In a post-apocalyptic world, Cinnamon Jones navigates threats from Darknet Lords and nostalgia militia while striving to honor her elders and build a future for herself and her community, culminating in a moving and joyful resolution that emphasizes forgiveness and understanding amidst chaos and despair. The novel blends elements of science fiction, magic, and whimsy, featuring a diverse cast of characters in a slow-paced, character-driven narrative set against a backdrop of societal upheaval and community resilience.

Reader Review Summary

Archangels of Funk is a dazzlingly original and imaginative work of speculative fiction that defies easy categorization. Set in a post-apocalyptic world reshaped by the calamitous "Water Wars", it weaves together elements of science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and Afrofuturism into a rich tapestry that celebrates creativity, community, and the resilience of the human spirit.

At the heart of the novel is Cinnamon Jones - a vibrant, multi-faceted character who serves as an anchor amidst the delightfully bizarre happenings. Inheriting a farm from her elders, she has turned it into a sanctuary and utopian space where flood refugees can find shelter, community, and the freedom to express themselves artistically. Aided by her two dogs (Spook and Bruja) and trio of self-aware Circus-Bots, Cinnamon works tirelessly to organize the annual Next World Festival - a riotous celebration of music, dance, storytelling, and masquerade that blends futuristic elements with ancestral traditions.

Hairston's imaginative worldbuilding is simply stunning. She conjures a richly textured, internally consistent yet dreamlike future that seamlessly melds technology with mysticism and spirituality. Whether describing the lurking threat of the sinister "Darknet Lords", the anarchic chaos of the "Disruptors" roaming the ravaged lands, or the tender efforts to forge new communities, her poetic prose has an almost incantatory power. Her characters burst with life, each with their own distinct voice, vernacular, and idiosyncrasies.

The book's major achievement lies in how deftly it tackles heavy themes of environmental devastation, corporate greed, societal collapse, and displacement - yet does so with an undercurrent of hope, joy, and even wonder. Hairston populates this bleak landscape with eccentric yet deeply human characters who refuse to surrender to despair. Instead, through the revolutionary act of vibrant artistic expression and compassionate community-building, they strive to create pockets of resistance against the forces threatening to strip them of their histories and humanity.

Cinnamon herself stands as an inspiriting emblem of this ethos. Though haunted by ghosts (both literal and metaphorical) and prone to self-doubt, her dedication to honoring her elders' traditions while forging a better future is powerfully moving. The spirit of intergenerational resilience pulses throughout, as does a deep respect for the diverse ethnic and cultural wellsprings from which the characters draw inspiration.

With its lush, evocative language and celebration of outcasts and marginalized identities, Archangels of Funk makes for an incredibly immersive and transporting reading experience. It is uncompromisingly weird and visionary in all the best ways. While its kaleidoscopic, non-linear narrative may challenge some readers, those willing to surff its dreamlike currents will be richly rewarded. Hairston has crafted a profoundly original, Afrofuturist vision that expands the possibilities of the speculative fiction genre itself.

For those seeking a wildly inventive, defiantly hopeful, and deeply humane work that bursts with creativity and life-affirming energy, Archangels of Funk shines as a vital, nourishing reading experience. It is a singular literary journey that will leave you both thoughtfully provoked and spiritually exhilarated.