Saturday, 15 February 2025

On the Banks of the River Lex by N.K. Jemisin

Humanity is gone. Starbucks is back. Even Death is confused.

On the Banks of the River Lex by N.K. Jemisin boasts a fantastic premise and some truly rich world-building. Unfortunately, the story itself isn't quite on par. Even though I just read this, it’s already slipping from my memory, which isn’t exactly a great sign.

The setup is undeniably cool: humanity is long gone, leaving behind only forgotten gods, mythical creatures, and, apparently, the undying spirit of capitalism (yes, there’s a whole scene about Starbucks reopening). At the heart of it all is Death—literally—who wanders through an empty New York City like an aimless goth kid in a world with no Hot Topic. The story tries to be a poetic meditation on mortality, but the execution is a bit hit-or-miss.

During one of his excursions, Death encounters a surprisingly resilient octopus that seems to rekindle his faith in life’s ability to endure and adapt. Honestly, I found myself rooting for the octopus more than anything else. In the end, the atmosphere and concept shine, but the narrative doesn’t quite leave a lasting impact. Even though this was disapppointing, I am still excited to read more stories from Jemisin's collection. 


No comments:

Post a Comment