Riot Baby

Last updated

Riot Baby
Riot Baby cover.jpg
Author Tochi Onyebuchi
LanguageEnglish
Genre Science fiction
Publisher Tor Publishing
Publication date
January 21, 2020
Publication place United States
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages176
ISBN 978-1-250-21475-1

Riot Baby is a science fiction novella written by Nigerian American author Tochi Onyebuchi published in 2020. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Ella Jackson is a young girl with clairvoyance and telekinetic powers, which she calls her "Thing". Her younger brother Kevin “Kev” is born during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. Ella’s powers grow as she ages; she has seizure-like episodes that cause furniture to fly around and harm nearby onlookers. After almost accidentally killing her mother, Ella disappears.

Kev is convicted of attempted robbery and incarcerated at Rikers. Ella visits him regularly via astral projection. In a prison riot, Kev realizes that he may also be developing telekinetic powers. Kev’s mother dies while he is imprisoned. He considers suicide but changes his mind, eventually becoming a counselor for other suicidal inmates. After eight years of imprisonment, Kev is released on parole and decides to move back West.

Ella becomes increasingly angry with the violence and racial discrimination directed against Black Americans. She shows Kev a vision of his birth during the riots. In a series of increasingly abstract and violent images, Ella and Kev plan to use their powers to forge a better world for Black people.

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResultsRef
2020 Goodreads Choice Science FictionFinalist [4]
Nebula Award Best Novella Finalist [5]
2021 Alex Award —Won [6]
Hugo Award Novella Finalist [7]
Ignyte Award NovellaWon [8]
Locus Award Novella Finalist [9]
NAACP Image Award Literature - Fiction Finalist [10]
Nommo Award NovellaFinalist [11]
World Fantasy Award Novella Won [12]

References

  1. ↑ "Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Book review: Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi". Publishers Weekly . October 25, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ↑ Coldiron, Katherine (June 10, 2020). "Katharine Coldiron Reviews Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi". Locus Magazine . Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ↑ Cathryn Haight (March 3, 2021). "8 Takeaways From Riot Baby Discussion with Author Tochi Onyebuchi". Boston.com . Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Readers' Favorite Science Fiction 2020". Goodreads. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  5. ↑ "2020 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ Andrew Liptak (January 25, 2021). "All the SFF Winners of the 2021 ALA Alex Awards". Reactor . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ "2021 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. December 18, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Molly Templeton (September 20, 2021). "Announcing the 2021 Ignyte Awards Winners!". Reactor . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  9. ↑ "2021 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ Davis, Clayton (February 2, 2021). "Viola Davis, Tyler Perry and Regina King Up for Entertainer of the Year at 2021 NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  11. ↑ "2021 Nommo Awards Winners". Locus. August 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ "2021 World Fantasy Award Winners". Locus. November 7, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2025.


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