The Book of Phoenix

Published:: May 5, 2015
Author:: Okorafor, Nnedi
Genre:: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magical Realism
Rating:: 5
date finished:: 2018-05-26
dates reread::

Description

A fiery spirit dances from the pages of the Great Book. She brings the aroma of scorched sand and ozone. She has a story to tell….

The Book of Phoenix is a unique work of magical futurism. A prequel to the highly acclaimed, World Fantasy Award-winning novel, Who Fears Death, it features the rise of another of Nnedi Okorafor’s powerful, memorable, superhuman women.

Phoenix was grown and raised among other genetic experiments in New York’s Tower 7. She is an “accelerated woman”—only two years old but with the body and mind of an adult, Phoenix’s abilities far exceed those of a normal human. Still innocent and inexperienced in the ways of the world, she is content living in her room speed reading e-books, running on her treadmill, and basking in the love of Saeed, another biologically altered human of Tower 7.

Then one evening, Saeed witnesses something so terrible that he takes his own life. Devastated by his death and Tower 7’s refusal to answer her questions, Phoenix finally begins to realize that her home is really her prison, and she becomes desperate to escape.

But Phoenix’s escape, and her destruction of Tower 7, is just the beginning of her story. Before her story ends, Phoenix will travel from the United States to Africa and back, changing the entire course of humanity’s future.

Review

A frankly astonishing book

The Book of Phoenix is a seamless blend of science fiction, fantasy and folk tale with a morality play embedded at it's core.

I was gripped right from the beginning and couldn't put this book down for long. I ended up reading it all in a single day, ignoring literally everything else in my life.

Truly a tale for our times, I believe this is a must read for everyone.

Highlights

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHO WROTE THE GREAT BOOK. — location: 56

Planted: Wednesday 18 June 2025
Last tended: Sunday 13 July 2025