Tade Thompson

If you have never read African sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction (the monikers are plenty), this is as good as introduction as you can find. Smart, complex both in terms of its narrative and its characters. Clearly of its place (South Africa) the specificity is part of his appeal, and not a cheap attempt at nativism. This novella is accompanied by illustrations (and a prologue) by Tade Thompson, who co-wrote it alongside Nick Wood. And although Thompson claims it to be a work of its time (it was completed in 2003 and the death of Wood in 2023 made revisions and changes unviable) it still feels fresh and challenging.
Ultimately, the story forces the reader to consider the nature of heroes and villains, realizing that neither one category is absolute, and no one character qualifies fully as either. The story of two superhero brothers facing each other, is both a commentary on the stereotypes of big publishing houses superheroes and a case in point as to where those characters can venture, if the are allowed free range.
The e-book includes additional material - an interview and initial email exchanges, worth examining as the backstage of the novella.
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