Publication Date: October 27, 2026
A strange alien spacecraft suddenly appears in the sky in this electrifying, action-packed first contact novel set in near-future Nigeria from award-winning author Wole Talabi
A hard science-fiction novel featuring an assassin-for-hire, a witchdoctor, and an astronomer, this fast-paced thriller is perfect for fans of Arrival
When a non-communicative alien spacecraft suddenly appears in the sky, global powers are thrown into turmoil.
But for Tope, a principled Nigerian assassin with a talent for lethality in the employ of the mysterious witchdoctor known as “Baba,” it’s all just business as usual. At least until a job goes wrong, and Tope is caught in the scramble-a high stakes game of power and politics for the future that is to come. Joined by Itumeleng, a South African astronomer plagued by mysterious dreams, they must find a way to survive, navigate their complicated pasts, and come to understand how they, and all of humanity, are connected to the alien craft before it lands and the world changes forever. But it won’t be easy. There are sinister forces marshalled against them, including a strange assassin obsessed with a single memory.
The Fist Of Memory is a first contact thriller unlike any other; a meditation on the nature of reality, memory and connectedness.
Although science fiction tends to be the fruitcake of genres (you either love it or hate it), author Wole Talabi delivers a well-crafted storyline worth a try.
After all, who wouldn’t be fascinated by an alien spacecraft and an unlikely connection with a Nigerian assassin, an astronomer, and a witch doctor?
The Fist Of Memory is, after all, a work of science fiction featuring some cool futuristic technology such as an augmented intelligence system embedded in a person’s brain, a hoverbike, and all sorts of advanced weaponry.
The beauty of the story lies in the character development and the connections created by the author. Think of a top-notch first-contact plot between an alien life form and a group of random people. The scary part is that most of these random people are skilled killers.
What appeals the most is the struggle to get humanity to grasp the true value of cooperation and connection.
The Fist Of Memory delivers a mind-expanding trip to a future built upon infinite memories.
WOLE TALABI is an engineer, writer, and editor from Nigeria. He is the author of the speculative action thriller THE FIST OF MEMORY (2026) and the acclaimed fantasy novel SHIGIDI AND THE BRASS HEAD OF OBALUFON (2023) which was nominated for the Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy awards. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, F&SF, Lightspeed, and other major venues and is collected in CONVERGENCE PROBLEMS (2024) and INCOMPLETE SOLUTIONS (2019). His work has won multiple awards and been a finalist for the Hugo, and the prestigious Caine Prize. His stories have been translated into a dozen languages. He has edited five anthologies including AFRICANFUTURISM (2020) and MOTHERSOUND: THE SAUÚTIVERSE ANTHOLOGY (2023). He likes scuba diving, elegant equations, and oddly shaped things. He currently lives and works in Australia.
