Skin Folk (original 2001; edition 2001)

by Nalo Hopkinson (Author)

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510	13	48,140	(4.04)	22
Fiction. Literature. Science Fiction. Short Stories. In Skin Folk, with works ranging from science fiction to Caribbean folklore, passionate love to chilling horror, Nalo Hopkinson is at her award-winning best spinning tales like "Precious," in which the narrator spews valuable coins and gems from her mouth whenever she attempts to talk or sing. In "A Habit of Waste," a self-conscious woman undergoes elective surgery to alter her appearance; days later she's shocked to see her former body climbing onto a public bus. In "The Glass Bottle Trick," the young protagonist ignores her intuition regarding her new husband's superstitions-to horrifying consequences. Hopkinson's unique and vibrant sense of pacing and dialogue sets a steady beat for stories that illustrate why she received the 1999 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Entertaining, challenging, and alluring, Skin Folk is not to be missed. Contains mature themes.… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	mjhunt
Title:	Skin Folk
Authors:	Nalo Hopkinson (Author)
Info:	Aspect (2001), 272 pages
Collections:	Your library, Currently reading, To read
Rating:
Tags:	2017, fantasy, folk-tales, short-story, surreal, fairy-tale, magic

Work Information

Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson (2001)

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Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)

4.5 really. Clear and compelling and so much that I've never really seen before (in large part due to the limitations of my previous reading--I have read very few books by Afro-Caribbean authors in general). A really fun mixture of folk and fairy tale retellings/reimaginings, tinged with horror and a queer sexual sensibility. (

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localgayangel | Mar 5, 2024 |

I almost missed out on this extremely interesting and imaginative book because I didn't like the first few stories. "Snake," in particular, seemed surfacey and uninteresting. But then I hit the high spot in the middle, with "Under Glass," "The Glass Bottle Trick," and "Fisherman" - all absolutely incredible.

"Under Glass" and "The Glass Bottle Trick" are adaptations of fairy tales by Hans Christian Anderson and Charles Perrault. Like Angela Carter (but, I would venture, even better), Hopkinson shapes the raw material into something utterly new and wildly imaginative. "The Glass Bottle Trick" turns into a story about internalized racism (to painfully oversimplify) and "Under Glass" is about how pain can make love turn cold.

"Fisherman" is really good erotica about someone who has been hiding who they are. I was genuinely touched by it. (

)

Crae | Jul 29, 2022 |

Such incredible, mesmerizing writing! Every story in here left me breathless; I adore her twists on fairytales (the ending to 'Precious' is one of my favourite monologues ever)! Go read this collection! (

)

booms | Apr 12, 2021 |

These short stories are marvelous, sexy, scary, speculative. Ms. Hopkinson explores what it means to be human and what it means to be a woman using folklore, science fiction, and her experiences as an immigrant to Canada from the Caribbean. This woman can write! (

)

nmele | Jan 11, 2021 |

I usually prefer novels to short fiction, but these are some of the best short stories I've ever read. (

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elenaj | Jul 31, 2020 |

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▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Sunburst Award (Winner – 2003)

World Fantasy Award (Winner – Collection – 2002)

Notable Lists

100 Best Horror Books of All Time (2001)

Unbound Worlds 100 Best Horror Books of All-Time

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Original publication date

2001

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Dedication

First words

Throughout the Caribbean, under different names, you'll find stories about people who aren't what they seem. -Riding the Red

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Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

813.54

Canonical LCC

PR9199.3.H5927

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File:Skin Folk.jpg

Skin Folk

▾Book descriptions

Fiction. Literature. Science Fiction. Short Stories. In Skin Folk, with works ranging from science fiction to Caribbean folklore, passionate love to chilling horror, Nalo Hopkinson is at her award-winning best spinning tales like "Precious," in which the narrator spews valuable coins and gems from her mouth whenever she attempts to talk or sing. In "A Habit of Waste," a self-conscious woman undergoes elective surgery to alter her appearance; days later she's shocked to see her former body climbing onto a public bus. In "The Glass Bottle Trick," the young protagonist ignores her intuition regarding her new husband's superstitions-to horrifying consequences. Hopkinson's unique and vibrant sense of pacing and dialogue sets a steady beat for stories that illustrate why she received the 1999 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Entertaining, challenging, and alluring, Skin Folk is not to be missed. Contains mature themes.

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