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Hello, Moto
There is witchcraft in science and a science to witchcraft. Both will conspire against you eventually.
Nnedi Okorafor's "Hello, Moto" has been adapted by C.J. Obasi into the short film Hello, Rain.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Nnedi Okorafor's "Hello, Moto" has been adapted by C.J. Obasi into the short film Hello, Rain.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
16 pages, ebook
First published November 2, 2011
About the author
Nnedi Okorafor
151 books16.5k followersNnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more about Nnedi at Nnedi.com and follow Nnedi on twitter (as @Nnedi), Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
January 20, 2024
Wait, what? Ok, ending a story in this way in incredibly frustrating — whether it’s a complete non-ending or a logical fade-to-black. Okorafor tells it to us from the very first line, but still. Frustrating.
Interesting set-up combining magic (juju) and technology, and the idea that power corrupts - even those who supposedly set out to battle corruption. I mean, we see it in politics all the time; those who come to power on the premise of battling corruption seem to get sucked into that hungry vortex before long.
Evil wigs — or evil people? What’s the cause and what’s the result? The cycle of power corruption, and can it broken? I don’t know, and this story doesn’t quite help, anticlimatically.
2.5 stars. But that cover art — that will be surely haunting my dreams tonight.
Read it here, on Tor.com: https://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-...
——————
Also posted on my blog.
“This is a tale you will only hear once. Then it will be gone in a flash of green light. Maybe all will be well after that. Maybe the story has a happy ending. Maybe there is nothing but darkness when the story ends.”
Interesting set-up combining magic (juju) and technology, and the idea that power corrupts - even those who supposedly set out to battle corruption. I mean, we see it in politics all the time; those who come to power on the premise of battling corruption seem to get sucked into that hungry vortex before long.
Evil wigs — or evil people? What’s the cause and what’s the result? The cycle of power corruption, and can it broken? I don’t know, and this story doesn’t quite help, anticlimatically.
2.5 stars. But that cover art — that will be surely haunting my dreams tonight.
Read it here, on Tor.com: https://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-...
——————
Also posted on my blog.
January 20, 2024
‘There is witchcraft in science and a science to witchcraft. Both will conspire against you eventually.’
Literature is filled with stories where the desire for power corrupts even the best of intentions and the worlds of science fiction often serve as a warning that great advances in technology can quickly become great evil when put to the wrong use or in the wrong hands. Hello, Moto, the short story by the incredible afrofuturist writer Nnedi Okorafor, tells such a story when Rain blends ‘juju and technology’ in a hope to control corruption in Nigeria and bring hope to the people. However, her invention, a complex wig of power, becomes such an overwhelming feeling of empowerment to the two friends Rain entrusts with wearing them that instead of assuaging misery they become harbingers of destruction. A brief tale with an unfortunately abrupt ending that sort of derails it all, Hello, Moto, is still a fun and fascinating read brought to life by Okorafor’s rather infectious use of voice in her works and the African settings and influence that are weaved into her science fiction.
The three characters as represented in the short film adaptation, Hello, Rain by C.J. Obasi
‘My name is Rain and if I didn’t get this right, the corruption already rife in this country would be nothing compared to what was to come. And it would all be my fault.’
The short story (which you can read in its entirety HERE) takes its title from a familiar Motorola ringtone (listen to it here) which also features into the story. The intrusive ring is a reminder of the way technology has intruded into our lives, becoming as natural to the soundscapes of our existence as bird chirps or blowing wind. This is signature to many of Okorafor’s works, showing how the influence and technology of the Western world has embedded itself into Africa and is often a source of corruption and colonialism and Okorafor often represents technology as being able to inflict horrific and abrupt violence. Even with the best intentions.
The wigs created by rain were made to help ‘but all it sparked in the North was death and mayhem,’ and the two other wig users are stealing the life forces of those around them. I enjoy the way Okorafor can imply a lot in her stories without ever really letting you know exactly what is happening or how it works, but the hints of ideas instill enough horror that those details are beside the point. It is evil is all we really need to know. I would, however, like to know more about what comes next because the non-ending is a bit of a vibe killer.
‘This is the story of How the Smart Woman Tried to Right Her Great Wrong.’
This is an engaging and exciting little read, though right as things start to get truly wild it ends abruptly so reader be warned. I love non-endings usually but this felt egregious. Non-endings are a bit like disposing of a balloon after a party—you can do it with a bang or just slowly deflate it with a sigh. This was the later, but in the balloon scenario the party is still in full swing and everyone turns in dismay that, apparently, the party is over without warning and it’s not even midnight. Still, the point is made loud and clear I guess and the blend of sci-fi, fantasy and political commentary is sharp. I suppose speculation and uncertainty is part of the point? But c’mon. Airing of grievances aside, Okorafor is amazing, and even these little nuggets of stories manage to imply a vast world with minimal world building, I only wish there was a bit more to this tale.
2.5/5
Literature is filled with stories where the desire for power corrupts even the best of intentions and the worlds of science fiction often serve as a warning that great advances in technology can quickly become great evil when put to the wrong use or in the wrong hands. Hello, Moto, the short story by the incredible afrofuturist writer Nnedi Okorafor, tells such a story when Rain blends ‘juju and technology’ in a hope to control corruption in Nigeria and bring hope to the people. However, her invention, a complex wig of power, becomes such an overwhelming feeling of empowerment to the two friends Rain entrusts with wearing them that instead of assuaging misery they become harbingers of destruction. A brief tale with an unfortunately abrupt ending that sort of derails it all, Hello, Moto, is still a fun and fascinating read brought to life by Okorafor’s rather infectious use of voice in her works and the African settings and influence that are weaved into her science fiction.
The three characters as represented in the short film adaptation, Hello, Rain by C.J. Obasi
‘My name is Rain and if I didn’t get this right, the corruption already rife in this country would be nothing compared to what was to come. And it would all be my fault.’
The short story (which you can read in its entirety HERE) takes its title from a familiar Motorola ringtone (listen to it here) which also features into the story. The intrusive ring is a reminder of the way technology has intruded into our lives, becoming as natural to the soundscapes of our existence as bird chirps or blowing wind. This is signature to many of Okorafor’s works, showing how the influence and technology of the Western world has embedded itself into Africa and is often a source of corruption and colonialism and Okorafor often represents technology as being able to inflict horrific and abrupt violence. Even with the best intentions.
‘Stealing from people is not what I made these for! I made them to help us give! To cure the deep-seated culture of corruption by giving people hope and a sense of patriotism. Remember?’
The wigs created by rain were made to help ‘but all it sparked in the North was death and mayhem,’ and the two other wig users are stealing the life forces of those around them. I enjoy the way Okorafor can imply a lot in her stories without ever really letting you know exactly what is happening or how it works, but the hints of ideas instill enough horror that those details are beside the point. It is evil is all we really need to know. I would, however, like to know more about what comes next because the non-ending is a bit of a vibe killer.
‘This is the story of How the Smart Woman Tried to Right Her Great Wrong.’
This is an engaging and exciting little read, though right as things start to get truly wild it ends abruptly so reader be warned. I love non-endings usually but this felt egregious. Non-endings are a bit like disposing of a balloon after a party—you can do it with a bang or just slowly deflate it with a sigh. This was the later, but in the balloon scenario the party is still in full swing and everyone turns in dismay that, apparently, the party is over without warning and it’s not even midnight. Still, the point is made loud and clear I guess and the blend of sci-fi, fantasy and political commentary is sharp. I suppose speculation and uncertainty is part of the point? But c’mon. Airing of grievances aside, Okorafor is amazing, and even these little nuggets of stories manage to imply a vast world with minimal world building, I only wish there was a bit more to this tale.
2.5/5
July 1, 2017
My name is Rain and if I didn’t get this right, the corruption already rife in this country would be nothing compared to what was to come. And it would all be my fault.
review to come.
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-m...
February 20, 2017
I don't understand the ending. Maybe someone could explain to me, in spoiler tag if necessary.
I give two star now for great beginning, good middle part, AND fun innovative link into audio Hello, Moto ringtone when the cellphones were ringing in the story.
I give two star now for great beginning, good middle part, AND fun innovative link into audio Hello, Moto ringtone when the cellphones were ringing in the story.
May 18, 2016
Through an alchemical combination of magic and technology, a young woman has created wigs which allow their wearers to have terrible power over others. She intended only good for the world, but after unwisely sharing her invention with her friends (or as it turns out, frenemies), she sees the pettiness, greed, and evil that lurked within their hearts, and which has been released by ultimate power. Can she stop them before it's too late?
February 18, 2017
Evil wigs! What a great idea, paired with commentary on hair, respect for others and responsibility for one's actions.
April 26, 2015
3.5 stars
This is a tale you will only hear once. Then it will be gone in a flash of green light. Maybe all will be well after that. Maybe the story has a happy ending. Maybe there is nothing but darkness when the story ends.
We were three women. Three friends. We had goals, hopes and dreams. We had careers. Two of us had boyfriends. We owned houses. We all had love. Then I made these… wigs. I gave them to my two friends. The three of us put them on. The wigs were supposed to make things better. But something went wrong. Like the nation we were trying to improve, we became backward. Instead of giving, we took.
An interesting story and love the concept. Wish there had been more background here, would loved to see more of how the wigs were created and the process behind the magic. The ending felt anti-climatic some but overall a decent story.
Read the story here
April 7, 2016
3.5 Stars
My name is Rain and if I didn’t get this right, the corruption already rife in this country would be nothing compared to what was to come. And it would all be my fault.
Hello, Moto is a short story about three best friends, each in possession of a magical wig…. And we all know:
Possibly too late, Rain (the wigs' creator) discovers that the wigs are changing the wearers; from givers to takers, gifting them with powers that no person should possess. This short flits between all three friends but is mostly centered on Rain and her efforts to destroy these magical monstrosities before they, in turn, destroy her homeland of Nigera.
Needless to say, her two friends don’t want any part of this. And they have taken a page out of Dark Willow’s book and are:
My name is Rain and if I didn’t get this right, the corruption already rife in this country would be nothing compared to what was to come. And it would all be my fault.
Hello, Moto is a short story about three best friends, each in possession of a magical wig…. And we all know:
Possibly too late, Rain (the wigs' creator) discovers that the wigs are changing the wearers; from givers to takers, gifting them with powers that no person should possess. This short flits between all three friends but is mostly centered on Rain and her efforts to destroy these magical monstrosities before they, in turn, destroy her homeland of Nigera.
Needless to say, her two friends don’t want any part of this. And they have taken a page out of Dark Willow’s book and are:
November 5, 2011
Awesomeness if I must say so myself...and I do. This story is yet another of my insane mash-ups. It is Nollywood (if you don't know what that is, Google it), science fiction, and witchcraft all in one. And it's free on Tor.com starting Nov. 2, 2011.
February 28, 2021
A very quick read, more of a very worrying glimpse than a full short story. Nonetheless and as usual with the author, it is very intriguing. I'd have loved it to be longer, and at the same time I think part of its 'magic' is in its shortness and consecutive vagueness.
April 1, 2024
'Don’t ever mix juju with technology. There is witchcraft in science and a science to witchcraft.'
I read this out of interest 'cos it's the basis of the Nigerian short film 'Hello, Rain'. Kind of a weird short story about evil wigs? Good premise for an Africanfuturist Rusical.
I read this out of interest 'cos it's the basis of the Nigerian short film 'Hello, Rain'. Kind of a weird short story about evil wigs? Good premise for an Africanfuturist Rusical.
November 10, 2023
3.5 stars
Hello, Motto follows three Nigerian women. One who created the wigs that have given them power to control and manipulate people through the power of science. When juju and science come together it becomes hard to unweave and Rain, the creator, is attempting to defeat her two friends who have used their power for destruction and chaos. This is a brilliant concept, but all I can say is... that's it?!? I wanted more. It ended on a serious cliffhanger. Hello, Motto would be a fantastic novella or novel and I wish that Nnedi Okorafor would expand upon this creative idea. It's out there and incredibly unique. I mean ugly wigs with that give the wearer power that are controlled by a mix of juju and scientific things that I don't understand and therefor can't explain. How brilliant! I'm just so sad that there wasn't more because I would have rated this so much higher if this was more developed and hadn't ended abruptly.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.25
Plotastic Scale: 3.75
Cover Thoughts: Creepy and fitting.
Hello, Motto follows three Nigerian women. One who created the wigs that have given them power to control and manipulate people through the power of science. When juju and science come together it becomes hard to unweave and Rain, the creator, is attempting to defeat her two friends who have used their power for destruction and chaos. This is a brilliant concept, but all I can say is... that's it?!? I wanted more. It ended on a serious cliffhanger. Hello, Motto would be a fantastic novella or novel and I wish that Nnedi Okorafor would expand upon this creative idea. It's out there and incredibly unique. I mean ugly wigs with that give the wearer power that are controlled by a mix of juju and scientific things that I don't understand and therefor can't explain. How brilliant! I'm just so sad that there wasn't more because I would have rated this so much higher if this was more developed and hadn't ended abruptly.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.25
Plotastic Scale: 3.75
Cover Thoughts: Creepy and fitting.
October 4, 2017
Beauty, a powerful form, along with technology, corrupts three women, one unwilling and two open for the cause. Their power reigns in wigs, placing them in vampiric ecstasy until story's end.
While I enjoyed the tale. It felt a bit unfinished, leaving readers on a cliffhanger.
3/5
While I enjoyed the tale. It felt a bit unfinished, leaving readers on a cliffhanger.
3/5
February 14, 2021
2.5 stars
Though I’m a fan of horror, usually I’m not much into short stories as a lot of background is missing as is the case here. Also the ending felt very abrupt and anti-climactic.
Though I’m a fan of horror, usually I’m not much into short stories as a lot of background is missing as is the case here. Also the ending felt very abrupt and anti-climactic.
Read
September 24, 2021When you mix juju with technology, you give up control. You are at the will of something far beyond yourself.
This was a really intriguing tale about witchcraft and technology, and the consequences that come from blending the two. I only wish there'd been a little bit more to the story, but overall I really liked it. Available here.
This was a really intriguing tale about witchcraft and technology, and the consequences that come from blending the two. I only wish there'd been a little bit more to the story, but overall I really liked it. Available here.
December 1, 2017
A story about how power corrupts. I think...
Too whimsical for my taste.
https://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-...
Too whimsical for my taste.
https://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-...
June 5, 2017
Strange I think is the best word to describe this...
May 3, 2020
"This is a tale you will only hear once. Then it will be gone in a flash of green light. Maybe all will be well after that. Maybe the story has a happy ending. Maybe there is nothing but darkness when the story ends."
December 14, 2020
Whoa, whoa, whoa, this short story was a trip. Right from the get-go, the story reeled me in with everything being so mysterious. The author does a great job of enticing the reader to continue as to try and understand what is going with those darn wigs, haha. You are kinda thrust into the middle of the story and not given much background information on what is happening, which is why I enjoyed it so much. There is room for the reader to fill in the gaps themselves, and I like that aspect in most stories.
Additionally, I have been reading a lot of classic short stories lately, so it was nice to read something more modern. I believe this was published in 2011. The story is about mixing technology with witchcraft and all of the shenanigans that occur as a result.
Hello, Moto is a solid 3.5-star read for me! If you are not a fan of vague stories that also have many questions left unanswered in the end, this may not be a short story for you. However, if you are interested in reading this, it can be found online here: https://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-...
Additionally, I have been reading a lot of classic short stories lately, so it was nice to read something more modern. I believe this was published in 2011. The story is about mixing technology with witchcraft and all of the shenanigans that occur as a result.
Hello, Moto is a solid 3.5-star read for me! If you are not a fan of vague stories that also have many questions left unanswered in the end, this may not be a short story for you. However, if you are interested in reading this, it can be found online here: https://www.tor.com/2011/11/02/hello-...
March 26, 2023
I feel like I just didn't get this.
August 10, 2019
Muy atrapante! Es breve y con un final que no esperaba . Me mantuvo intrigada durante toda la narración, el estilo de esta autora me encanta.
Lectura gratuita en tor.com
Lectura gratuita en tor.com
March 4, 2016
What I like about short stories is that there isn't room to establish the setting and the characters in detail, so the reader is deposited in media res, with an immediately strong sense of who the characters are and the world that they live in. This is a story, though, that I'd happily read as a novel. Despite its length, it manages to convey insights about power, privilege and corruption, in a Nigeria where the lines between technology, magic and culture are blurred.
January 2, 2016
conto vigoroso em que três mulheres são protagonistas numa trama de FC/fantasia com toques de horror. num cenário urbano africano, totalmente fora dos clichês, as protagonistas são pessoas complexas. aqui não há espaço para bem versus mal, nem para sentimentos meia-boca. acompanhamos o drama de mulheres revoltadas. mas não quer dizer que estejam sempre certas. o único defeito do conto é ser muito curto, a falta de desenvolvimento.
April 13, 2017
Technology and magic merge into one very interesting short story.
It left me with more questions than answers and it's a massive cliffhanger ending, but I feel like that's a good thing.
You definitely need to use your own imagination when you're reading this.
It left me with more questions than answers and it's a massive cliffhanger ending, but I feel like that's a good thing.
You definitely need to use your own imagination when you're reading this.
Want to read
May 1, 2020Wonderful cover art, by Jillian Tamaki, https://www.jilliantamaki.com/
Sample: https://www.jilliantamaki.com/ghzf9va...
Goodness! Needle-phobics (like me), beware!
Sample: https://www.jilliantamaki.com/ghzf9va...
Goodness! Needle-phobics (like me), beware!
May 3, 2020
Okay the premise of this short story is so brilliant but I felt iffy because I had a lot of questions and no answers. I'd totally read a full length novel of this though!
March 7, 2021
How can Nnedi Okorafor build a whole world in just 16 pages? This woman is a genius.
November 5, 2017
Read as a part of Some of the Best from Tor.com: 2011 Edition
This has just become one of my favourite short stories ever.
This has just become one of my favourite short stories ever.
May 1, 2016
This short story left me confused, perplexed, and slightly bored (which actually is a feat in itself). The story is basically a twist on the Haunted Mask, just that this time it is a wig that gives its wearer superpowers and possesses them. The story is full of confusions:
- How does a technology which gives its wearer glamour, the ability to shoot lasers from her eyes, and to mind-read the location of other persons (among else), work?
- Why isn't Rain affected by the wig in the same manner as Philo and Coco?
- Who are Philo and Coco?
- Who is Rain?
- How did the wig wearers contribute to the Northern uprising?
- How did they go from psychic vampires to bloodsucking vampires?
And whose idea was it to end a short story on such a bad cliffhanger?
Now, I do understand that "Hello, Moto" is a short story and there is thus not much place for background. Unfortunately, the story puzzled me more with regard to its coherence than with regard to what would happen to its protagonists.
- How does a technology which gives its wearer glamour, the ability to shoot lasers from her eyes, and to mind-read the location of other persons (among else), work?
- Why isn't Rain affected by the wig in the same manner as Philo and Coco?
- Who are Philo and Coco?
- Who is Rain?
- How did the wig wearers contribute to the Northern uprising?
- How did they go from psychic vampires to bloodsucking vampires?
And whose idea was it to end a short story on such a bad cliffhanger?
Now, I do understand that "Hello, Moto" is a short story and there is thus not much place for background. Unfortunately, the story puzzled me more with regard to its coherence than with regard to what would happen to its protagonists.
December 17, 2012
This is a very mature piece of short fiction. I say this because it is short and some people might think it is a children's book because the author writes some books for younger readers, but it isn't a kids book.
It was okay. Not amazing, but not awful either. I didn't really feel connected to this story, which is an important thing I look for in short fiction since it is one of the only things you have. World building is hard to do, plot is limited, etc.
You can find it online at Tor.com: here
It was okay. Not amazing, but not awful either. I didn't really feel connected to this story, which is an important thing I look for in short fiction since it is one of the only things you have. World building is hard to do, plot is limited, etc.
You can find it online at Tor.com: here
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews