N. K. Jemisin

In this standalone short story by N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season, the winner of this year's Hugo Award for Best Novel, New York City is about to go through a few changes. Like all great metropolises before it, when a city gets big enough, old enough, it must be born; but there are ancient enemies who cannot tolerate new life. Thus New York will live or die by the efforts of a reluctant midwife...and how well he can learn to sing the city's mighty song. The City Born Great is a Tor.com Original. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A Tor.com Original

The City Born Great

While I have not read Jemisin's "Great Cities" novels, this little short story / novella made me both very intrigued and excited.

 short stories and novellas is that it gives a chance to authors to explore or expand on ideas that they might not necessarily be able to fit into their larger work, both debut and established. I believe this pre-dates the full-length novels and it does an excellent job at creating interest in and presenting the concept that is later to become a longer piece of work. (Which is the right decision since reading through the story, I kept thinking how much space it needs to breathe and how it would work out better as a novel or a novella).

Overall, I liked both Jimisin's style here and the themes she explores. I particularly liked how she places Black culture and the Black experience (paticularly that of poor Black people) as central to NYC's identity. I feel like there has always been an attempt to present NYC as white and stifle the amazing art and culture produced by communities of colour, particularly Black communities, while simultaneously being incredibly influential in both the American and international scene.

While I have not read Jemisin's "Great Cities" novels, this little short story / novella made me both very intrigued and excited.

The great thing about the Tor.com short stories and novellas is that it gives a chance to authors to explore or expand on ideas that they might not necessarily be able to fit into their larger work, both debut and established. I believe this pre-dates the full-length novels and it does an excellent job at creating interest in and presenting the concept that is later to become a longer piece of work. (Which is the right decision since reading through the story, I kept thinking how much space it needs to breathe and how it would work out better as a novel or a novella).

Overall, I liked both Jimisin's style here and the themes she explores. I particularly liked how she places Black culture and the Black experience (paticularly that of poor Black people) as central to NYC's identity. I feel like there has always been an attempt to present NYC as white and stifle the amazing art and culture produced by communities of colour, particularly Black communities, while simultaneously being incredibly influential in both the American and international scene.

Stef

" Heart attack far too young; poor kid, should’ve eaten more organic; should’ve taken it easy and not been so angry; the world can’t hurt you if you just ignore everything that’s wrong with it; well, not until it kills you anyway.


This prekuel short story of The City We Became  really great for starter to know more about the series before read the first book of the series. The flow of story and the voice of MC really alive and better listen the audiobook version cause giving a better experience. 

Love the concept that City written having a soul and ancient. Also, like human every city having a good and dark side.

Lia Yuliana

Update 02/12/2021

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    I sing the city.
  


The City Born Great is the prequel to N. K. Jemisin's full length novel The City We Became. It tells a story about a Black male protagonist living in New York City as he lives his best life making art on vacant walls in alleyways and meeting his friend Paulo (that he is mildly interested in). Paulo tells him about the impending future of a birth and the dark creatures that is trying to take advantage of this birth. The man was skeptical of Paulo's ramblings but soon he discovered he shares a strong bond with the city and it is up to him to help it's birth.
I've never read anything by N. K. Jemisin reading this short story as my first ever work by them I am completely enthralled. Jemisin's prose are exquisite, bold, and vibrant in this story. I can't help but love the main protagonist as he walks the streets of New York with vigor and spring of someone that has been raised in it's bustling ecosystem and fed by it's melting pot of diversity. From start to end I am immersed into the story fully. This story is a love letter to New York and it's many boroughs as Jemisin breathes life into it and gives it a united heartbeat that pulses with our main protagonist. I highly recommend for anyone that wants to pick up The City We Became or wants to sample N. K. Jemisin's writing to read this short story that packs an absolute punch!


  
    I live the city. It thrives and it is mine. I am its worthy avatar, and together? We will never be afraid again.

Maggie Gordon

The City Born Great is about the power of cities and individuals and the magic that keeps places with so many people and so many things going on running. It is told through the eyes of a poor, black, constantly downtrodden teen who refuses to do anything but survive while singing and painting. It's a rolling, tumbling piece, the prose mirroring the chaotic nature of its protagonist. Definitely makes me want to check more of Jemisin's work out!

(I should note that the story does talk about cops and race as the protagonist is a young, homeless black youth who tends to be targeted by the police. It's not a lecture when all that the character is doing is commenting to himself the realities of his own world)

The City Born Great A Tor.com Original

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