Nnedi Okorafor
International award-winning novelist of African-based science fiction, fantasy and magical realism for both children and adults. Her latest works include her novel The Book of Phoenix, her Binti Trilogy and her children’s book Chicken in the Kitchen. Her bestselling post-apocalyptic fantasy novel Who Fears Death is being turned into a TV show by HBO, and will be produced by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.
Q: Which of your novels would you like to see taught at school and why?
I have several young adult novels that are good for school. Zahrah the Windseeker is good for kids aged 8 to 12 years, the Akata series and Binti novella trilogy are good for teens and Who Fears Death and the Book of Phoenix are best for universities.
Q: You dedicate ‘Binti’ to a jellyfish you came across in the UAE. Tell us about it.
In 2013, I was in Sharjah for the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival. It was my first time in the Middle East. This trip had a really strong effect on both my daughter and me. We stayed at the Hilton Hotel that’s just in front of the Khalid Lagoon. I took many walks along that lagoon and on one of those walks, during a hot beautiful afternoon, I spotted the first jellyfish I’ve ever seen in the wild. It was blue and pumping along like it had important places to go. I was delighted and intrigued. When I wrote Binti, that jellyfish became a jellyfish-life alien tribe.
Q: How involved are you in the upcoming HBO production of Who Fears Death?
I’m quite involved. I’m included in meetings, I’ll be a consultant, and I also may at some point write the script for an episode.
Q: When is it expected to release?
It’s too early to know that kind of information. We are just at the beginning. These things are far from instant. Right now, we have just chosen an excellent writer for the pilot, Selwyn Hinds. I’m very excited about this.
Q: Are more characters like Onyesonwu needed to bring diversity to the fantasy genre on television?
Certainly. Diversity means a diversity of characters, stories, writers, producers, directors, actors, etc. The change can only happen when there is more of everything.
Q: Do you watch any shows from the fantasy genre? What’s your favourite?
Sure. I love good TV. If we are talking about current fantasy TV shows, my favourites are The Leftovers, Game of Thrones and Stranger Things.
