Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself – but first she has to make it there, alive. 

Prior to reading Binti, my only experience with Nnedi Okorafor’s work was with her Star Wars short story in the collection “From a Certain Point of View”. All the stories in that book are outstanding, but I remember Okorafor’s as one of the biggest highlights for me (if you’re curious, she wrote a short story from the POV of the Dianoga, the creature in the trash compactor in A New Hope…and it’s a completely gorgeous story!)

When we first meet Binti, she is leaving Earth and heading to Oomza University, a very prestigious institution. Binti is a math genius, and she’s the very first of the Himba people to gain admittance to the school. She’s leaving behind everything she’s ever known, and seemingly risking being shunned by her family to pursue this opportunity.

Once aboard the living shrimp-like spaceship that will take her to Oomza University, she encounters the Meduse, a race of hovering, tentacled aliens. And they are rather pissed off.

This book is less than 100 pages, which makes reviewing it challenging (at least for me). It’s a first person POV, and it truly reads as though it’s written by a sixteen-year-old. We get to know Binti quite well in a relatively short period of time. She’s so connected to her home, and her culture…leaving is a VERY BIG DEAL to her, but she stays brave & true to herself. 

There’s something almost timeless about this book, and about Nnedi Okorafor’s writing. Having only read the first book, it really feels like people will be reading about Binti for a very long time to come. I really enjoyed this & I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes!!

Thank you SO MUCH to TOR.COM Publishing for sending me these beautiful new editions of the Binti trilogy!