Rosewater

I read speculative fiction in the undying hope that something will come along and surprise and make me find a new perspective on the world. It doesn't happen often, but it's electric every time. Rosewater is that book - I loved everything about this new take on alien encounters, psychics and oppressive governments. It's clear that Dr. Thompson has a firm grounding in science (he's a psychiatrist), with decently well-thought out explanations for how alien physiology works and impacts human cognition in this world. The sociology of the aliens and their motivations are...alien -- distinct from other first encounter books I've read, and I enjoyed the futuristic Nigerian setting. If I had a complaint (and I always do), I would say many of the sex scenes are gratuitous and a little uncomfortable, but that was a minor annoyance. I liked the time-skipping back and forth as each time jump revealed a little bit more of the global setting and Kaaro's backstory and motivations (the perspective shifting is also something I've encountered from a number of Nigerian writers

mainstream sci-fi is a genre thoroughly colonized by white men, so this first contact story from a nigerian perspective is refreshing. come for the intriguing and mysterious astromycology and the abilities of our mildly anti-heroic part-time special agent protagonist, not for interesting prose with depth. although there are a few moments that get serious in a flash (we've seen colonisers before, and they are similar, whether intercontinental or interplanetary p.225) the story skims the surface and mirrors the narrator's irreverence. 

<spoiler>we do get to witness the protagonist develop from youthful insolence to something akin to matured indifference with an awakening heart. the first time kaaro chooses not to stay in the dome he does it because of the youthful lust for materialism and then a decade later it is because of love, but there's not a whole lot of substance there.</spoiler>

i enjoyed it. i'll probably read the next one sometime soon. 

Set in Nigeria some time after the year 2060, this slightly dystopian science fiction book describes a future in which an alien entity (code named Wormwood) has landed on Earth and established itself in Nigeria, forming an impenetrable dome. It neither communicates nor makes any aggressive moves, but once a year the dome opens, and those in the immediate area are healed of injuries and disease, so an encampment forms around the perimeter which eventually turns into the city called Rosewater (ironically named because of the stink of the makeshift sewage).

One of the side effects of the alien's arrival is the development of Ascomycetes xenosphericus, a fungal organism that infects the environment and allows certain "sensitives" to use the omnipresence of the fungus to pick up thoughts from other people (it is blocked by antifungal compounds). Effectively this has created a group of specialized empaths of various sorts, and one of these is our protagonist Kaaro. We see the story unfold through his eyes, learning both the history of Rosewater and Wormwood, and a glimpse into what will be its future.

This is a book that uses mycology as a base element of worldbuilding and a very masculine narrator, so this would be a really interesting companion book to read along side Raising the Stones by Sherri Tepper, which also uses a mycological world infection, but is told from a very female perspective.

I liked the creativity in this world and the imaginative setting; however, I found Kaaro rather unlikeable and very hard to sympathize with, which is always a problem for me. I was also annoyed by the way the author jumps backwards and forwards in time with each chapter, so it's very disorienting and takes most of the book to piece together where each part of the story is happening and how they tie together - I don't mind a little bit of this, but back and forth every single chapter seemed excessive and became just annoying after a while. So this book is definitely not for everybody, but if you're into afro-futurism, mycology, or weird alien futures in general you may enjoy it.

It's the first of a trilogy, but comes to a reasonably satisfying conclusion although it's clear the door is open for a continuation of the story.

From the pitch, I was expecting an African take on Roadside picnic or maybe Annihilation. While there are shades of this, much of the book is more reminiscent of Neuromancer, but where cyberspace is more biological in nature.

This book has everything though: Allen invasions, cybernetic implants, psychic powers, anarchist communes, buildings made of flesh etc. Yet it feels rooted in Nigerian culture and the psychological impact of these things on the characters that experienced them.

My main complaint is that the lead character seems obsessed with sex, which is briefly addressed, but ultimately seems more like an excuse to introduce sudden scenes of intercourse than an actual exploration of the nature or implications of it. The side effect of this is the objectification of almost every woman we encounter, which gets tiresome.

That said, I'm not averse to picking up the rest of the series at some point as there is still so many interesting things going on and it feels like this book just scratches the surface of what is happening.

Rosewater is a Nigerian town grown up around a mysterious alien dome. Kaaro is a sensitive who was there from the start, the dome sending out spores which give people like him a telepathic gift. No one knows what the aliens want, but once a year the dome opens briefly, healing anyone in the vicinity. As word gets out, more and more people make the pilgrimage to Rosewater.

The story is split between 2066 and Kaaro’s past. His gift meant he could always find people’s valuables and led to his life of crime as a thief. In 2066, he is a government agent, helping a mysterious organisation with interrogations, with a part time job at a bank being part of their firewall.

It took me a while to get into, it spends time world-building before the meaty plot starts, but the reward is worth it. I liked the Nigerian setting, it felt like a not-too-distant future with the country finding their place in the new world, one where Britain has shot itself in the foot with Brexit and America has isolated itself completely. It had a unique take on alien invasions, but you’ll just have to read it to find out exactly what.

The spores released by the dome allow sensitives like Kaaro to enter the xenosphere. Here they are exposed to the images inside the heads of people nearby, to protect themselves, they appear as an avatar. When they would like to switch off they use anti-fungal creams to dampen their skills. But sensitives are starting to get ill. Is someone targeting them and their work?

I’m super happy that this is the start of a trilogy, because Tade Thompson has really drawn me in and I want to know more. It does work as a standalone too, so you can read it without worrying about a lot of unanswered questions.