Book Review
Title: Emergency Skin (Part 3 in the Forward Collection)
Author: N. K. Jemisin
Genre: YA/Sci-Fi/Short Story
Rating: *****
Review: I have never read anything by N. K. Jemisin but I have a lot of books by this author on my TBR right now so I am hoping that Emergency Skin will give me an introduction to the writing style the author uses to see if I like it before committing to larger series. Emergency Skin is about an explorer who returns to an Earth than has been ravaged by climate change but receives several warnings about what might be found on Earth.
At only 33 pages, N. K. Jemisin packs a hell of a punch with Emergency Skin and I will definitely be reading more of Jemisin’s books in the near future. Jemisin manages to convey the story of how Earth has died and a select few have rebuilt on another planet but a mission is being made back to Earth in order to collect samples that will ensure the survival of their new home. Our hero who remains nameless for the entire story is being offered skin as a reward since they have evolved into almost formless, androgenous beings and they will be given an identity when they return. The story is also told entirely from the perspective of the AI in the protagonist’s head guiding them through the mission.
Upon arriving on Earth, the AI is shocked to see that Earth isn’t like what they had imagined at all, rather than being dead it is thriving although in a way it views as primitive and distasteful. However, the protagonist is excited at the prospect of Earth being alive and continues to explore even when discouraged. We soon learn that the people on Earth don’t treat the protagonist as some miracles, a life from another world and it is strange. However, we come to learn the protagonist isn’t the first one sent on a mission back to Earth as there have been several in the past. Each time the person sent back sees Earth, there are two options for the desert the new world in favour of Earth or be killed on the return journey.
The protagonist takes the route of one of the others from their planet and decides to stay on Earth, killing the AI in its head while retaining all of its information ready to attack and destroy the Founders who were the reason for the almost demise of Earth in the first place. Honestly, the amount of twists and turns Jemisin packs into this short story alongside a good story really bodes well for when I pick up more of their books.
Buy it here:
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Also see: Ark by Veronica Roth
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