G. Willow Wilson

So good on so many levels! Perhaps because the plot kept surprising me, but also because this book allowed me to question stereotypes I didn't even know I had, and readjust what I thought I knew. Amazing how sf/f can do what reading 1000 articles written by Muslim feminists cannot.

Programmer Vs. State. Programmer Vs. The Hand. Programmer Vs. Jinn. Programmer Vs. World. This book is packed with everything that a story worth telling(and worth reading) is packed with: Compelling characters; colorful writing; fantasy; cultural value. Want to dive into the "Twitter Era", and ponder how the way we communicate today on the internet affects the political landscape? READ THIS! As a programmer myself I found Alif to be well-crafted; his anxiety was on point; his quirks are show more unique enough to make him feel authentic; the way his thought process works is akin to that of a programmer--break problems piece by piece and solve each piece at a time. However, the "programmer character" gimmick does NOT get in the way enough that you don't enjoy the other richness of the story; the way Wilson uses myth, religion and fantasy makes this story one hell of a sucker-punch when it comes to craft. It's a fun story--read it! And also read Ms. Marvel(also by Wilson); the writing in Alif the Unseen also has the vivid quality of a comic book-- coloring subjects that seem black and white--religion, politics, the digital era--while at the same time inspecting them seriously enough to provoke your brain. Can't say it enough: Read this book, you will get the chance to jump into this colorful world and also get some perspective into the political landscape in the "Twitter Era". show less

This was a beautiful novel. I picked it up and put it down in bookstores several times before I got it from the library, and I'm so glad I did: Fatima is a firecracker, Hassan is a treasure, their friendship is a complex and many-layered thing, and the King of the Birds itself was a beautiful revelation. The bits of Christian mythology and biblical reference used for Luz (a Spanish Catholic character), including the mote in her eye, were so well-done. There's no Ultimate Battle between Good show more and Evil, and while there is a low-key Chosen One, it isn't his job to do anything except go on being loved and valued, and there is no quest except to find some kind of safety and freedom. It is an unusual, deeply felt novel with very human characters, and I highly recommend it. show less

Oops.

I picked this up and didn't put it down till I finished it.

There are a lot of things I could talk about in this volume. I could talk about how Wilson's writing is on-point in this volume, how it's young and reflects the generation of people she's writing to. I could talk about her ease and mastery of story-telling, how I am willing to suspend my belief for just a little bit longer, forget some logistics, just because of her work.

I could talk about the artwork and how its warmth and show more whimsy really reflects Kamala Khan as a character, or how the panels are filled with surprising details that I picked up on. Or how the text is so dynamic it leaps off the page.

I could talk about representation, about feminism, about a courageous and compassionate young woman who could be a role model for so many.

But instead, I'll say this.

"Hello. My name is Lockjaw. I like hugs." show less