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An Unkindness of Ghosts

By Rivers Solomon
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3.96 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 21,475 ratings, 3,490 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon is a poignant science fiction novel set aboard a vast, generations-long space voyage. The protagonist, Aster, lives in a segregated society divided by race and class on a spaceship known as the HSS Matilda. As Aster investigates her mother's mysterious death, she uncovers secrets that could alter the fate of everyone on board. The story deep dives into themes of identity, resilience, and the quest for freedom.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy stories that blend science fiction with powerful social commentary. It offers a unique setting aboard a generational spaceship, exploring themes of race, class, and identity. Its rich character development and thought-provoking narrative make it a compelling read.

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A breathtaking science fiction debut from a worthy successor to Octavia Butler.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 organised 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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Rivers Solomon's An Unkindness of Ghosts is a compelling sci-fi debut that draws powerful comparisons to Octavia Butler, set aboard a generation starship with a sharply divided social hierarchy. Reviews highlight its intense and thought-provoking narrative, applauding its depth and literary precision while acknowledging its unflinching confrontation of societal issues. The diverse cast of characters and their struggles in a repressive society are vibrant and critical, gaining praise for addressing contemporary themes with imaginative storytelling.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781617755880

Publisher: Akashic Books,U.S.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 November 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: Akashic Books,U.S.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 340

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Rivers Solomon Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction

About the Author

Rivers Solomon graduated from Stanford University with a degree in comparative studies in race and ethnicity and holds an MFA in fiction writing from the Michener Center for Writers. Though originally from the United States, they currently live in Cambridge, England, with their family. An Unkindness of Ghosts is their debut.

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