The Shadow Speaker
The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor is a young adult, science fiction novel set in 2070's post-apocalyptic Nigeria. It follows Ejii Ugabe, a 14-year-old girl grappling with her father's tyrannical legacy and her own emerging powers. Amidst a world reshaped by nuclear fallout, Ejii's journey intertwines with mystical figures and complex politics, exploring themes of identity, power, and change. This acclaimed novel is rich in African culture and futuristic imagination and was reissued in an expanded edition in 2013.
Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, cloth-backed boards. New York: Jump at the Sun / Hyperion, 2007. ISBN: 9781423100331. #10793.
Fine in nearly fine dust jacket with minor rub at one fold.
The Shadow Speaker is a captivating young adult novel set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world. Written by Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor, the story unfolds in the year 2070 and is narrated from a first-person perspective. The novel has been recognized as a Booksense Pick for Winter 2007/2008, a Tiptree Honor Book, and a finalist for several awards including the Essence Magazine Literary Award, the Andre Norton Award, and the Golden Duck Award. It was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
The plot centers around Ejimafor "Ejii" Ugabe, a 14-year-old Muslim girl of Wodaabe and Igbo descent. She resides in the Nigerian village of Kwàmfa and is the daughter of the village's former chief, a man who was once a hated dictator-like figure. The backdrop of the story is a world reeling from the effects of nuclear fallout earlier in the 21st century.
Ejii is a complex character, bearing the weight of her father's legacy. Her father, Chief Ugabe, was known for his hypocrisy and fierce demeanor. He was executed by Sarauniya Jaa, the Red Queen, a pivotal character in the story who is not an actual queen but holds immense influence and is revered as one. Jaa confronts and accuses Chief Ugabe of misusing her name for his nefarious deeds, leading to a dramatic execution witnessed by Ejii and her half-brother, Fadio.
Other significant characters include Gambo, a co-husband of Jaa who was once an Aejej, a creature that is a product of the novel's fantastical world; Buji, Jaa's first husband from the Northern Ooni Kingdom; and Mrs. Ugabe, Chief Ugabe's first wife and an adviser to Jaa after the Chief's execution. Dikeogu, a 14-year-old former slave and a rain-maker, also plays a crucial role.
The Shadow Speaker is a richly woven tale that explores themes of power, identity, and change. It is a journey through an apocalyptic world transformed by global catastrophe, as seen through the eyes of a young girl grappling with her father's legacy and her place in a changing world. Okorafor's storytelling is deeply rooted in African culture and mythology. The novel was reissued in September 2023 by DAW Books, in an expanded edition with a new introduction by the author. It is the first book in the The Desert Magician's Duology series.