Death of the AuthorDeath of the Author
What it's about
Zelu is a Nigerian-American writer who uses a wheelchair, and in one terrible week she loses her university job and has her latest novel rejected, in the middle of her sister's wedding. Out of spite, she writes a science fiction novel about robots after humanity is gone, and it becomes a global phenomenon. The book weaves together Zelu's life and the robot story, until they begin to bleed into each other.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Hugo and the Nebula. Nnedi Okorafor writes a smart, original novel about storytelling, family and fame.
You'll love it if you liked
Erasure
Hell of a Book
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowGood to know
It moves between Zelu's story and the novel she writes. It deals with disability and family conflict.
By the numbers
- Readers23 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz100 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #152 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #237 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #274 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1601 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Nnedi Okorafor
If you like this, read next
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
The First to Die at the End
Iron Widow
A Sorceress Comes to Call
Light From Uncommon StarsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Death of the Author worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Hugo and the Nebula. It ranks #1,601 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Death of the Author about?
Zelu is a Nigerian-American writer who uses a wheelchair, and in one terrible week she loses her university job and has her latest novel rejected, in the middle of her sister's wedding. Out of spite, she writes a science fiction novel about robots after humanity is gone, and it becomes a global phenomenon. The book weaves together Zelu's life and the robot story, until they begin to bleed into each other.
How long does it take to read Death of the Author?
About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Death of the Author?
If you liked it, try Erasure by Percival Everett, Hell of a Book by Jason Mott or Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.