An Unkindness of Ghosts
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon is a thought-provoking work published by Akashic Books in 2017. This first edition spans 349 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Aster, who navigates life in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel structured similarly to the antebellum South. As Aster grapples with her identity and the oppressive environment around her, she confronts the harsh realities imposed by the ship’s leaders on dark-skinned sharecroppers.
Readers will find a raw exploration of themes such as slavery, feudalism, and the quest for power within the confines of a rigid social hierarchy. Aster’s struggle against a brutal overseer leads her to consider the possibility of inciting civil war as a means to alter her fate. This work delves into the intersections of race, class, and resistance, offering a unique perspective on the human experience in an apocalyptic setting.
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–One of Esquire magazine’s 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time
“Solomon debuts with a raw distillation of slavery, feudalism, prison, and religion that kicks like rotgut moonshine . . . Stunning.” –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She’s used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, she’d be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remains of her world.
Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South. For generations, Matilda has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land. On its way, the ship’s leaders have imposed harsh moral restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer, Aster learns there may be a way to improve her lot–if she’s willing to sow the seeds of civil war.
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