416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication: October 27, 2026 by DAW
I don’t remember where I first heard of this book. As science fiction writers along the way Wole Talbi and I got connected on Facebook and Blue Sky. I have not read his first novel, Shigi and Brass Head of Obalufon, which he describes as an urban fantasy inspired by the Nigerian culture he grew up in. I know why I was interested, as I have had a long-standing affection for all things Nigerian SF, and not just Nnedi Okorafor, although she is fantastic; Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2022.
Another Nigerian SF writer was welcome for sure. The Fist of Memory didn’t disappoint; the best way I think to describe it might be John Woo meets Arthur C. Clarke in Africa. It is certainly one of my favorite books I have read this year. A bullet opera that manages to combine a first contact story, noir, African cyberpunk, and hints of African magic.
The novel has storylines and elements that seem unconnected but weave together at the end. That said, the woman at the center of the story is Tope.
“Here's the thing about killing people; I don't like it, but I'm good at it.
That's why I'm perched on a dusty rooftop, ensconced in an electromagnetic reflection bubble, patiently waiting to kill reverend Dr. Clement Osagie.”
The novel opens in the point of view of this assassin, but after that Talabi intentionally breaks the rules, by telling the other chapters in third person. I admit this choice rattled me at first. Anyone who reads my reviews knows I am not a fan of first person. This was an interesting choice that I assume was made to signal the importance of Tope. I am sure we will talk about it during the interview for the podcast (coming soon)
She is involved in an excellent cat-and-mouse story with another assassin who works for a criminal boss/ witch doctor Baba. The story of a contract killing gone wrong is like a power chord that a portion of this novel is structured on.
At this point, you might be wondering when this becomes a SF novel…
“It is.” Daniel sighs. But maybe it's for the best. We don't have the luxury of curiosity or time period; whatever this object is, it is already within the orbit of Jupiter, and even if it keeps decelerating, which we can't be certain that it will, we don't know what its final velocity will be. Every minute we spend gathering data and debating our options reduces the chance of success even further. We may not know what it is, but we know it poses an existential threat.”
A South African Astronomer named Itumeleng has discovered an object coming from interstellar space toward earth. It is clearly a spacecraft, changing direction. Itumeleng doesn’t have to be convinced as the craft seems to be communicating with him and only him, at first through his dreams.
This Itumeleng storyline in the first few chapters it seems like a different story, but the threads come together. Once we get back into the Tope story the action picks up. We get some really interesting details about her employer Baba, and the politics of this future Nigeria when Tope appears to be hired by her target. Once she starts making choices there are consequences.
“This is trouble.
Heat rises behind my eyes. Reaching under my seat with my right hand to retrieve my Beretta, I see three men clamor out of the Mercedes. Their jerky, uncoordinated movements indicate intoxication. They are wearing crude handmade masks, and new, clean tactical body armor is obviously stolen like the classic cars.
Armed robbers.
The kind that park in the bushes with EM scramblers, smoking ganja, drinking ogooro, and chewing kola, waiting for motorists to waylay like trolls hiding under a bridge.”
The mix of African cyberpunk elements and the very Hong Kong film killer makes for a very interesting turn on the bullet opera. Tope being a woman, a fierce one creates some of the excellent dynamics.
“Man, woman, fish, or ugwa leaf, I don’t give a fuck what you are; you think you can come kill our oga like that abi?”
Eventually, Top and Itumeleng meet in the story, as you would expect; humanity tries to destroy the spacecraft, but as you can imagine, that doesn’t save the day.
“Yeah. Turns out panicking and firing shalligram was a waste of time. Or perhaps the attack prompted it to change plan. Either way, after that crazy maneuver, its deceleration rate dropped. Simulations now show a ninety-nine percent chance of gravitational capture.” She'd gone from frantic to angry to crying and back to frantic again.
“Itumeleng, I think it's very clear now this isn't some random object, or a missile hurled at us by a dangerous intelligence. That movement, the way it evaded shalligram, it's almost certainly a piloted alien craft. You know what this means, don't you?”
Well, I didn’t know what this meant because the third act came as a big shock. The third act is earned, and certainly enough happens in the closing chapters for an entire novel. The ending is also similar to a recent TV show (They couldn’t have known of each other).
The Fist of Memory is a fantastic career-defining sophomore novel. Wole Talabi has lived with this novel a long time and it feels like it. It is wonderfully thought-out. As a structure guy, I love how wonderfully plotted this feels. One of the best new releases I have read for sure.
-DA
Hey I volunteer lots of time promoting science fiction past and present. The best way to support me is buy my books, or you always donate on buy me a coffee (tea for me)
My new Novella Sim Cop and the Haunted City
No comments:
Post a Comment