Skin Folk

by Nalo Hopkinson
Skin Folk cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Short Story Collections
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  • ID: 7709
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • ISBN: 9780759526648
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2001-12-01
  • Reviews: 3

Skin Folk is a diverse collection of short stories by Nalo Hopkinson, showcasing her talent for weaving Caribbean folklore into contemporary narratives. The stories, such as 'Greedy Choke Puppy' and 'Ganger (Ball Lightning),' are praised for their vivid and immediate prose, offering a unique blend of the supernatural and the everyday. Hopkinson's work reveals her breadth and accomplishments as a storyteller, with each tale offering a glimpse into different aspects of Caribbean culture and mythology. /n/n The collection is notable for its rich, descriptive language and its exploration of themes like identity, transformation, and the blurred line between the natural and the supernatural. Hopkinson's ability to create immersive worlds and compelling characters makes Skin Folk a standout in the realm of speculative fiction.

Reviews
Escape into Life · 2025-12-16
great 4.00

The stories blend Caribbean folk tales and science fiction to creepy effect. The collection is diverse and contemporary.

The reviewer from Escape into Life praises Skin Folk for its unique blend of Caribbean folk tales and science fiction, creating a pleasingly creepy effect. They highlight the collection's diversity and contemporary relevance, noting that it feels strikingly modern despite being almost two decades old. The reviewer appreciates Hopkinson's ability to weave together different genres and cultural elements, making the collection both engaging and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    In Skin Folk, Nalo Hopkinson's short stories blend Caribbean folk tales and science fiction to pleasingly creepy effect.

    The collection feels strikingly contemporary, even though it's almost two decades old at this point.

    It's diverse in multiple respects.

Fantasy Literature · 2020-02-13
good 3.50

Not every story in the collection is loved, but it's a great introduction to Hopkinson's work. Some stories are too disturbing or abstruse.

The reviewer from Fantasy Literature acknowledges that while not every story in Skin Folk resonated with them, the collection as a whole is a great introduction to Nalo Hopkinson's unique style. They found some stories to be too disturbing or abstruse, but they appreciate the overall quality and creativity of the collection. The reviewer suggests that this book is a good starting point for those new to Hopkinson's work, offering a diverse range of stories that showcase her talent.

Quick quotes

    I can't say that I loved every story in Skin Folk – some were too disturbing or abstruse for me.

    This collection is a great introduction to Hopkinson's work.

    The stories showcase her talent and creativity.

Casey the Canadian Lesbrarian · Casey · 2014-08-17
excellent 4.50

This collection is one of the best in fantastic short fiction, comparable to Octavia Butler's work. The stories are wonder-full, sexy, smart, and scary.

Casey from the Canadian Lesbrarian blog absolutely loves this collection, placing it among the best they've ever read. They highlight the diverse range of emotions and themes, from wonder to fear, and praise Hopkinson's ability to blend these elements seamlessly. The stories are not just entertaining but also thought-provoking, making this a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Casey particularly appreciates the collection's ability to challenge and engage readers on multiple levels.

Quick quotes

    Skin Folk is certainly one of the best collections of fantastic short fiction I've ever read, on par with Octavia Butler's Bloodchild and Other Stories.

    The stories are wonder-full, sexy, smart, and scary.

    Hopkinson's work is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction.

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