Reviews
Praise for Archangels of Funk
“The old world has died and the new world has yet to be born; in that suspended space Hairston suggests that we make the new by performing it. The result is a novel about art and play as visionary act — riotous, hilarious, joyous. We save ourselves, as our heroine says at the start; and she shows how that can happen.” —Kim Stanley Robinson
“Archangels of Funk is a tour de force of Afrofunkilicious Black Girl Magic. Like all great speculative fiction, it’s about our world as well as this lush imaginary one. Don’t miss the majesty of Andrea Hairston in this new call for resistance.” —Tananarive Due, author of The Reformatory
“Andrea Hairston creates original, layered, complex worlds that are a treat to explore, but what I love most is the people she creates for them. Archangels of Funk is brimming with characters who face adversity with love, hope, art, stories, history, and their bonds with each other. It’s a celebration of radiant creativity as a bulwark against despair.” —Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries
“Full of magical technology and theater kid drama, Archangels of Funk is an utter delight. Andrea Hairston welcomes us into a future of ambient queerness and eco-anarchy, where subversive heroes outsmart dystopia-chasing capitalists with their Funkadelic vibes. Reading this book gave me good dreams — and in these dark times, that is no small feat.” —Annalee Newitz, author of The Terraformers and Autonomous
“The music of Hairston’s prose and her characters’ approach to conflict set the novel apart…This cross between Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono deserves a place in every library.” —Library Journal, starred review
“Andrea Hairston’s Archangels of Funk forced me to rewire my brain chemistry. I’ve never read anything remotely like Archangels of Funk. It’s an ambitious novel, and Hairston has the craft to make it work. Go in expecting a demanding experience, but your attention will be rewarded. I came out of the experience with a good taste in my mouth – one I’ve never felt before and hope to again.” —Locus
“A post-apocalyptic groove of a novel that reads like magic and feels like a song. Hairston’s prose pulls the reader in with pop-culture references and wild metaphors…Recommended for fans of Nalo Hopkinson and Nnedi Okorafor.” —Booklist
“Magnificent…A multisensory plunge into a dystopian future of climate crisis.” —Publishers Weekly
More Praise for Andrea Hairston
“[A] beautifully multifaceted story…with deep, layered, powerful characters. Highly recommended.” —The New York Times on Will Do Magic for Small Change
“This is one of those books you start and realize you’ve been waiting to read for a long, long time without knowing. Will Do Magic for Small Change is a deep breath, a good friend, a heartbreaking, game-changing, life-affirming, truth-telling powerhouse. I love this book.” —Daniel José Older
“Andrea Hairston’s vision is breathtaking. She weaves sweeping historical narratives and mythology with the wisdom of the elders, and shines light on the pressing issues of the day. In her hands, language is a blessing, and the familiar and the fantastic become magic, one and the same.” —Sheree Renée Thomas on Will Do Magic for Small Change
“The entire work is filled with magic, celebrating West Africans, Native Americans, art, and love that transcends simple binary genders. Hairston’s novel is a completely original and stunning work.” —Publishers Weekly on Will Do Magic for Small Change
“This book glitters with West African magic, unconventional love, and creatures you won’t forget.” —BuzzFeed
“This book’s lyrical language and unsparing vision make it a mind-expanding must-read.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review on Master of Poisons
“This is an urgent, gorgeous work.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review on Master of Poisons
Master of Poisons voted a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2020
