BookBrowse Reviews Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

BookBrowse:

A science fiction novel that asks us to consider a future defined by controversial medical advancements, extreme climate change and constant government surveillance.

Noor's heroine goes by the moniker AO. Though officially this stands for her given name, Anwuli Okwudili, to her it has always meant Artificial Organism; a reflection of the self she has spent years and countless surgeries trying to shape. Born with severe disfigurements, and disabled further by a car accident in her teens, AO's body is a blend of human flesh and cutting-edge technology: bionic limbs and artificial organs giving her the strength and independence she has craved. But with some people struggling to accept the increasingly blurred line between human and machine in this speculative, near-future Africa, AO becomes a target for prejudice and harassment. When she is forced to defend herself from a vicious attack, the eyes of the world — and the authorities — fall upon her. Fleeing the city of Abuja, she must seek out fellow exiles living off the grid in Nigeria's barren deserts, existing at the mercy of a vast, endless sand storm known as the Red Eye.

At its heart, Noor is a commentary on othering, exploring in particular the extreme forms it may take if medical science and climate change further exaggerate social and political divisions. AO's physical differences make her emblematic of what might be made possible by embracing the future and celebrating body autonomy, but the stigma and persecution it brings her also make the drawbacks clear. Similarly, the alliance she forms with a band of nomadic farmers living off the land allows for an excellent thread on the importance of preserving tradition and respecting differences in culture, religion and belief systems, even as we benefit from modernization.

Aside from a few moments that arrive rather abruptly, feeling shoehorned in to further the story at convenient moments, Okorafor's worldbuilding and characterization are handled with skill. Though it's a relatively slight novel, we come to know its protagonist and the world she inhabits intimately; AO's inner demons are as vividly drawn as the sand-blasted deserts she runs to. This is also due in part to the quality of the author's prose, which is detailed and immersive without ever feeling dry.

Connectivity is another major theme throughout the novel, be it the emotional bonds we forge with others or the digital footprints that map out our entire lives. With governments monitoring people's every move in Noor, the population can easily be controlled and coerced. But when AO finds a way to turn their own systems against those in power, Okorafor shows the strength that comes with access to unlimited knowledge, and the advantages of being able to bring people together from across the globe via technology.

The book says much about community and resistance in the face of corruption without ever feeling heavy-handed. That's because, for all its big and resonant themes, Noor is also a fun sci-fi romp. AO is an endearing, complex heroine who is easy to root for, and Okorafor deftly weaves her social commentary into a story that is driven first and foremost by adventure, hope and compassion.

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in January 2022, and has been updated for the August 2022 edition. Click here to go to this issue.