September 1, 2024
In the engaging Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions, the reader takes a journey both through story and the art of writing, as Hopkinson (Blackheart Man, 2024) shares the genesis of each tale in the story's introduction. Most stories reflect the author's Caribbean heritage and were previously published in various anthologies and magazines, but are collected together here for the first time. "Covenant" provides hope for a world affected by climate change by showing what humanity can build when we work together, while the disturbing "Inselberg" shows what happens when the waters rise unchecked. In "Ally," a funeral brings together a trans woman and her friend, who might just be haunted by more than bad memories. The creepy "Clap Back" ensures that the story of the African diaspora will be told, across all types of mediums. And the title story, cowritten with Nisi Shawl, mixes steampunk, Pullman porters, and a deadly drink into an adventure-filled romp. This is only scratching the surface of this wildly inventive collection, perfect for fans of Karen Lord, Tobias S. Buckell, and Tananarive Due.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
September 1, 2024
Hopkinson's (Skin Folk) story collection is weighted towards the end of the world, in which environmental disaster, greed, and injustice are the weapons humanity uses to destroy itself. In several stories, such as "Inselberg," the world may live on and tolerate humankind's persistence--in some form. Whether Hopkinson's protagonists win or lose at the end--if they get an end--they're full of defiance. This may be the rage in "Clap Back," directed at tangible artifacts of racism that underscore the disrespect and cruelty that society deems acceptable. It may be the understated defiance that refuses to deny a person's true identity, as in "Pocket Universe" or "Ally." The latter story contains another common theme of the collection--the dead are not silent. They are able to pass their messages to the living, one way or another. As apocalyptic as many of Hopkinson's tales are, the collection is dotted with hope. Some characters find a path towards the victory of their choosing, while others learn to accept that life is transformation. Hopkinson includes notes before each story, and these are just as riveting as the fiction. VERDICT Hopkinson's stories hold deep messages at their core, yet flow with a dreamlike etherealness, even when they're nightmares.--Matthew Galloway
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from September 2, 2024
Obliterating the boundary between science and folk knowledge, this collection of 15 speculative shorts from SFWA Grandmaster Hopkinson (Blackheart Man) rewards and challenges readers in equal measure. In the beautifully multilayered “Clap Back,” an artist uses nanotechnology and bacterial reproduction to reclaim racist memorabilia. The cheerfully gruesome “Inselberg,” follows vacationers on an unexpected island tour, narrated in patois by their guide. In the title story, cowritten with Nisi Shawl, a young woman transcends the path laid out for her in an alternate version of post-emancipation New Orleans. Hopkinson’s singular voice shines throughout these thought-provoking flights of imagination. In centering the historically marginal experiences of Black and queer workers, islanders, mothers, the old and the very young, she articulates the prevalent fears and concerns of those communities, including sea level rise, the distribution of power, and degradations of industry. Complete with contextual notes from the author and a loving foreword from Nisi Shawl, this is a joyous celebration of Hopkinson’s abiding legacy as a titan of both speculative fiction and Caribbean literature.