Falling in Love With Hominids

Falling in Love With Hominids is a collection of short stories that spans science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. The collection features works written over a decade, with one new story "Flying Lessons" making its debut in this volume. Each story presents a distinct narrative world, from post-apocalyptic landscapes where adults transform into flesh-eating monsters, to a haunted mall where ghosts relive their deaths, to reimaginings of classic tales. The stories draw from diverse sources including Caribbean folklore, Shakespeare's The Tempest, and Christina Rossetti's poetry. Author Nalo Hopkinson builds her stories from a foundation of multiple cultural traditions, weaving together Afro-Caribbean elements with retellings of European literature and folklore. The collection includes adaptations such as "Blushing," based on the French folktale Bluebeard, and "Shift," which retells The Tempest from Caliban's perspective. The collection explores the dual nature of humanity - our capacity for both creation and destruction, kindness and cruelty. Through varied genres and settings, these stories examine human nature and our relationships with each other and ourselves.

Readers appreciate Hopkinson's blend of Caribbean folklore with contemporary fantasy elements. Many note her skill at crafting complex characters and tackling social issues through speculative fiction. Reviews highlight the diverse range of stories and unique perspectives offered. Likes: - Fresh takes on familiar fantasy tropes - Strong character development - Cultural authenticity - Imaginative worldbuilding - Accessible writing style Dislikes: - Some stories feel incomplete or abrupt - Uneven quality across the collection - A few readers found certain stories difficult to follow - Some wanted more context for cultural references Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Each story feels like stepping into a fully realized world" - Goodreads reviewer "The author's notes before each story add valuable insight" - Amazon reviewer "Some tales left me wanting more development" - LibraryThing reviewer

The Wood Wife by Terri Windling A novel blending mythology, folklore, and fantasy while exploring human nature through the lens of multiple cultural traditions.

How Long 'til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin This short story collection combines science fiction, fantasy, and horror while incorporating African diaspora themes and folklore.

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi The book weaves together Caribbean and European folklore into a haunting narrative about family, identity, and inherited trauma.

The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson This novel connects multiple narratives across time and space through Caribbean spirituality and historical fiction elements.

Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson A contemporary fantasy that incorporates Caribbean mythology and folklore while examining complex family relationships and human nature.

🔸 Nalo Hopkinson wrote her first story at age 6 and sold it to a children's program on CBC Radio for $1 🔸 The title "Falling in Love With Hominids" is inspired by a quote from science fiction author Cordwainer Smith about learning to love humanity despite its flaws 🔸 The author draws heavily from Caribbean folklore and Afrofuturism, blending traditional storytelling with modern speculative fiction elements 🔸 One of the stories in the collection reimagines Shakespeare's character Caliban from "The Tempest" from a post-colonial perspective 🔸 Hopkinson's work in this collection and beyond has earned her multiple awards, including the World Fantasy Award and the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic