dancing naked in the moonlight. Or, as in this book, by using but not explaining the traditional magic of Africa.
Which leads to the third aspect of this book: It is a rabid racist rant where black and brown are good but all white is evil. It seems that various non-white races have moved on from their centuries of slaughter and slavery. Yet every white person still maintains the ancient master-slave attitude. Perhaps, in America, this is true.
Finally, the heroine learns to use her super-powers. Not for revenge, she says but for justice.
I rather like the justice that she serves to the seven ultra-villains. It's a pity that this "justice" involves killing every other person on Earth. Black, white, brown or brindle. Oh, the seven villains will probably survive... the "justice" is that they will not have anyone else to push around. Oh my.
The book is easy-reading rubbish.
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