After being accepting into an elite university, Binti decides to leave her family, and her culture, behind in search of knowledge. On her way to the university, however, her ship is overtaken by bloodthirsty Meduse.
Why this book?: I’ve heard a lot of good things about Nnedi Okorafor’s writing, and Binti was the easiest and fastest one that I could get my hands on. Also, look at that cover!
For something so short, it’s amazing how much of a story that could be told within the pages. Binti can barely be called a novella, clocking in at just under 100 pages, so if someone really wants to, they could read this one in an hour. The length of it, though, doesn’t take away from the story. In fact, I would call Binti the very definition of “short and sweet”. Sweet meaning “THAT WAS COOL” rather than sweet.
Okorafor was able to pull off an immense amount of world-building without making it seem overwhelming. I was interested in knowing more about all of the worlds and races, and the history behind their interactions. I also thought that Binti being a new type of person to the Meduse gave the story a new perspective. It allowed for these bridges to be built between two people who wouldn’t have otherwise tried.
I do have to admit that I was a little bored at some points, and that’s why it took me longer to read it. A large chunk of the story is Binti hiding in her room from the Meduse. It was also fairly anticlimatic, because things were getting so tense and you weren’t sure what was going to happen or if the plan would work, but then things just easily fell into place and I was left a little unsatisfied.
Final Rating: ★★★★☆
Overall?
Binti was a short, enjoyable read that introduced new ideas and worlds. I was bored at some points, but otherwise thought that the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. Binti is a series, but I honestly don’t see myself reading the rest of the series either. Binti ended on a good, final note, and it’s one that I don’t see the point in changing.
Would I Recommend?
If you’re looking for a short, quick read that keeps you interested! There are places where it’s boring, and there’s really nothing going around, but otherwise, Binti is an interesting and new sci-fi story.
Additional Information:
Published: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Tor.com
Page Count: 96
Genre: Science Fiction
Synopsis: via Goodreads
Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself – but first she has to make it there, alive.