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Remote Control
by
The new book by Nebula and Hugo Award-winner, Nnedi Okorafor.
"She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own."
The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From hereon in she would be known as Sankofa--a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past.
Her touch is de ...more
"She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own."
The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From hereon in she would be known as Sankofa--a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past.
Her touch is de ...more
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Kindle Edition, 160 pages
Published
January 19th 2021
by Tor.com
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Start your review of Remote Control

It's May 10th and, yes, I've actually read this novella, so my review is honest. It's fantastic.
...more

Thank you so much to Tor.com for providing me a copy of this book for review. All thoughts are my own.
As the new year approached I made a silent commitment to myself to try out a little more science fiction this year. I'm not a stranger to the genre; however, I've always felt as though I could read more. When I was given the opportunity to review this book, I jumped at the chance to read something new from Nnedi Okorafor. Although I've only read Binti and her children's picture book, I knew tha ...more
As the new year approached I made a silent commitment to myself to try out a little more science fiction this year. I'm not a stranger to the genre; however, I've always felt as though I could read more. When I was given the opportunity to review this book, I jumped at the chance to read something new from Nnedi Okorafor. Although I've only read Binti and her children's picture book, I knew tha ...more

3.5 Stars
This was a unique piece of African futurism that read more like a folktale, than science fiction. The young girl was a likeable character with a sympathetic backstory. My favourite aspect of the narrative was learning how others reacted to her abilities, both fearing and worshipping her.
Overall, this novella had a compelling premise, but I was not completely immersed in the story itself. I would recommend this one to readers who love myths and folktales. Personally, my reading tastes l ...more
This was a unique piece of African futurism that read more like a folktale, than science fiction. The young girl was a likeable character with a sympathetic backstory. My favourite aspect of the narrative was learning how others reacted to her abilities, both fearing and worshipping her.
Overall, this novella had a compelling premise, but I was not completely immersed in the story itself. I would recommend this one to readers who love myths and folktales. Personally, my reading tastes l ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1557144778p2/15335689.jpg)
This cover is literally one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen. WOW.

Aug 28, 2020
Scottsdale Public Library
added it
Transcendent, stunning, devastating.
I've had a lump rising and resting in my throat since I began reading Fatima's journey. My heart is still tender and overwhelmed and so very full from this devastatingly beautiful allegory of self-destruction, awareness and compassion. The feels! I loved it. -Sara S. ...more
I've had a lump rising and resting in my throat since I began reading Fatima's journey. My heart is still tender and overwhelmed and so very full from this devastatingly beautiful allegory of self-destruction, awareness and compassion. The feels! I loved it. -Sara S. ...more

Sankofa. Her name strikes fear into each town she visits. Rumors about her fly. She is the adopted child of the Angel of Death, the destroyer of technology, a remedy of suffering, an agent of chaos, and wanderer, a loner, an indestructible glowing force of nature in search of something that she'll never find.
It is a hard life for a pre-pubescent girl.
Remote Control is an origin story about how a seven-year-old girl--a lover of nature, animals, and the world around her--is given a gift from the h ...more
It is a hard life for a pre-pubescent girl.
Remote Control is an origin story about how a seven-year-old girl--a lover of nature, animals, and the world around her--is given a gift from the h ...more

"She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own."
yes, a new fav ...more
yes, a new fav ...more

What's it like to grow up as the most powerful person you know? Sankofa's powers elicit fear, which isolates her and gives her the leverage to demand most of the things she wants. What's it like to confront the one entity who could harm you?
For full review, watch here: https://youtu.be/Y-AeKLn4FJ0 ...more
For full review, watch here: https://youtu.be/Y-AeKLn4FJ0 ...more

Set in a slightly future Ghana we follow a young girl who develops a deadly ability and then has to learn to deal with the consequences. Very dark at times but still with hope. Storytelling at its finest!

Rating: 8.5/10
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Remote Control for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Remote Control is a novella that begins like a folktale but turns into an immersive, devastating story of a young girl with powers beyond her belief or control. Okorafor wastes no time dropping the reader into Fatima’s story, her transformation into Sankofa, and the path she must take to reclaim the item she was given by the stars ...more
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Remote Control for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Remote Control is a novella that begins like a folktale but turns into an immersive, devastating story of a young girl with powers beyond her belief or control. Okorafor wastes no time dropping the reader into Fatima’s story, her transformation into Sankofa, and the path she must take to reclaim the item she was given by the stars ...more

Great Afrofuturism story about a girl who becomes known as “Death’s adopted daughter.”
Set in Ghana what feels like a few decades from now, this tells the story of a girl who encounters a strange “seed” beneath her family’s shea tree. This seed gives her mysterious powers: she can glow green, and by doing so she can kill. Sometimes it’s involuntary and sometimes … less voluntary, with tragic results.
The origin of the seed isn’t made clear. There are mentions of aliens, and a biotech company calle ...more
Set in Ghana what feels like a few decades from now, this tells the story of a girl who encounters a strange “seed” beneath her family’s shea tree. This seed gives her mysterious powers: she can glow green, and by doing so she can kill. Sometimes it’s involuntary and sometimes … less voluntary, with tragic results.
The origin of the seed isn’t made clear. There are mentions of aliens, and a biotech company calle ...more

Remote Control is another stunning novella from Nnedi Okorafor, we follow Sankofa a mysterious character at first who seems to have death follow her around. She is almost revered amongst the community but everyone is also very afraid of her. Her touch is deadly and she uses this primarily as mercy killings (euthanasia). As the novella unfolds we found out more about Sankofa and how she came to be in the position she is, also following her early life as Fatima, a sickly child. A mysterious seed c
...more

Remote Control by Hugo Award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor is a timeless story. This story’s narrative is at home in a world of dust and mosquitoes of rural communities of Ghana or at home in a big city with cars and mobile phones. It is told in parts like a fable complete with a companion fox. Other times, the stories’ fable-Esque tones are intruded upon by very current problems like being snatched off the road or getting hit by a truck. In both types of storytelling, Sankofa is the same. A gir
...more

The nitty-gritty: A unique combination of sci-fi, folklore and coming-of-age, Remote Control is another atmospheric and thoughtful book by Nnedi Okorafor.
This is a strange little Africanfuturism story that I enjoyed a lot, and if you’re a fan of Nnedi Okorafor you will enjoy it too. Remote Control has science fiction elements, but as other reviewers have noted—and I agree with them—this story has a strong folkloric feel to it, while the sci-fi elements are not as front and center. This mash-up ...more
This is a strange little Africanfuturism story that I enjoyed a lot, and if you’re a fan of Nnedi Okorafor you will enjoy it too. Remote Control has science fiction elements, but as other reviewers have noted—and I agree with them—this story has a strong folkloric feel to it, while the sci-fi elements are not as front and center. This mash-up ...more

Okorafor is one of my favourite authors. Her ability to blend African culture with science fiction futuristic technology is awe-inspiring. I always feel fully immersed in her books and I always always learn from them. With each new piece of writing from Okorafor I just feel fulfilled after reading.
In Romote Control we follow a very young girl named Fatima through a recollection of how she became Sankofa, the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Learning about malaria was gut wrenching. Every ...more
In Romote Control we follow a very young girl named Fatima through a recollection of how she became Sankofa, the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Learning about malaria was gut wrenching. Every ...more

Jan 10, 2021
Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Come for this gorgeous cover. Stay for this compelling and beautiful story. This novella holds alot within its short pages. Okarafor truly brings Fatima/Sankofa to life. While this is science fiction, it actually felt more like folklore. Either way, I was here for every single word.
The adopted daughter of Death. When she glows, you RUN for your life. As a seven year old, she was suffering another bout of malaria and spending time in her tree and making sky words. Then one day the tree gives back ...more

Remote Control was a very interesting read. We go on a journey with Sankofa from her childhood as Fatima to the day her entire life changed. We walk with her day to day as she journeys from town to town trying to figure out what she is and what happened to her. There is not a ton of action in this book and it very slice of life in that we are truly just watching her live her day to day life. Sankofa is character that you find yourself pitying by the end of the book. She is a small child when she
...more

This is my first taste of Nnedi Okorafor's work. In Remote Control we met Sankofa who has a unique ability-the power to cause death. We learn her backstory, then follow her on a journey to understanding her new power and what it means to be the "adopted daughter of death".
Okorafor's description of the world made this story come to life. I could visualize Sankofa walking, the places she visited, and the people she encountered. However, I wanted more details about her relationship with death. Th ...more
Okorafor's description of the world made this story come to life. I could visualize Sankofa walking, the places she visited, and the people she encountered. However, I wanted more details about her relationship with death. Th ...more

I hope that this is going to end up being a novella cycle (like Binti: The Complete Trilogy), because I kind of felt like it ended just when I was getting into it. It's a cool premise and worldbuilding but it left me wanting more! Which is a good thing except....I want more!
...more

4.5 Stars~
“She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own.”
Remote Control is the latest from the mind of Nnedi Okorafor.
Set in a near-future Ghana, it follows Sankofa as she treads along a tumultuous journey to unearth answers about the power that she received from a mysterious glowing green “seed”. Her deadly power that provoked an immense tragedy when she was just seven years old.
As the years go by, Sankofa’s abilities become wel ...more
“She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own.”
Remote Control is the latest from the mind of Nnedi Okorafor.
Set in a near-future Ghana, it follows Sankofa as she treads along a tumultuous journey to unearth answers about the power that she received from a mysterious glowing green “seed”. Her deadly power that provoked an immense tragedy when she was just seven years old.
As the years go by, Sankofa’s abilities become wel ...more

Note: I received an e-ARC through Netgalley and a physical ARC through TorDotCom, so special thanks to them.
REMOTE CONTROL is a slow-paced meditation about a young girl who calls down the supernatural and must come to terms with those consequences. Eye-catching prose weaves with vivid scenes make this a novella a must-read for Afrofuturism shelves, and it's perfect for fans of THE PREY OF GODS by Nicky Drayden.
This was my first time reading Nnedi Okorafor and I was pleasantly surprised. I've be ...more
REMOTE CONTROL is a slow-paced meditation about a young girl who calls down the supernatural and must come to terms with those consequences. Eye-catching prose weaves with vivid scenes make this a novella a must-read for Afrofuturism shelves, and it's perfect for fans of THE PREY OF GODS by Nicky Drayden.
This was my first time reading Nnedi Okorafor and I was pleasantly surprised. I've be ...more

(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Remote Control is a fascinating SF novella about what it would be like to be unable to use technology is a technology driven world. At the same time it's about so much more: a confused girl who is feared, what it's like to be turned into a legacy, and not fitting into our world. In this futuristic setting, Sankofa is an intriguing narrator. The idea of death coming to call, but, of c ...more
Remote Control is a fascinating SF novella about what it would be like to be unable to use technology is a technology driven world. At the same time it's about so much more: a confused girl who is feared, what it's like to be turned into a legacy, and not fitting into our world. In this futuristic setting, Sankofa is an intriguing narrator. The idea of death coming to call, but, of c ...more

This reminds me very much of the stories that would be included in high school literature books. On the bus I had a high school age neighbor who would share these with me. Asimov, Bradbury, and my all time favorite "Born of Man and Woman", by Richard Matheson. I read it several times and have never forgotten it. I enjoyed the classic feel of this story and the contemporary setting. I see it becoming a tale for the ages
...more

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor is a stand-alone science fantasy novella, set in near future Ghana. It tells the story of a girl who is alone and feared and, for a large part of the story, nomadic.
I requested this novella for review because I've enjoyed Okorafor's other work, especially the Binti series of novellas. However, I wasn't sure what to expect, since the blurb makes it sound very different from Binti. After reading, I can say that, it is and it isn't. Fatima/Sankofa undergoes an inten ...more
I requested this novella for review because I've enjoyed Okorafor's other work, especially the Binti series of novellas. However, I wasn't sure what to expect, since the blurb makes it sound very different from Binti. After reading, I can say that, it is and it isn't. Fatima/Sankofa undergoes an inten ...more

Rep: Black Ghanian Muslim main character; set in futuristic Ghana and has entirely Black cast of characters
Warnings: death of family; mass death; violence, and body horror; main character is attacked; animal death
About a girl who becomes a legend, Remote Control tells the story from Fatima/Sankofa's childhood, as she first encounters the 'seed' that gives her extra-ordinary powers to the end of her personal journey with regards to coming to terms with those powers. Set in the future, the book h ...more
Warnings: death of family; mass death; violence, and body horror; main character is attacked; animal death
About a girl who becomes a legend, Remote Control tells the story from Fatima/Sankofa's childhood, as she first encounters the 'seed' that gives her extra-ordinary powers to the end of her personal journey with regards to coming to terms with those powers. Set in the future, the book h ...more

This is an amazing sci-fi novella that reads a lot like an old folktale. If you're into very science-y sci-fi, this might be a bit off-putting to you as it doesn't read like hard sci-fi and more walks like line between sci-fi/fantasy. If you love myths, legends, and folklore, then this book is DEFINITELY up your alley! This was the first book I've read by Nnedi Okorafor, but you'd better believe immediately upon finishing I went an added most of her backlist to my TBR!
The storytelling and image ...more
The storytelling and image ...more

Remote Control is a wonderfully written novella that is best described as a folktale with a hint of science fiction. Telling the story of Sankofa, who is known as the 'adopted daughter of death, and her complicated and often introspective coming of age story. Sankofa is gifted with the mysterious ability to kill at the cost of not being able to interact with technology in a technology driven culture. Filled with moving moments and a world that I would love to know more about, Okorafor has delive
...more

Nov 18, 2020
Laura
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
old-reads,
mt-bookpile-2020
Very fast read with a lot going on: Fatima's house has a tree in the backyard, a tree she becomes very close to and in return, the tree gives her a box with a seed inside. That seed has something magical (or evil) about it, and within two years Fatima is homeless, family-less and known as Sankofa, the Adopted Daughter of Death. It's a testament to what's going on in Ghana that someone as young as Sankofa (she's perhaps 8-9 when this starts) can roam around, town to town, not begging but being
...more

This was a really powerful and compelling look at how we vilify what we don't understand and make 'other' anything that is different. It tells the story of Sankofa, the adopted daughter of death blessed (cursed?) with the power to ease people to their death. Sankofa is a fascinating character. She has forgotten her name and wanders the rural countryside of Ghana trying to find some meaning behind her predicament. Along the way, she meets people who are willing to help her but an equal number who
...more
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Nnedi Okorafor is a Nigerian-American author of African-based science fiction and fantasy (Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism). Okorafor has won a Hugo, a Nebula, a World Fantasy Award, and a Locus Award, and her many fans include Neil Gaiman, Rick Riordan, John Green, and Ursula Le Guin. She is writing a series for Marvel about Shuri, Black Panther’s sister, and has a number of book-based project
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