The following quote demonstrates his importance and his unique narrative voice. Even though the world may see him as unimportant or even an embarrassment, he is just as important if not more so.

He may be a black gay homeless graffiti artist, but Jemisin does an outstanding job of making you empathize with him and see his point of view. He is not what one would normally characterize as a standard main character in most stories, but that is kind of the point. Jemisin’s strongest suit as a writer has always been her ability to give her narrators a unique voice, and it is truly present here. However, the nameless protagonist is the strongest part of the story. It is both remarkably familiar, especially to those who live in New York city, while still being full of wonder. The world building is like nothing I have ever seen before, combining urban fantasy with magical realism. To ensure the city’s growth, there is an unlikely protector, or a midwife. Some cities will fail, and others will succeed reaching unbelievable heights. Not every city is like this, and it takes centuries to become one. It is a place where every person is connected and every person matters, and as with all living things, it must be protected and cherished from those who wish to destroy it. Its streets its veins, the cars its blood, the people its cells. In this story, Jemisin envisions New York City as a living breathing organism. The City Born Great is fundamentally about the meaning of place, and how the actions of those who live there impact it. I wasn’t attracted to it at first because of the somewhat odd premise, but boy am I glad I gave it a try. I am a huge fan of Jemisin and she has truly outdone herself with this story.

The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin