Winner of the publisher's First Novel Contest (out of nearly 1,000
entries), Hopkinson's debut evokes Afro-Caribbean magic against a
near-future Toronto damaged by riots and neglect and abandoned by
all but the most desperate inhabitants. The inner city is run by
ruthless gangster Rudy Sheldon and his "posse." Ti-Jeanne Hunter
lives with her herbalist grandmother, Mami, and her unnamed child
(by Tony, one of Rudy's mob). Weak, untrustworthy Tony was fired
from his hospital job because of his drug addiction. Now, Canada's
premier, Catharine Uttley, has an ailing heart, and, for
overwhelming political reasons, any replacement organ must come
from a human donor. Word filters down to Rudy to supply the heart,
and Tony gets the job: If he can't find a donor quickly, he'll have
to murder someone and take the heart. Later, empty-handed and
terrified of Rudy's lieutenant, Crack Monkey, Tony pleads for Mami
to work magic and help him get out of the city undetected. Since
Ti-Jeanne can't resist Tony's blandishments, Mami reluctantly
agrees. Unfortunately, Rudy also commands powerful "obeah": Trapped
in his "duppy bowl" is a ravening spirit that will do his bidding
when he feeds it blood. Tony, meanwhile, finds that Mami would be a
compatible donor for the heart, and, unable to escape Rady, he
bashes in Mami's head and calls the paramedics. Ti-Jeanne learns
that Rudy's captive spirit is her mother - and the only way to free
her and defeat Rudy is to smash the bowl. A splendid if often
gruesome debut, superbly plotted and redolent of the rhythms of
Afro-Caribbean speech: "You just don't let she go, or I go zap the
both of all you one time." (Kirkus Reviews)
Also Available as an eBook
Winner of the Warner Aspect First Novel Contest.
Committed to finding science fiction's voices of the future, Warner Aspect sponsored a search that attracted nearly 1,000 entries from around the world. We are proud to introduce the winner, Nalo Hopkinson: a novelist whose life ranges over a hemisphere, whose experience encompasses enduring traditions of word and story, whose voice authentically reaches to those who are aliens in their own lands, and whose vision touches the essence of history, society, science fiction, and myth.
Brown Girl In The Ring
The rich and the privileged have fled the city, barricaded it behind roadblocks, and left it to crumble. The inner city has had to rediscover old ways-farming, barter, herb lore. But now the monied need a harvest of bodies, and so they prey upon the helpless of the streets. With nowhere to turn, a young woman must open herself to ancient truths, eternal powers, the tragic mystery surrounding her mother and grandmother. She must bargain with gods, and give birth to new legends.
RELATED SITES
halala.com: African American books and authors from Time Warner Trade Publishing
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