Binti is a horror science fiction short story written by Nnedi Okorafor and was first published in 2015 by Tor.com. It is followed by a further two sequels, Binti: Home (2017) and Binti: The Night Masquerade (2018).
The book follows the main protagonist, Binti, as she leaves Earth to travel intergalactically in space. However, her ship is attacked by an alien species known as the Meduse, which leaves her fighting for survival. Using her skill and knowledge she manages to befriend one of the Meduse and broker a peace with the alien race.
The book covers many themes, such as identity, humanity and friendship. Binti is the first of her kind to be accepted into such a prestigious university, which leaves her feeling at odds with who she thinks she is. The imposter syndrome she feels immediately goes away after meeting her new peers who all hare a love of science. Indeed, friendship is at the core of this story as she manages to make friends with a member of the Meduse and unite the two races by the end.
