[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, August 14, 2023

“A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy” by Gabrielle Emem Harry

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The main character in “A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy” by Gabrielle Emem Harry makes a deal with Death. She wishes to remember her previous life when she is reincarnated. In exchange, she will show Death something it has never seen. Unknown to Death, the woman has her own unspoken motive, based on her relationship with a god.

This is a greatly simplified synopsis of a complex story containing multiple flashbacks that describe the woman’s life before she encounters Death. At times, these sections of narrative do not seem relevant to the plot. The work is rich with West African culture, adding an exotic flavor for readers from other parts of the world. Such readers may also find themselves frequently looking up unfamiliar terms, which is likely to interrupt their enjoyment of the piece.

Victoria Silverwolf did some housecleaning and ironing today.