Review of 'Death of the Author'

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Zelunjo Onyenezi-Onyedele (Zelu) is a Nigerian-American writer who became parapelegic as a child. After Zelu learns she has been fired she moves back to her parent's house where she eventually writes a novel “Rusted Robots” which is an instant hit and transforms Zelu's life overnight. This success is met with mixed responses from her opinionated, judgemental family but eventually they learn to accept it. They are much more upset when she agrees to experimental surgery to allow her to walk again. Zelu's story is interspersed with chapters from “Rusted Robots” which talks about a post-human world where humanoid robots called “Humes” are in conflict with artificial intelligences called “NoBodies” who reject physical bodies and seek to eradicate the Humes. The only remaining human, Nogozi, repairs a Hume called Ankara which has been damaged in the conflict by introducing the Nobody Ijele into Hume's body. Despite being sworn enemies Ankara and Ijele develop a persistent friendship. When an alien robot entity known as “Trippers” threatens both Humes and NoBodies, it is up to Ankara and Ijele to find a solution.

This is an interesting book that deals with many themes I am unfamiliar with, particularly Nigerian families and their relationships with one another which, to an outsider, seems quite fraught and aggressive despite their obvious love for one another. I found Zelu's story much easier to follow than the rather clunky and simplistic “Rusted Robots” narrative appearing in alternating chapters. I suppose this is because I have read Science Fiction for so long I am quiet demanding in what of it I read. Here it is obviously a tool utilized by the author to tell another aspect of the same story which ultimately comes together noting that a particular reveal in the final changes brings to mind a completely different way of looking at the entire novel.

The non-SF story is told from the perspective of Zelu who seems to be so misunderstood and so rejected by not only her family but pretty much everyone despite her generally easy to understand motives and feelings it is often quite hard to accept which strikes me as being a bit of a mis-step here. Yeah, I get that we are to root for the underdog and it is the struggle against the odds, but it is so extreme I feel like I am being hit over the head with it way, way too often. It just gets tiring after, well, 200 or so pages. However, Zelu is easy enough to like…I am still not sure I like her family.

A interesting novel of the struggle for identity against adversity told in an interesting way, alternating between extreme Science Fiction and the modern world. The SF is a bit amateurish but interesting enough while the story of the author is much more interesting and involved.

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2026-07-18

**Genre: ** Science Fiction

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: 2025

ISBN: 9780063445789