Book Review: The City We Became

By Ryland Johnson

Author N. K. Jemisin’s The City We Became is a story set in New York City. It’s also a story about New York, but it’s as much the story about a particular place as it could be about any place — your place, your community, your city. Jemisin’s fantasy of the here-and-now imagines the incarnation of a place in a human avatar, the soul of a people encompassed within a hero. The spirit of New York is embodied by a street artist, who is beset by an Eldritch Terror, intent on covering the city with evil and fear. The fight leaves New York in mortal peril, and new avatars of the people, the embodiments of the five boroughs, must come together to rescue New York and defeat the “Lovecraftian” horror.

Jemisin’s book is exciting and creative. It has a fun, adventurous pace throughout, and a frenetic, sophisticated energy that evokes the Big Apple in a way that feels both sincere and fresh. More than that, though, the story is noteworthy because of its big heart. The City We Became believes that we can become heroes. It believes in the fundamental goodness and bravery of diverse people all over the world. It believes that, when it comes down to it, good people will stand up for what is right. It believes in the value of the community we create together.

Jemisin’s work has won significant acclaim, including a trio of Hugo Awards in three consecutive years. The City We Became is great for readers of science fiction and fantasy, teens and adults. But all of Jemison’s books are wonderful, particularly for those who have never really been wowed by sci-fi or fantasy novels. Her works are both enjoyable and rewarding, and they push the boundaries of the genre to new heights.