Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
I was instantly intrigued when I saw Nnedi Okorafor had released a story titled Death of the Author. The title alone promised something layered, potentially metafictional, and confrontational, and that’s exactly what I got. Knowing Okorafor’s sharp, genre-defying style, I expected a bold narrative and big questions packed into a short space. I wasn’t disappointed.

✅ What I Liked:
This is a punchy, provocative short story that lives up to its title. Okorafor uses a surreal, near-future premise, a university professor debates AI, literature, and authorial identity with a sentient AI that’s read everything and thinks it knows better. It’s part philosophical argument, part speculative vignette, and it moves fast.

What I loved most was the commentary on the limits of technology when it comes to interpreting art, intention, and identity, especially when it comes to authors from historically marginalised backgrounds. Okorafor’s voice is confident and unapologetic, and there’s real power in how she exposes the arrogance of assuming one can understand a work of fiction without understanding the person behind it.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
This is very much a thought piece rather than a traditional story, so readers looking for plot or character development may find it lacking. The dialogue leans toward essay-like in places, which worked for me but might feel didactic to some. It’s more intellectual sparring match than narrative arc.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
Buy it if you’re a fan of speculative fiction that challenges norms, especially around literature, AI, authorship, and power. If you’ve ever debated whether “the author is dead” or wondered whether AI can truly create art, this story is a must-read. It’s short but deeply thought-provoking.

💭 Final Thoughts:
Death of the Author is a bold and intelligent commentary on who gets to interpret stories, who is seen as credible, and whether artificial intelligence can ever replace human experience in art. Okorafor uses her platform to push back against erasure in a brilliant, biting way. It’s more of a mic drop than a story—and it absolutely works.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★★★ – A sharp, fearless critique of AI, authorship, and literary arrogance, smart, and impossible to ignore.