Binti
by Nnedi Okorafor · first published 2015
67% recommend22% neutral11% critical
Why HN recommends it
A short science fiction novella series following an African protagonist who travels to space. It offers a fresh perspective that departs from typical Western sci-fi, and it is a quick read.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Afro-futurist science fiction.
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Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
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…Here's a few of mine that really stand out. Factfulness, by Hans Rosling The Ethics of Ambiguity, by Simone de Beauvoir Designing Delivery, by Jeff Sussna (re-read) The Cooking Gene, by Michael Twitty Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor The Philosophy of Spinoza The Silk Roads, by Peter Frankopan
on “Why We Should Watch Less News” ↗…(So We Can Get Back), by Jeff Tweedy. An autobiography by the Wilco frontman, talking about a lot of stuff I find intensely interesting - depression, being a bandleader, and being a parent and husband. Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor. An outstanding science fiction novella from an entirely different perspective - an African future. The Ethics of Ambiguity, by Simone de Beauvoir. A mid-century philosophy classic,…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗This year was a year in which, along with everything else, I read a number of standout scifi trilogies: --- Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (African girl goes to space, becomes a unifying force in the galaxy) - Binti - Binti: Home - Binti: The Night Masquerade --- Remembrance of Earth's Past by Liu Cixin (Humans make…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗Binti by Nnedi Okorafor https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binti_(novella)
on “Ask HN: Sci-fi recommendations by non-western authors?” ↗There is Nnedi Okorafor - Binti, which I enjoyed (a series of three novellas, so fairly short overall). There's quite a lot of interesting African sci-fi around at the moment, usually feels quite different from the usual western fare.
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best books you have read in 2022?” ↗Of recent laureates I really loved This Is How you Lose The Time War as well as Binti (this is a trilogy, but combined form something novel-length). Becky Chambers's recent novella To Be Taught, if Fortunate was a major step up imo, and the more utopian view of space exploration (less…
Nnedi Okorafor's Binti would be a great modern addition to this list.
on “50 authors, 50 science fiction stories shorter than novels” ↗…in ancient economy :) 2) Galef. Scout Mindset - on the fence about this one, but it seemed like it was way too long for what it offers. Maybe I've just read a lot of the same stuff ago. 3) Okorafor. Binti - not bad as a YA book, but sci-fi aspects are remarkably bad. A few more I'm too lazy to type out ;)
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023” ↗…of producing a re-release hardcover of the book due to popular demand! And I know Nnedi Okorafor is still earning excellent royalties from Who Fears Death (2011) even though her more profitable works (Binti, Akata series) are getting more attention nowadays. The argument that books primarily sell 95% of all they'll ever sell in the first 2-3 years is a total misunderstanding of the book market. It may look…
on “If we lose the Internet Archive, we’re screwed” ↗…Matt Haig: The Humans Cory Doctorow: Down & Out in the Magic Kingdom *Suzanne Palmer: Finder* John C Wright: The Golden Age Ada Palmer: Too Like the Lightning *Nnedi Okorafor: Binti* Nicky Drayden: The Prey of Gods Becky Chambers: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Lindsay Ellis: Axiom’s End and a few months before that we had "feel-good scifi": Anne McCaffrey:…
on “Browsing negative content online makes mental health struggles worse: Study” ↗