Zoo City by

9 January 2012


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Read for the Not just for Stormtroopers sci-fi challenge & for Carl’s Science Fiction Experience.

Zinzi December finds lost things. That’s her shavi, the gift she received, along with her Sloth, for her crime. No one really knows where the animals come from, or what the Undertow is, but everyone knows that is what is waiting for the animalled. It will swallow you up and drag you down.

Zinzi has been living in Zoo City for quite some time, a recovering addict, she is still paying off her drug debts. And she will take any job she can. But when a client is murdered she gets pulled into a missing persons case. She doesn’t usually do those. No stolen goods, no missing persons, those are her rules.

Zoo City by Lauren Beukes

Zoo City by Lauren Beukes

This is the perfect antidote to Gabriel’s Gate, in many ways it is the opposite of that book, whereas Gabriel’s Gate is all about the surface, Zoo City is about what is underneath. Beukes gives her readers enough credit to figure out what is going on in her book. She launches straight into the story and doesn’t bother with overlong descriptions of how things work. Sometimes that can really just fall flat and leave the reader confused and annoyed. In this case Beukes gives us just enough information to keep up.

And then of course there are all the things that this book talks about, racism, prejudice, all that important society stuff. Zinzi is on the outskirts of society, the animalled are the lowest of the low. Their crimes are made visible for all to see and to judge.

There is so much to enjoy about this book. It has great pacing, you certainly won’t be bored while reading it. And I certainly would be delighted to read more in this world. Actually, that is my one complaint, it ended, and I want to know more!

Other reviews: Curiosity killed the bookworm ; Books world in my head ; Falling forward ; Little red reviewer ; Speculative Scotsman ; Brain vs Book

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6 Responses

  1. Karen says:

    That was my complaint too. It ended far too soon. They way it ended too could mean another book I think. I only hope the author intends one but so far all her books have been standalones.
    Karen´s last blog post ..Cranford – Elizabeth Gaskell

    • Fence says:

      I would certainly read a follow up. And I have ordered her first book, but I'm not entirely sure when I'll get to it. Soon enough, hopefully.

  2. Ellie says:

    I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Lauren is currently writing a new book but have no idea if it's in the same world or not. I would love it is it were. I have Moxyland on my Kindle too.
    Ellie´s last blog post ..Divergent

  3. Carl V. says:

    Great review Fence! I've heard many great things about this book all over the internet. Love hearing it described as a book where she jumps right into the story. I think authors that can do that, and wrap their world-building into the story rather than long info-dumps, deserve to have their praise shouted from the rooftops. It is a skill that even some of the best authors don't always master well.
    Carl V.´s last blog post ..Foundation and Empire Group Read