Chain-Gang All-Stars

Author: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
367 pages
Publisher: Pantheon, 2023

Synopsis
Two top women gladiators fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America’s own.

Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America’s increasingly dominant private prison industry. It’s the return of the gladiators and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom.

In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, she considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games, but CAPE’s corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo and the obstacles they lay in Thurwar’s path have devastating consequences.

Moving from the Links in the field to the protestors to the CAPE employees and beyond, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system’s unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, and a clear-eyed reckoning with what freedom in this country really means.

My review
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is a dystopian science fiction novel, one of my favorite genres. After reading the synopsis, I was eager to dive into the author’s imaginative world. The story begins with a bang—dark, gritty, and immediately captivating. Adjei-Brenyah clearly has a powerful message, using fiction as a vehicle to critique the prison system, address systemic racism, and explore humanity’s fascination with violence as entertainment. While I appreciate his bold approach and the themes he tackles, the story didn’t fully resonate with me. That said, I can see why many readers might find this book exceptional. It has strong elements but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Above all, I read fiction to be entertained—especially science fiction. I want to be transported to a world beyond my imagination, immersed in intricate settings, compelling characters, and their struggles. Dystopian fiction often carries a message, whether about climate change, human nature, or, as in this case, the prison system and society’s fascination with violence as entertainment. Unfortunately, instead of weaving its commentary subtly into the narrative, this story delivers social critique in a way that feels heavy-handed, overshadowing the plot. The characters feel underdeveloped, lacking the depth and rich backstories that could have elevated the narrative to something truly exceptional.

The focus is primarily on Thurwar and Staxxx—their fighting prowess and their love for each other—while the rest of the characters feel secondary. Some characters seem to appear only when the plot requires them, with rushed backstories that lack depth. The narrative also includes perspectives from various groups, such as fervent fans of the Chain-Gangs, protestors of the program, and other imprisoned individuals enduring physical and mental torture, driven to seek freedom through the brutal sport.

Chain-Gang All-Stars is a purpose-driven novel, and I have no doubt that Adjei-Brenyah has a promising future. The concept is excellent, the ambition commendable, but the execution falls somewhat short.

My recommendation: Chain-Gang All-Stars is worth reading, it’s just not a great novel!