Kirjahaku

This study contextualizes magical realism within current debates and theories of postcoloniality and examines the fiction of three of its West African pioneers: Syl Cheney-Coker of Sierra Leone, Ben Okri of Nigeria and Kojo Laing of Ghana. Brenda Cooper explores the distinct elements of the genre in a West African context, and in relation to: * a range of global expressions of magical realism, from the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez to that of Salman Rushdie * wider contemporary trends in African writing, with particular attention to how the realism of authors such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka has been connected with nationalist agendas. This is a fascinating and important work for all those working on African literature, magical realism, or postcoloniality.

This study contextualizes magical realism within current debates and theories of postcoloniality and examines the fiction of three of its West African pioneers: Syl Cheney-Coker of Sierra Leone, Ben Okri of Nigeria and Kojo Laing of Ghana. Brenda Cooper explores the distinct elements of the genre in a West African context, and in relation to: * a range of global expressions of magical realism, from the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez to that of Salman Rushdie * wider contemporary trends in African writing, with particular attention to how the realism of authors such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka has been connected with nationalist agendas. This is a fascinating and important work for all those working on African literature, magical realism, or postcoloniality.

"Weary Sons of Conrad" poses the question, how is Africa represented in some late twentieth-century European and North American fiction written by white men? Its contribution is to unearth a rich treasure of such fiction that opposes imperialism and struggles with patriarchy and gender stereotypes. These writers go to battle against the stranglehold of myths about Africa, its lands, and its people, which are deeply embedded in the language itself. The writers struggle for new tongues and original ways of telling their stories but cannot be totally free of history, family, language, and tradition. Written in a lively, accessible style, this book is of great interest to a broad range of readers in the fields of postcolonial literary theory, gender, and cultural and African studies.

Dr. Alice Cameron is a famous scientist — an archeoastronomer — devoted to studying ancient Mayan culture. The era driving her career has always been the end of the Mayan baktun, so she’s on the Yucatan Peninsula in December 2012 with her daughter Nixie...and so are fellow serious scholars, plenty of end-of-the-world crazies, and — at an international summit — the President of the United States and other heads of state. When Nixie disappears into the past in the Mayan jungle, rationality and mysticism, the present and the past start merging. Meanwhile, Alice is drawn into the machinations of statecraft by an old friend. A savvy scientist, a handsome dreadlocked time-traveler, an ancient shaman, a noble Mayan couple, a computer nerd, and an 11-year old traverse the past and present in a search for the meaning of life and a way to save two worlds.

The colony planet of Fremont was supposed to be free of all geneticallyaltered beings--a new home for a pure race. So when six genetically altered children were abandoned on Fremont, they were not welcome. They vowed to get off the planet by any means necessary. Joseph and the others managed to escape, although Joseph finds their new home hostile, frightening, and deeply challenging. Chelo is left behind with her new-found love, Liam, and her best friend, the troubled Kayleen. Both sets of teens must contend with hostile adults, daunting environments, and unexpected challenges. And when Chelo's very life is threatened, Joseph must find a way to save her.

What if a woman as strong and as complex as Eva Peron began her life as a robot repair assistant threatened by a powerful peacekeeping force that wants to take all she has from her? The discovery ship, Creative Fire, is on its way home from a multi-generational journey. But home is nothing like the crew expected. They have been gone for generations, and the system they return to is home to technologies and riches beyond their wildest dreams. But they are immediately oppressed and relegated to the lowest status imaginable, barely able to interact with the technologies and people of the star station where they dock, the Diamond Deep. Ruby Martin and her partner, Joel North, must find a way to learn what they need to know and to become more than they have ever been if they are to find a way to save their people.

Young prisoners of war for as long as they can remember . . . Prisoners of a war they barely remember, Fremont's Children must find a way to survive in a world that abhors their very nature. Or they must discover a way to leave it... Six genetically enhanced children are stranded on the colony planet Fremont in a war between genetic purists and those that would tinker with the code. Orphaned, the children have few remnants of their heritage other than an old woman who was abandoned at the end of the war, and a mysterious silver ship that appears to have no doors.To keep themselves alive, the children must leave the safety of the insular community and brave the beautiful but dangerous wilds of Fremont. Is it an echo of their own natures, or a proving ground of their genetic worth?In this battle of wills and principles, what does the future hold for Fremont's Children?"Fast-paced and full-bodied, "Silver Ship" is character-driven hard SF at its best."- The Seattle Times"Distinctive characterizations, well-limned interrelationships, and the vividly realized Fremont contribute to an exciting coming-of-age story with a strong message about the evils of prejudice.""YAs are sure to relate to the travails and exploits of these extraordinary young people."-Booklist, Starred Review"This is an adventure story, because life on this planet can be treacherous, but it is also a story about the relationships between insiders and outsiders, between adults and the teens who are about to surpass them, and between people who need each other in order to survive."- School Library Journal"Cooper's ...first solo effort combines the feel of classic sf adventure with strong, character-driven storytelling and lays the foundation for other tales set in her brave new world.... Suitable for both adult and YA sf collections."- Library Journal"Good plot, with some nice touches...Characterizations were particularly well done."-Locus"The relationships and issues are more than intricate enough to satisfy more mature readers. But the protagonists are young, and the themes are ones that must necessarily speak to young adult readers. Enjoy."-AnalogSelected by Booklist as one of the top ten 2007 adult books for youth to read. Winner of the Endeavour Award

The colony planet of Fremont was supposed to be free of all geneticallyaltered beings--a new home for a pure race. So when six genetically altered children were abandoned on Fremont, they were not welcome. They vowed to get off the planet by any means necessary. Joseph and the others managed to escape, although Joseph finds their new home hostile, frightening, and deeply challenging. Chelo is left behind with her new-found love, Liam, and her best friend, the troubled Kayleen. Both sets of teens must contend with hostile adults, daunting environments, and unexpected challenges. And when Chelo's very life is threatened, Joseph must find a way to save her.

When humans can create new species, what rights do they have over the beings they create?The Making War is the long-awaited final book in the award-winning series that began with The Silver Ship and the Sea.Six genetically engineered children fought to survive in a small town where everyone hated what they were, on a difficult planet full of out-sized predators with long teeth and sharp claws. Because they were stronger than the colonists, they found a way to live, and eventually a way to leave.Alicia wants nothing more than to fly.But if she survives the dangerous transformation that will give her wings, she will become a slave.In the meantime, her ex-lover Joseph plans to fight for her freedom in a battle between two opposing planets. Powerful fleets are about to meet in the empty dark of space, and he wants neither to win. For help, he has his family, including his pacifist sister and his border collie.

Six friends work to stave off a war that will cross five planets.Together again after being separated for years, six heroes are banished from their Fremont...and they may have accidentally started a war in their home system. Their mentor, Marcus, stops them halfway home and tells them they must go to the planet Lopali, home of humans who have been genetically enhanced to fly. But although they can fly, they cannot reproduce, and they are held as pseudo-slaves by the people who created them. Marcus leads them into a last-ditch effort to stave off full-out war over the right for one being to own another. From the Endeavor Award Winning Author of The Silver Ship and the Sea

Brenda Cooper examines the work of the new generation of African writers who have placed migration as central to their writing There is a growing interest in books by writers of African origin. These authors have often grown up or passed their early adult years out of Africa. The Orange Prize for Fiction was awarded in London 2007 to Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun, and the Caine Prize for African Writing has introduced new writers such as Leila Aboulela, Biyi Bandele and Chimamanda Adichie herself to agents and publishers. This examination of the extraordinary work which has recently appeared is therefore very timely. Migration is a central theme of much African fiction written in English. Here, Brenda Cooper tracks the journeys undertaken by a new generation of Africanwriters, their protagonists and the solid objects that populate their fiction, to depict the material realities of their multiple worlds and languages. She explores the uses to which the English language is put in order to understand these worlds and demonstrates how these writers have contested the dominance of colonising metaphors. The writers' challenge is to find an English that can effectively express their many lives, languages and identities. BRENDA COOPER was for many years Director of the Centre for African Studies and Professor in the English department at the University of Cape Town, where she is now an Emeritus Professor. In 2009 she moved to Salford, where she is an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Manchester. She has published widely on African fiction and postcolonial literary theory. Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland): University of KwaZulu-Natal Press

Brenda Cooper examines the work of the new generation of African writers who have placed migration as central to their writing. There is a new interest among publishers in New York and London in books by writers of African origin. These authors have often grown up or passed their early adult years out of Africa. The Orange Prize for Fiction was awarded inLondon 2007 to Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun, and the Caine Prize for African Writing has introduced new writers such as Leila Aboulela, Biyi Bandele and Chimamanda Adichie herself to agents and publishers. This examination of the extraordinary work which has recently appeared is therefore very timely. Migration is a central theme of much African fiction written in English. Here, Brenda Cooper tracks the journeys undertakenby a new generation of African writers, their protagonists and the solid objects that populate their fiction, to depict the material realities of their multiple worlds and languages. The book explores the uses to which the Englishlanguage is put in order to understand these worlds. It demonstrates how these writers have contested the dominance of colonising metaphors. The writers' challenge is to find an English that can effectively express their many lives, languages and identities. BRENDA COOPER is Director of the Centre for African Studies and a Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Cape Town. Southern Africa(South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland): University of KwaZulu-Natal Press (PB]