Lagoon
3 journalers for this copy...
I got this hardcover from the charity-sale bin at Hannaford's, intrigued by the premise: an alien ship lands in the ocean outside Lagos, Nigeria... and the aliens change things, apparently for the better: sea life becomes the best self of each species, the polluted waters are not only cleaned but are now a powerful restorative. Is this all too good to be true?
[Some aspects of the story reminded me of The Seep, another benevolent-aliens-changing-humanity tale, though the tone and focus is different. Both stories do have an element of "be careful what you wish for," though; in the face of truly dramatic change, do we have any way to tell how it will affect our futures?
This story has an interesting - and perhaps chilling - conclusion, not only for the suggestion that the outside world, out of jealousy or fear, may attack the now-blooming Lagos, and an ancient power that's been watching all this from the beginning of time wants to make sure that doesn't happen!
[Some aspects of the story reminded me of The Seep, another benevolent-aliens-changing-humanity tale, though the tone and focus is different. Both stories do have an element of "be careful what you wish for," though; in the face of truly dramatic change, do we have any way to tell how it will affect our futures?
This story has an interesting - and perhaps chilling - conclusion, not only for the suggestion that the outside world, out of jealousy or fear, may attack the now-blooming Lagos, and an ancient power that's been watching all this from the beginning of time wants to make sure that doesn't happen!
I'm adding this book to imawinn2's shrinking bookbox, which will be on its way soon. Hope someone enjoys it!
*** Released for the 2020 Science Fiction challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2020 Science Fiction challenge. ***
Chosen from imawinn2's Shrinking Bookbox.
Thank you for the wishlist book!
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Another wonderful tale from Nnedi Okorafor!
The aliens have invaded and this time it's in Lagos, Nigeria. And they bring change. They are change. It's also not all about humans. The aliens make contact with the people of Lagos but they also make contact with the land, the creatures of the sea, land, and air, and something much older, the gods.
Okorafor's stories are known for having the gods and other forces of the land play a role in the lives of her characters and the same is true with Lagoon. She wouldn't stay true to her writing if an alien invasion didn't include them. And it is another layer that makes this alien invasion story unique and all her own.
I love how she immerses you in the grittiness of real human nature when such an event occurs. There's every reaction and emotion, fear, elation, destruction, terror, celebration, and all the others feels! Everything has changed and it is scary and wonderful. The aliens are there to bring about change so that they can be a part of the world but they don't sugarcoat it.
These are not the single-minded, almost hive mentality, aliens of other alien invasion stories. They are just as diverse as humans. They are ultimately working for one purpose but they individually experience fear, death, joy, pettiness, self-sacrifice, you name it! You never learn what brought them here and there are a million other questions about them that you never learn.
The aliens have invaded and this time it's in Lagos, Nigeria. And they bring change. They are change. It's also not all about humans. The aliens make contact with the people of Lagos but they also make contact with the land, the creatures of the sea, land, and air, and something much older, the gods.
Okorafor's stories are known for having the gods and other forces of the land play a role in the lives of her characters and the same is true with Lagoon. She wouldn't stay true to her writing if an alien invasion didn't include them. And it is another layer that makes this alien invasion story unique and all her own.
I love how she immerses you in the grittiness of real human nature when such an event occurs. There's every reaction and emotion, fear, elation, destruction, terror, celebration, and all the others feels! Everything has changed and it is scary and wonderful. The aliens are there to bring about change so that they can be a part of the world but they don't sugarcoat it.
These are not the single-minded, almost hive mentality, aliens of other alien invasion stories. They are just as diverse as humans. They are ultimately working for one purpose but they individually experience fear, death, joy, pettiness, self-sacrifice, you name it! You never learn what brought them here and there are a million other questions about them that you never learn.
Journal Entry 5 by 
Spatial
at Sci-Fi/Fantasy Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 28, 2021
Spatial at Sci-Fi/Fantasy Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 28, 2021
Released 2 yrs ago (6/28/2021 UTC) at Sci-Fi/Fantasy Bookbox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Released in the Science Fiction Bookbox.
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I've chosen this book from the traveling science fiction book box. I haven't read anything from Nnedi Okorafor yet and am looking forward to it. The premise of this story sounds like just the thing I enjoy. Thank you, GoryDetails and Spatial, for sending this book forward.
