A Fledgling Abiba

An orphaned teenage girl tries to survive on her own and understand her magical powers while a sorcerous plague sweeps the country. She may hold the key to its cure, but what she really wants is somewhere she can call home and family. This story by Ugandan author and film-maker Dilman Dila starts in a realistic African setting that becomes more and more fantastic as it goes, drawing us into his world of magic and spirits.In clear prose, Dila involves us in a tale of magic driven by fierce emotion, inheritance and tradition.  He tells the story of a brave, abused and magical childhood with a film maker's structural skills and the voice of a writer. —Geoff Ryman