Courttia Newland’s Cosmogramma is an excellent collection of short stories – though each feels oddly like the synopsis of the first half of an amazingly graphic sci-fi book.
The nature of Courtia Newland’s narrative is clearly set from the first sentence of the first story, in its desolate portrayal of their imagined world. Location descriptions are marvellously illustrated via animalistic observations of humanity; Newland’s crowds are much like penguins, huddling together in crowds for warmth and comfort.
One of the chapters is called The Sankofa Principle, meaning ‘to inform like-minded individuals.’ The literal translation is about connection to our former selves and our ancestors and references cosmological deities as well as means of control over an individual.
Perhaps the continuing fallout of pandemic-related discourse has got me viewing all stories through a more cynical lens but it is slightly frustrating that Newland never reaches the conclusion of the stories in Cosmogramma – especially as they’re so strong in their conceptual awareness.
Cosmogramma, Courttia Newland (Canongate)
Price: £12.99. Info: here
words BILLIE INGRAM SOFOKLEOUS
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