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Cover of The Obelisk Gate
Fantasy· United States

The Obelisk Gate

by N.K. Jemisin
Aggregate Editorial Score78/100
★Hugo Award
Published 20171424 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Few works of fantasy have earned the sustained critical attention that The Obelisk Gate (2017) by N.K. Jemisin continues to receive. Essun searches for her daughter while learning to control her powers at a hidden community called Castrima in the second Broken Earth novel. Jemisin's second consecutive Hugo Award winner continues the trilogy's formal experimentation and its exploration of systemic oppression. Themes of power, oppression, survival run through the work. The book has received recognition from Hugo Award 2017.

Book Details

AuthorN.K. Jemisin
Published2017
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages1424
Category🐉 Fantasy
ISBN9780316229265
Editorial Score78/100
About the Category

🐉 Fantasy

Stories set in imaginary worlds with magical or supernatural elements.

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Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

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Editorial Assessment

First published in 2017, N.K. Jemisin's The Obelisk Gate is a work of fantasy that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with power, oppression, survival, community gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Among its recognitions: Hugo Award 2017. With an editorial score of 78/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes The Obelisk Gate is how it handles its central concerns — power, oppression, survival, community — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. The Obelisk Gate reflects N.K. Jemisin's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with United States's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Hugo Award
winner · genre
201764
✍️
About the Author
N.K. Jemisin
United States
View Author →

N.K. Jemisin is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of fantasy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Obelisk Gate about?

Essun searches for her daughter while learning to control her powers at a hidden community called Castrima in the second Broken Earth novel. Jemisin's second consecutive Hugo Award winner continues the trilogy's formal experimentation and its exploration of systemic oppression.

Who wrote The Obelisk Gate?

The Obelisk Gate was written by N.K. Jemisin, from United States. First published in 2017.

What awards has The Obelisk Gate won?

The Obelisk Gate has received the following awards and honours: Hugo Award 2017.

Is The Obelisk Gate worth reading?

The Obelisk Gate is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 64/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in power, oppression, survival.

Where can I buy The Obelisk Gate?

You can buy The Obelisk Gate on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Obelisk Gate?

The Obelisk Gate is classified as Fantasy. Stories set in imaginary worlds with magical or supernatural elements.

What country is The Obelisk Gate from?

The Obelisk Gate originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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