She puts them under the treads of oppression and then asks them what they intend to do about it. Her heroes are often outcasts and cast offs, people devalued by the predominate culture and power structure. It’s a feeling that a lot people can find all too relatable and it’s a recurring theme in Jemisin’s stories and novels. What good does it do to be valuable, if nobody values you? But I’m still hungry and tired all the time, scared all the time, never safe. To which the narrator’s internal response is: The mentor who has found him, who has played this role in another time, at another place, tells him he must overcome his disdain. He’s mostly just trying to get by and coexist with a populace that doesn’t much care for him, and he responds with earned disdain. His relationship to the city takes him a long time to recognize. Instead, we get stories like “The City Born Great” where a homeless street artist builds a connection to New York City so strong he is bound to play literal midwife as it births itself into a new era. Sure, you will find the occasional dragon or witch in these stories, but they rarely fill the role you would expect them to. Each of these stories is its own invention. If three consecutive novel Hugos have not convinced you she is a modern master, this collection will bridge the gap. Jemisin’s new short story anthology, puts the depth of her imagination on full display.
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