Possibly it was A Boy and His Dog that put me firmly against reading post-apocalyptic fiction. (Possibly it was growing up with Hiroshima and Nagasaki more recent than Princess Di's death is to us now.) Whatever, I was reluctant to read Nnedi Okorafor's work because- post-apocalyptic. Deadly, depressing, human nature at its worst.

Hadn't realized that there are apocalypses and apocalypses; also that not everyone is Harlan Ellison. (Or Cormac McCarthy, and thank god for that. Both thats.) Also that The Shadow Speaker is YA. Also that it would turn out to have, for me at least, odd resonances of Flora Segunda. Much admired female warriors just for a start, of which there are too few in literature. Jaa has the authority of Flora's Mama the General, the smarts of Nini Mo the Coyote Queen, and the ferocious impetuosity of Tiny Doom. I would like to read more about her and her two husbands, but it seems the series is complete as it stands. A pity.

(Also beloved animals. Ohh, Onions the camel.)

Anyway, now I have Who Fears Death, which is adult post-Apocalypse, and probably a more harrowing read. Watch this space.