The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin

Empire state of mind.

With her engaging storytelling and signature Afro-futurist style, N.K. Jemisin steadily proving herself to be the heir apparent to legends like Octavia Butler. I am a big fan of her Broken Earth novels, so I was eager to see how she would tackle the short-story format. “The City Born Great” is the second story in her exceptional collection, How Long 'Til Black Future Month, and while it certainly has its merits, it feels more like a warm-up act before Jemisin fully hits her stride with the stronger stories that follow in the collection.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the world-building is top-tier. This is Jemisin we’re talking about—she could probably create a sprawling, fully-realized Afro-futurist world on the back of a napkin during a coffee break. The concept of New York City as a living, breathing, sentient being is very cool and the narrator’s ability to channel power through their connection with the city gives off major Broken Earth trilogy vibes, like an Orogene moonlighting in Brooklyn.

But here’s where things wobble: the story itself. It’s a bit like a street performer juggling flaming swords—you’re impressed by the craft but not quite sure where it’s going. The pacing feels choppy, the narrative meanders, and it reads more like a prologue to something grander than a standalone piece. You’ll keep turning the pages (or swiping, if you’re fancy), thanks to Jemisin’s knack for intrigue and strong characterization, but it’s the world-building that steals the spotlight—maybe even shoving the story to the back row.

As a socio-political metaphor it's effective enough, despite being a little on the nose. It’s a rallying cry for marginalized communities fighting back against oppression, wrapped in a speculative fiction bow. The concept of the city choosing a protector feels empowering, like New York finally decided to ghost all the Wall Street greed and hand its future over to the people who truly understand its heartbeat. While this short story experiment isn’t Jemisin at her strongest, it’s still worth a read, especially if you’re a fan of her ability to weave magic into gritty realities. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself craving more depth or a clearer destination.