The City We Became, N K Jemisin, Orbit, 2020, 434pp
When I learned that N K Jemisin (author of The Broken Earth Trilogy, for which she won the Hugo Award three straight years in a row, a book a year) had a new novel, I was excited. Better yet, I was not disappointed.
Reading The Broken Earth trilogy was not unlike being taken somewhere you have never been by adults who drag you along without explaining anything. You are left with only your ability to observe the things and people around you while you try to figure out what is going on. Your hand is not held except to grasp it and pull you forward. The world she built in those books had only the barest resemblance to anywhere or any time period I had ever experienced.
The thing was, she also made me care and suffer along with her characters. She made me want to understand so much that I would not give up reading. I don't know that I have ever wanted the good guys to win more badly in any other fiction I have read.
The City We Became is different because it takes place in America's biggest and possibly best known city: New York. Then again, this novel is similar to those earlier books in that the stakes are just as high. Also, it is fantasy. Also, it is the first in a new trilogy she calls The Great Cities Trilogy.
The author takes her time introducing her characters, all the while creating an intimate picture of each of New York's five boroughs. You have heard of all five: Manhattan, Staten Island, The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn. Unless you have actually lived in NYC though, you may not know that each borough has a distinct essence, one that has changed over time for sure but distinct like five siblings from the same family.
For each borough is a main character. By the time you have met them all and gotten a feel for their individual stories and wondered where all this is going, you have also realized, as each character did, that they are human avatars for their respective areas and that something very weird is going on. Something about a city being born. If these five avatars don't connect and unite, it will be a still birth and any hope for the good things of life, such as dreams, creativity, justice, safety and security will be overcome by nightmares, destruction, injustice and danger.
The climax of the story is exciting and tense and propulsive.
I won't say more because I don't like rehashing plots and if this sort of book doesn't appeal to you, it would be a waste of your time. If what I have told you so far does appeal to you, you are best off discovering the wonders of The City We Became on your own.
Here are links to my reviews of those earlier books:
I have not read NK Jemisin but I would like to. I know New York City, including the Burroughs well I think that I would get a lot out of this book. With that, I would probably start with The Broken Earth Trilogy.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I think you would like them all. I can imagine you doing such a better job than I with your reviews.
DeleteAs a lover of all things SF (not so much Fantasy) I'm ashamed to say that I've never heard of her. I have now though (thanks!) and will definitely be looking her work up.
ReplyDeleteShe had been around but really burst on the scene about 5 years ago when she started winning those Hugo Awards, the first African American to do so.
DeleteYou can be forgiven for not having heard of her, up until today anyway!
I loved her humor in this one. It just seemed like she took a lot of joy in writing it. She did say it was a love letter to the city and I can see that.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Dorothy. The humor was contagious and much needed in such serious times.
DeleteLike Brian, I have not read NK Jemisin before. The City We Became sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteIt is. There is quite a bit of social justice awareness mixed in with the adventure. Very creative!
DeleteI loved it too! It was hard to get into at first, but I found myself rooting for them all, especially Bronca and Manny, and I liked how the villains were nuanced too. I'm quite interested to see where this goes.
ReplyDeleteGreat! When I closed the book I wanted the next one right away!
Deletethis sounds pretty interesting but difficult... what's the prose like?
ReplyDeleteSmooth and readable. You could probably find an excerpt somewhere, like Google books.
DeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. I may give it a shot.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Glad to share my thoughts. Nice to have you stop by and leave a comment.
DeleteI like the idea of the different boroughs as characters ... seems cool maybe to read it in NYC ...if we ever get to go back there again ... this author seems to have quite an imagination ... I haven't read her yet but I'm glad for your reviews!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. I know this is not really your genre of choice, so I'm glad you still read my reviews of it.
DeleteNot quite ready for this one yet. Cheers
ReplyDeleteThat's alright, Carole. Perhaps some of your followers might like it.
DeleteI am thoroughly obsessed with NYC. I will have to read this one. I can't wait to visit for the first time, and to show the city to Eleanor also. 'To the Five Boroughs' is one of my fave Beastie Boys albums, and we love to sing 'An Open Letter to NYC' at the top of our lungs with the windows rolled down. Everything about New York calls to me, even fiction!
ReplyDeleteGet it! Read it!
ReplyDeleteJust requested it from the library!
DeleteYay!!
DeleteYou've made this book sound SOOO good! I still have The Fifth Season on my shelves but I'm going to add this one as well, plus bump up Fifth Season.
ReplyDeleteAthira, you have made me happy!
DeleteI thought I commented on this.... oh well. I'll comment again lol. I've never read this author but this one sounds good! I'll be looking through the earlier work first!
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me too! I always wonder if I remembered to push Publish. Thanks for trying again because it also could have been my bad. I guess I will hear about it if you read one of Jemisin's books!
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