The Prey of Gods is a 2017 novel by Nicky Drayden.
This book is set in a futuristic South Africa, in the year 2064. The novel's story and subplots revolve around the goddess Xhosa, who returns to earth in human form after losing her divine powers. Reincarnated as a woman named Sydney Mazwai, she tries to recover her lost powers while South Africa is threatened by a revolt of artificial intelligence.
The Prey of Gods contains examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Riya and Stoker both have parents from Hell. The former's father is an oppressive stage parent. Stoker's mother has erased her daughter's memories of coming out as a trans woman, because she can't stand to have a trans daughter and not a son.
- Afrofuturism: The book is set in a futuristic mid-21st century South Africa.
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: The novel depicts a revolt of Artificial Intelligence beings, which have independently developed a hive mind mentality.
- Culture Chop Suey: While set in South Africa of 2064, the culture depicted features a blend of Hindi, Chinese, Zulu, Xhosa, Irish, White Anglo-Saxon, and White Boer influences.
- Magical Realism: The novel treats magical and supernatural elements as if they were common and normal things.
- Myth Punk: Here, the folk gods of Xhosa and Zulu mythology (as well as of other South African peoples) return disguised in human form to a futuristic South Africa of 2064. It's a country where these local myths coexist with magic, mystical powers, and advanced technologies. These covert gods secretly try to regain supremacy and attain world domination.
- Reincarnation: Sydney Mazwai, a human woman, discovers that she is the reincarnation of the ancient goddess Xhosa, who wants to conquer South Africa and be worshiped as a supreme being by common mortals.
- Solar Punk: South Africa in this book is a society where technology is fueled by renewable and alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
- Science Fantasy: The novel's world fuses advanced and futuristic technologies (such as robotics, genetics, and Artificial Intelligence) with magic, supernatural creatures, and divine beings. Shamanism, spiritism, and polytheism from Zulu and Xhosa sources also make an appearance.
- Urban Fantasy: This book exhibits a futuristic and hyper-technological mix of elements. Sci-fi, solarpunk, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and mythology from Xhosa and Zulu sources appear, all set in the South African city of Port Elizabeth.
