Audiobook Review – Binti (Binti, Book 1) by Nnedi Okorafor, Narrated by Robin Miles (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release Date: September 22, 2015
ASIN: B010GJG4PE
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Binti trilogy
Source: Borrowed audiobook from Library
Rating: 4/5 stars
“Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself — but first she has to make it there, alive.”
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Binti series. The Binti series is a trilogy of novellas. I borrowed a copy of this on audiobook from my library.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this short sci-fi novella. Okorafor manages to create characters with a rich history in short page space, there is a lot of suspense here and I grew to like the main character very quickly.
Binti sneaks away from her home to go to Oomza University, she is the first of her people (the Himba) to be offered a place at the elite University. However, her people do not leave the home world and her people are against her going. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. Binti’s ship is attached by the Meduse (an alien race) and she must her both her wits and compassion to survive to actually make it to Oomza University.
This was an incredibly well done novella. It does an amazing job building a complete world and intriguing characters in a very small page space. I enjoyed how the Himba culture integrated high technology together with thoughtfulness and mental wellness; it’s a much more holistic approach to science fiction than you normally see. I also really enjoyed how the story progressed and how Binti resolved the issues with the Meduse. Things are wrapped up nicely here but I am eager to read more about this world.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this first book in the Binti series. I enjoyed the unique world and Binti as a character. I also loved how the plot progressed and wrapped up. I am eager to read more books in this series. Previous to reading this book I read Okorafor’s book “Akata Witch” and thought it was okay but not great. I would recommend this for people looking for a shorter sci-fi space opera type read. It has a unique world and Binti’s culture is intriguing. There is some action but also a lot of thoughtfulness as well.
