Remote Control

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor

I love a book that pulls me right in and keeps me engaged all the way through (especially when I'm reading a digital copy! Is that just me or does anyone else have attention difficulties when reading off a screen?), and this book did just that. From the opening scene of Sankofa walking through a town and seeing the villagers reactions the plot charged forward. As this is a pretty short read, I ended up finishing it in a single sitting.

'Remote Control' refers to the ability to kill all things tech with a single touch. It's less an ability than a way of being, she can't turn off this feature, but in a world that is dependent on things like vehicles and cell phones, it makes her something of an outcast. Sankofa is both feared and honored by the superstitions that grow around her being death-touched.

Sankofa is an interesting character, not exactly likable at first, but not unlikeable either. She genuinely caught my interest, made me wonder about her actions and motivations, and then in a long flashback that takes up roughly the middle third of the book, she shows us how she came to be who she is. There are definitely darker themes and death, but I never felt like I was reading anything especially heavy. Certain parts were just very sad, but Sankofa is only 7 at the time, and her childlike way of understanding, growing and moving forward help keep the reader moving along too.

This is a quick SciFi read with some interesting philosophical questions, a compelling plot and an intriguing main character. I would definitely recommend!

I recieved an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.