Scan barcode
Reviews
Disruption: New Short Fiction from Africa by Rachel Zadok, Karina Szczurek, Jason Mykl Snyman
indukisreading's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bex0's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
nerdybookies's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
shonatiger's review
4.0
This review first appeared in The Continent, Issue 77, March 5, 2022.
Disruption is an anthology from Short Story Day Africa, chosen from submissions to its annual competition from around the continent. This year’s anthology has been published as an e-book, featuring stories on the theme of disruption –
… especially but not limited to climate and environ[mental] disruption.
The result is a wonderful collection of stories, ranging from the tale of a girl who gathers rivers in her body, in The Girl Named Uku/phaza/mi/se/ka by Philisiwe Twijnstra, to one who gathers the rain in her locs, in Five Years Next Sunday by Idza Luhumuyo, the winner of the 2019/2020 Short Story Day Africa prize.
Other great stories include Static by Alithnayn Abdulkareem, about a person who migrates from an uninhabitable Earth due to oxygen starvation, dehydration and drought, which are exacerbated by colonial exploitation of her home. She leaves her lover behind, and marries a coloniser. In Laatlammer, by J S Louw, a woman hides her son from her neighbour because of a one-child policy. The story is told from the boy’s perspective. In Shelter, by Mbozi Haimbe, a mother tries desperately to find shelter from a corrosive dust storm. Lycaon Pictus by Liam Brickhill, is about resource competition in a time of climate devastation. Before the Rains Came by Nadia Ahidjo is on resilience and saviourism in the Sahel. The Girl Who Laughed by Doreen Anyango tells the story of a climate refugee and orphan who ends up an abused, exploited domestic worker in Oman, dreaming of the mountains of home.
With stories from across Africa, from Libya, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana and elsewhere, Disruption is excellent, full of imagination, and, like in all of the best literature, great social commentary.
Disruption is an anthology from Short Story Day Africa, chosen from submissions to its annual competition from around the continent. This year’s anthology has been published as an e-book, featuring stories on the theme of disruption –
… especially but not limited to climate and environ[mental] disruption.
The result is a wonderful collection of stories, ranging from the tale of a girl who gathers rivers in her body, in The Girl Named Uku/phaza/mi/se/ka by Philisiwe Twijnstra, to one who gathers the rain in her locs, in Five Years Next Sunday by Idza Luhumuyo, the winner of the 2019/2020 Short Story Day Africa prize.
Other great stories include Static by Alithnayn Abdulkareem, about a person who migrates from an uninhabitable Earth due to oxygen starvation, dehydration and drought, which are exacerbated by colonial exploitation of her home. She leaves her lover behind, and marries a coloniser. In Laatlammer, by J S Louw, a woman hides her son from her neighbour because of a one-child policy. The story is told from the boy’s perspective. In Shelter, by Mbozi Haimbe, a mother tries desperately to find shelter from a corrosive dust storm. Lycaon Pictus by Liam Brickhill, is about resource competition in a time of climate devastation. Before the Rains Came by Nadia Ahidjo is on resilience and saviourism in the Sahel. The Girl Who Laughed by Doreen Anyango tells the story of a climate refugee and orphan who ends up an abused, exploited domestic worker in Oman, dreaming of the mountains of home.
With stories from across Africa, from Libya, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana and elsewhere, Disruption is excellent, full of imagination, and, like in all of the best literature, great social commentary.
booktreks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
More...