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Books matching: slavery and oppression

90 result(s)

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  1. #1

    The Fifth Season - The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin
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    The Fifth Season is a captivating blend of fantasy and science fiction set in a geologically unstable future Earth. The story follows individuals with the magical ability to control the earth's structures, known as orogenes, who are feared and oppressed by society. Through multiple perspectives, the book weaves together a tale of survival, discrimination, and the impending end of the world. N.K. Jemisin's unique writing style, intricate world-building, and complex characters create an immersive and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of power, oppression, and resilience.

    For the past ten years you’ve lived as ordinary a life as possible. You came to Tirimo from elsewhere; the townsfolk don’t really care where or why. Since you were obviously well educated, you became ...

  2. #2

    Tales of Neveryon - Return to Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany
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    'Tales of Neveryon' by Samuel R. Delany is a unique blend of historical fiction and fantasy, exploring themes of social change, language, and cultural systems. The book is a series of interconnected stories set in a mythical empire, following characters like Gorgik, a slave turned leader, and Small Sarg, a barbarian prince turned slave. Delany's writing style is characterized by a deep exploration of language and symbolism, challenging traditional fantasy tropes and engaging readers in philosophical reflections on societal structures.

    HIS MOTHER FROM TIME to time claimed eastern connections with one of the great families of fisherwomen in the Ulvayn Islands: she had the eyes, but not the hair. His father was a sailor who, after a h...

  3. #3

    An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
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    Aster lives on a generational space ship that resembles the antebellum south, where dark-skinned residents are confined to lower levels and controlled through brutal violence. She navigates through a world of trauma, power systems, and societal conflicts, seeking to uncover secrets that could save them all. The story unfolds on the spaceship Matilda, where the characters grapple with themes of slavery, brutality, hope, and rebellion, set against the backdrop of a dystopian society on a journey through space.

    Aster removed two scalpels from her med-kit to soak in a solution of disinfectant. Her fingers trembled from the cold, and the tools slipped from her grasp, plopping ungracefully into the sanitizer. I...

  4. #4

    Empire in Black and Gold - Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky
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    'Empire in Black and Gold' by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a fantasy novel set in a world where humans have insect-like traits and affinities, with different races like Beetle kinden, Wasp kinden, and Moth kinden. The story follows a group of friends who prepare to combat the rising threat of the Wasp Empire, led by a Beetle kin artificer, Stenwold Maker. The book delves into complex internal politics, unique world-building, and the struggle against the brutal suppression of the Wasp kin race.

    The plot involves a mix of action, espionage, and political scheming, where characters with insect heritage possess varied and sometimes magical abilities. The narrative explores themes of racial discrimination, social classes, empire, and individuality against the backdrop of a world on the brink of conquest by the Wasp Empire. The book introduces readers to a richly detailed world with intricate character dynamics and a mix of insect-inspired powers and technologies.

    The burly man stopped and peered down at him, telescope still half-poised. From their third-storey retreat the city walls were a mass of black and red, the defenders hurrying into place atop the rampa...

  5. #5

    The Book of Etta - The Road to Nowhere by Meg Elison
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    'The Book of Etta' is the second installment in Meg Elison's 'The Road to Nowhere' series, set in a post-apocalyptic world where a plague has drastically reduced the female population. The story follows Etta, who chooses to be a raider traveling outside her community of Nowhere to scavenge and rescue women from slavers. The novel delves into themes of gender identity, survival, and the complexities of navigating a broken world, all while exploring different societal models and the struggles of finding equilibrium after a devastating pandemic.

    Eddy didn’t like that. He hated how inevitable it felt. Touching the star on the faded map, he had asked his mother why Estiel was the bigger city, with the giant arch and the huge tall buildings, whe...

    (Also, see 100 recommendations for the series The Road to Nowhere )

  6. #6

    The Shadows of Dust by Alec Hutson
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    'The Shadows of Dust' by Alec Hutson is a science fantasy novel set in space, following the journey of Kerin, a streamsurfer who navigates through space on a giant turtle named Drifter. Kerin takes on a job that leads him into trouble and introduces him to a new crewmate, Sep, who has a mysterious magical alteration. Together with Nala, a battlemage from a race of cat people, they travel to Dust in search of a cure for Sep's condition, encountering various groups and magical elements along the way. The book combines elements of fantasy and science fiction, with a unique setting and a plot that keeps readers engaged throughout.

    The story is filled with imaginative world-building, well-defined characters, and a plot that moves organically, without resorting to cliches or obvious plot devices. The writing style blends elements of humor, wryness, and adventure, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Readers are taken on a journey through a fascinating world filled with magic, mystery, and intricate relationships between characters.


  7. #7

    Four Ways to Forgiveness - Hainish Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin
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    "Four Ways to Forgiveness" by Ursula K. Le Guin is a collection of four linked novellas set in the Hainish worlds of Werel and Yeowe. The stories explore themes of freedom, equality, and human rights, particularly focusing on the aftermath of slavery and the struggles for gender equality. Each novella delves into different perspectives, including those of slaves, slave owners, envoys, and historians, providing a comprehensive view of the social and political dynamics in these societies. Le Guin's writing style is characterized as serious, inspiring, and thought-provoking, with clear and logical prose that conveys complex societal issues through realistic characters and their hard choices.

    “On the planet O there has not been a war for five thousand years,” she read, “and on Gethen there has never been a war.” She stopped reading, to rest her eyes and because she was trying to train hers...

    (Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Hainish Cycle )

  8. #8

    The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines
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    The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines is a fictional autobiography that follows the life of Miss Jane Pittman, a woman born into slavery who lives through the Civil War, emancipation, and the Civil Rights movement. The book is a compelling narrative that interweaves historical references and recollections to tell the story of one woman's journey from enslavement to the fight for civil rights, capturing the essence of the black experience in America from the 19th to the 20th century.

    It was a day something like right now, dry, hot, and dusty dusty. It might ’a’ been July, I’m not too sure, but it was July or August. Burning up, I won’t ever forget. The Secesh Army, they came by fi...

  9. #9

    Song Yet Sung by James McBride
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    Set in pre Civil War Maryland, 'Song Yet Sung' by James McBride follows the story of Liz Spocott, a runaway slave with prophetic dreams of the future. Chained in an attic with other captives by the notorious slave catcher Patty Cannon, Liz learns about the intricate Code used by slaves to communicate and navigate the dangers of the underground railroad. As Liz escapes and is pursued by both Patty Cannon and a slave hunter hired by her owner, the story unfolds with a mix of vivid historical details, intense chase sequences, and the exploration of the complexities of freedom and captivity during that era. McBride's writing style is described as unique, with spare prose that adds to the enjoyment of the plot, even though some readers found the lack of character detail a bit lacking.

    She dreamed of Negroes driving horseless carriages on shiny rubber wheels with music booming throughout, and fat black children who smoked odd-smelling cigars and walked around with pistols in their p...

  10. #10

    Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg
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    "Tower of Glass" by Robert Silverberg revolves around Simeon Krug, a visionary inventor who creates synthetic humans to build a giant glass tower to communicate with aliens. The story delves into themes of power, religion, and the nature of humanity, as the androids created by Krug begin to develop their own society and question their purpose and beliefs. The writing style of the book is described as skillfully crafted, thought-provoking, and exploring timeless human problems through the lens of science fiction.

    Look, Simeon Krug wanted to say, a billion years ago there wasn’t even any man, there was only a fish. A slippery thing with gills and scales and little round eyes. He lived in the ocean, and the ocea...

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