Norwescon discussion

Have you read After the Flare? What did you think? Let us know!

The first book, Nigerians in Space, was interesting, but was almost more of a spy thriller, barely touching on SF. This is not only more of an SF story, but is also a stronger book. A few of the characters carry over from the first book, but the plots aren’t directly connected, and reading the first isn’t at all necessary to enjoy this one. With both books, I greatly enjoyed the African setting and the blending of SF tropes with African history and culture. A strong start to my PK Dick Award reading this year.

This novel defies categorization. It could be post apocalyptic, as it takes place in a world after a catastrophic solar flare knocks out all electronics across the world, but for a narrow strip around the equator. It sould be hard scifi, with the last remaining space program rushing to save an astronaut stranded in space over a year later. It could be a story of culture, with all the permutations of Nigerian life and interactions and a glimpse of a world as alien as any dreamed up in a book. (At least to me, in this soggy, gray, disassociated PNW winter.) It could be any of those categories in part, but it's whole is more.

This is technically the second in a series, but I hadn't read the first, and treated this as stand alone, I don't think it suffored in the least, it is very much a self contained story. It's smart and inventive and definitely pushes the boundaries of SF I've read, so I will heartily agree if this one wins the PK Dick award this year.