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Hero archetypes
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Synopsis
Winner of the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. What will become of our self-destructed planet? The answer shatters all expectations in this subversive speculation from the Hugo Award–winning author of the Broken Earth trilogy. An explorer returns to gather information from a climate-ravaged Earth that his ancestors, and others among the planet’s finest, fled centuries ago. The mission comes with a warning: a graveyard world awaits him. But so do those left behind—hopeless and unbeautiful wastes of humanity who should have died out ages ago. After all this time, there’s no telling how they’ve devolved. Steel yourself, soldier. Get in. Get out. And try not to stare. N. K. Jemisin’s Emergency Skin is part of Forward, a collection of six stories of the near and far future from out-of-this-world authors. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single thought-provoking sitting. Audible narration by Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery)
Tags
Is Emergency Skin (Forward collection) appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This thought-provoking novelette explores climate catastrophe aftermath and prejudice through the eyes of a soldier who discovers his preconceptions about Earth's survivors are wrong. Contains mild language and thematic content about environmental devastation.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include climate catastrophe and dehumanization.
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens will appreciate this twist-filled story that challenges assumptions about humanity's future and survival.