Emergency Skin

Forward collection

By: N. K. Jemisin

Narrated by: Jason Isaacs

2020 Audie Award Winner for Best Science Fiction

Audible narration by Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery)

What will become of our self-destructed planet? The answer shatters all expectations in this subversive speculation from the Hugo Award - winning author of the Broken Earth trilogy.

An explorer returns to gather information from a climate-ravaged Earth that his ancestors, and others among the planet’s finest, fled centuries ago. The mission comes with a warning: A graveyard world awaits him. But so do those left behind - hopeless and unbeautiful wastes of humanity who should have died out ages ago. After all this time, there’s no telling how they’ve devolved. Steel yourself, soldier. Get in. Get out. And try not to stare.

N. K. Jemisin’s Emergency Skin is part of Forward, a collection of six stories of the near and far future from out-of-this-world authors. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single thought-provoking sitting.

©2019 N. K. Jemisin (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Emergency Skin, by the award(s)-winning Jemisin, is part of a sensational project called Forward, which brings together six writers, each telling a story about Earth’s imagined future.” --Spine Magazine

“Narrator Jason Isaac’s voice is the perfect mix of insistent, pedantic, and scornful…This brief but clever tale is truly best enjoyed on audio.” (AudioFile - Earphones Award Winner)

“The tale is a fascinating experiment in story structure…Thoughtful and interactive.” (LOCUS)

“This is exactly how I like my techno-anxiety…Happy bingeing!” (Audible, an October Editors Pick)

Breathtaking

I haven’t read the other short stories yet, but this one was absolutely incredible. Holy shit.

Amazing

The content of this futuristic tale was so well conveyed that one feels as if the dialogue itself emerged from within the listener. This was so amazingly well crafted and thought provoking. Bravo!

Love NK Jemison!

I'm always fascinated by NK Jemison's narration style. It's so unique, almost like a choose your own adventure book from back in the day. Her concepts are always wild and futuristic while still being grounded. Give this one a listen!

Points well made: ^ Beware ~> the running-dogs

we are supremely superior. You will be subjected to faulty thinking by primative primates not as elevated as our beloved leaders. Hear my words, faulty thinking will quite wisely will not be tolerated. Don't be fooled by how things appear to be, this is a fraudulent front. Caution, don't be deceived.
Hear me ! This is NOT, not 'er... Stop fool ! This is a trick... You are not alone, the leaders watch always, are watching now.! We are superior NO we Are...

Emergency skin was a brilliant spin

This book made so much sense. You will laugh at the narration as well as think where would we be!!! Narration and story line kept me interested and intrigued.

Incredible & thought-provoking

Incredible. Thought-provoking. Hopeful. Facepalm-inducing. A few words and phrases that come to mind. This book is brilliantly written, which should come as no surprise with Jemisin penning it. I love the casual way in which 'Earthlings' survived this whole time, in unity, breaking down country borders, in order to survive. I love the way it all evolved. And the mindset of those who thought they were above them. Such a satisfying story.

Jason Isaacs does a phenomenal job, which I'm sure nobody is surprised about.

I never thought of that

Emergency skin was not like anything else I’ve heard. It is an interesting idea and a hopeful one that I will think about for some time. I enjoyed this sci - fi work because of the outside the the box presentation. Even as I write this I search for words to describe it. Interesting, original, thought provoking. I will check out more of this authors work.

This story blew me away

I was hooked from the first line. This is exactly the sort of story second person narration exists to tell. It completely immersed me in the story. I loved every minute. Amazing and insightful. You will not regret listening to this book. Can't recommend it enough.

Intriguing thought, marvelous storytelling

Very funny approach to tell everyone how far they can reach with there behaviour.
Be considerate to your surroundings.

Eye-opening and unique

Post-apocalyptic sci-fi written from an unexpected perspective with eye-opening results. Refreshingly unique. Reading this could save your skin.