01
Why it matters
Jemisin fused daring narrative structure with a systemic examination of oppression, survival, and environmental catastrophe.
A celebrated work
The Fifth Season
N. K. Jemisin2016 selection · Science fiction & fantasy
The Fifth Season
On a continent repeatedly shattered by geological disasters, people with the power to control seismic energy are feared, enslaved, and trained by the state. As a catastrophic Season begins, three intertwined lives reveal the personal cost of this violent social order.
02
Read this if…
You want epic fantasy with radical world-building and emotionally intense social themes.
03
Ideas inside
OppressionClimate catastropheSurvivalPower
Get or borrow
Continue with this book.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. Editorial selections are independent.
Further reading
Read the critics
Independent reviews and criticism from established publications. Links open at the original outlet.
Primary record
Verify the selection
Every inclusion traces back to the organization that made the selection.
Hugo Award for Best Novel — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)Continue reading
From the same conversation
The Obelisk Gate
Hugo Award for Best Novel
The Stone Sky
Hugo Award for Best Novel
The Stone Sky
On 2 lists: Nebula Award for Best Novel, NPR Books We Love