Binti: The Complete Trilogy
{4.5/5} “Now the weight of my entire life was pressing on my shoulders. I was defying the most traditional part of myself for the first time in my entire life. I was leaving in the dead of night and they had no clue. My nine sibling, all older than me except for my younger sister and brother, would never see this coming. My parents would never imagine I’d do such a thing in a million years.”
Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor, published in 2020
Binti is the first of her people, the Himba, to leave Earth and go to Oomza University. On the ship the Meduse attack and kill all the Khoush. But it seems they can’t kill her because of the edan, a piece of ancient technology, she carries. Then she starts talking to the Meduse and finds out that the pilot is still alive, and they are still heading to the university.
This book consists of 3 novellas and 1 short story that together make up a larger story.
As in Ninefox Gambit, there’s one confusing aspect. What does this mean: “My people are the creators and builders of astrolabes… We use math to create the currents within them.”
But it’s a great story, and Binti is a delightful character to follow on adventures.
It’s about building trust with your enemy, and having such good friends that they’ll walk into the desert with you.
This is the 1st book I’ve read by Okorafor.