Nnedi Okorafor Releases First Non-Fiction Book, ‘Broken Places & Outer Spaces’

Award-winning fantasy and science fiction writer, Nnedi Okorafor, can now add another achievement to her already incredibly long list of feats. The Nigerian-American author’s 15th book in 14 years and first non-fiction book is now available for purchase. 

The book, titled Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected, in Okorafor’s own words, is a “memoir, science fiction, lots of things”. She adds that she had “been writing parts of this book for over two decades”.

Advance copies of my 1st nonfiction book! !
BROKEN PLACES & OUTER SPACES (published by @TEDbooks ) is memoir, science fiction, lots of things. It’s the length of a novella and will be in hardcover. The release date is in June. #Africanfuturism#BrokenPlacesOuterSpaces pic.twitter.com/RhbcN76XeN

— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) February 26, 2019

Simon and Schuster imprint, TED Books, published the 112-page memoir only yesterday, but early reviews already describe it as “eloquent” and a “gripping account of her recovery [that] will inspire any reader”. Part of the synopsis reads:

“A powerful journey from star athlete to sudden paralysis to creative awakening, award-winning science fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor shows that what we think are our limitations have the potential to become our greatest strengths.”

Nnedi is the recipient of many awards, including World Fantasy Award, the Nebula Award, the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature, the Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature, and the Brittle Paper Literary Person of the Year.

Most recently, she started her own production company for africanfuturist TV shows, and she was announced to be scripting Viola Davis’ new show, Wild Seed. There’s also the matter of that new comic about African and alien immigrants in New York.

The Nigerian-American writer is really just having a hell of a year!

Nnedi Okorafor with her cat, Periwinkle Chukwu. (Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)