Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is a captivating climate-fiction novella that deftly explores power dynamics, memory, and survival in a world ravaged by climate change. The story follows Yekini, an eager analyst yearning for her first field assignment, as she navigates the hierarchical complexities and submerged dangers of the Pinnacle tower—a refuge for the former residents of Lagos, now underwater.

From the very beginning, Okungbowa hooks the reader with Yekini's vivid, unsettling dreams of floods and a mysterious choice. These dreams set the stage for her journey down the Pinnacle, a tower where society's remnants are divided into castes, with the lower levels feared and shunned. However, Yekini's assignment to the perilous level 9 upends these assumptions, revealing that the true threat lies not in the people but in the enigmatic, underwater inhabitants known as the Children.

As Yekini descends the levels of the Pinnacle, she is joined by Ngozi, a strict diplomat from the upper levels, and Tuoyo, a grieving foreman from the lower levels. This unlikely trio must confront their biases and work together to combat the Children, who have breached the tower. The dynamics between these characters are richly drawn, highlighting their growth from distrustful strangers to reluctant allies.

Okungbowa's portrayal of the Pinnacle's castes is a poignant commentary on power and privilege. The upper levels' ignorance and fear of the lower levels mirror real-world societal divides, while the lower levels' resilience and ingenuity challenge these prejudices. The novella also delves into the significance of memory in the aftermath of catastrophe, suggesting that remembering and honoring the past is crucial for healing and moving forward.

The narrative is propulsive, with a plot that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. However, it does lose some momentum in the final third. The magical realism elements, while intriguing, could have been more fully developed to enhance the story's depth. This slight shortcoming makes Lost Ark Dreaming feel like a novella that could have benefited from a broader canvas—a full-length novel might have allowed Okungbowa to explore these themes even more thoroughly.

Despite this, the novella's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Okungbowa's lyrical prose and well-paced storytelling make for a compelling read. His depiction of a post-climate disaster world is both imaginative and chillingly plausible, reminding us of the urgent need to address climate change.

Lost Ark Dreaming is a must-read for fans of thought-provoking climate fiction and anyone interested in stories of resilience and solidarity in the face of overwhelming odds. It shares thematic resonance with Rivers Solomon’s The Deep, making it an excellent recommendation for those who appreciated Solomon's exploration of history and survival.

📖 Recommended For: Devotees of diverse climate fiction, readers interested in exploring power dynamics and social hierarchies, admirers of ensemble casts and enemies-to-comrades narratives, fans of Rivers Solomon’s The Deep and Martha Wells’s Murderbot.

🔑 Key Themes: Climate Change and Environmental Devastation, Power Dynamics and Social Hierarchies, Memory and Healing, Post-Apocalyptic Survival, Exploration of Prejudices and Assumptions.