She Who Knows

You probably remember that I was a fan of Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Death and The Book of Phoenix. Hence, I was excited when Daw Books announced that the Desert Magician's duology would be released last year and that it would feature a revised edition of Shadow Speaker. Oddly enough, in my excitement I forgot that the bulk of the author's early career years were spent writing YA material.

Alas, beyond the Africanfuturism setting and some Africanjujuism elements that Okorafor has accustomed us to, Shadow Speaker and Like Thunder were YA through and through. For someone looking for adult science fiction, this was a disappointment. And since it features another young protagonist, my concern was that She Who Knows would be another black and white YA work which offers very little in terms of shades of gray. Luckily, though there are some YA vibes, Okorafor's latest shows more depth than the two Desert Magician installments.

Here's the blurb:

Part science fiction, part fantasy, and entirely infused with West African culture and spirituality, this novella offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a teenager whose coming of age will herald a new age for her world. Set in the universe Africanfuturist luminary Nnedi Okorafor first introduced in the World Fantasy Award-winning Who Fears Death, this is the first in the She Who Knows trilogy.

When there is a call, there is often a response.

Najeeba knows.

She has had The Call. But how can a 13-year-old girl have the Call? Only men and boys experience the annual call to the Salt Roads. What’s just happened to Najeeba has never happened in the history of her village. But it’s not a terrible thing, just strange. So when she leaves with her father and brothers to mine salt at the Dead Lake, there’s neither fanfare nor protest. For Najeeba, it’s a dream come travel by camel, open skies, and a chance to see a spectacular place she’s only heard about. However, there must have been something to the rule, because Najeeba’s presence on the road changes everything and her family will never be the same.

Small, intimate, up close, and deceptively quiet, this is the beginning of the Kponyungo Sorceress.

Nnedi Okorafor is known for writing short novels and novellas. I was afraid that the novella-length format would preclude much in terms of worldbuilding and this ended up being the case. She Who Knows takes place in the same post-apocalyptic Africa that was the setting for Who Fears Death. As it's been nearly fifteen years since that book was published, I would have liked for the author to provide more information about the world and its people and events. Had I known that she would be so parsimonious with details, I probably would have reread the novel before reading this prequel. As is usually her wont, Okorafor holds her cards very close to her chest and the worldbuilding leaves a little to be desired. The concepts of the Salt Roads and its Call, the Dead Lake, and the magic were interesting, but they would have benefited from being explored with more depth. Najeeba is destined to become the Kponyungo Sorceress and she will give birth to Onyesonwu, a girl who will change the world. And yet, Najeeba's origin story reads like any other, unrelated Okorafor works.

In my review of Who Fears Death, I said that if there is a speculative fiction title about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity and atrocities, this had to be it. Some readers criticized Nnedi Okorafor for writing a feminist work daring to explore subject matters best left undisturbed, such as the practice of clitorectomy, genocide, racism between various tribes, rape, sexuality, and violence. I found that a bit pathetic, as I felt that the author should be commended for having produced a tale that packed such a powerful emotional punch. I was expecting She Who Knows to feature the same sort of gravitas, yet there is nothing of the kind. True, the novella deals with a young woman rebelling against a patriarchal society and its ideals. And yet, it's done in a more sober fashion, which somewhat robs the plotlines of whatever emotional impact they were meant to have.

Given her importance in her daughter's tale, I was expecting more from Najeeba's origin story. I know the cover blurb mentions that it's a small, intimate, up close, and deceptively quiet account, but I still would have liked for Najeeba to be fleshed out a little more. Given the size of She Who Knows, it's not like this was a Brandon Sanderson behemoth that needed to be trimmed down. Other than her father's revelations, we discover very little about Najeeba's mother and brothers, her own upbringing, etc. We do find out how she acquires her magical powers, which sets her on the path to become the Kponyungo Sorceress, but I thought I'd learn more about Najeeba herself.

Unlike Shadow Speaker and Like Thunder, this novella doesn't suffer from any pacing issues. The narrative flows well from start to finish, and all too soon one reaches the end. Speaking of ending, don't expect much in terms of endgame or resolution. As such, the ending sets up the forthcoming One Way Witch, to be published next spring.

In the end, She Who Knows wasn't exactly the Who Fears Death prequel I thought it would be. I know it's unfair, but for me Who Fears Death will always be the benchmark against which all other Okorafor works will be judged. Still, I was glad to return to this world and I'm looking forward to the next novella.

Special mention goes out to Greg Ruth for his amazing covers for Okorafor's works.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

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