Oil on Water is a 2010 petrofiction novel by Nigerian author Helon Habila.[1][2] The novel documents the experience of two journalists as they try to rescue a kidnapped European wife in the oil landscape of the Niger Delta. The novel explores themes of both the ecological and political consequences of oil conflict and petrodollars in the delta.[3][4][5]

Oil on Water
AuthorHelon Habila
GenrePetrofiction
PublisherPenguin Books
Publication date
August 5, 2010
ISBN978-0-241-14486-2

Plot

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Oil on Water is a story about two people, Rufus, an emerging journalist, and Zaq, a famous reporter.They went to the Niger Delta in pursuit of an abducted white woman named Isabel Floode, who was used as a bargaining chip in Nigeria's civil war.

Reception

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Reviews

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The novel was well received. Orion magazine called it "a powerful work, one that reaffirms that art done well is always big enough to contain politics".[3] The Guardian's Rachel Aspden called it a "powerful, accomplished third novel [that] displays a growing pessimism about journalism's capacity to effect change."[4]

Awards

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Awards for Oil on Water
Year Award Result Ref.
2011 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa) Shortlist [6][7]
2012 PEN/Open Book Award Shortlist [8][9]
2013 Orion Book Award Shortlist [10]

References

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  1. ^ Riddle, Amy. "Petrofiction and Political Economy in the Age of Late Fossil Capital". Mediations: Journal of the Marxist Literary Group. 31 (2). Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Oil on Water". Kirkus Reviews. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Pancake, Ann. "Oil on Water". Orion Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Aspden, Rachel (28 August 2010). "Oil on Water by Helon Habila | Book review". the Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  5. ^ Egya, Sule Emmanuel (2017). "Literary Militancy and Helon Habila's Oil on Water". Research in African Literatures. 48 (4): 94–104. doi:10.2979/reseafrilite.48.4.07. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 10.2979/reseafrilite.48.4.07. S2CID 166108633. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Helon Habila, Nigerian Literary Genius". LifeAndTimes News. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  7. ^ "2011 prize: regional shortlist". Commonwealth Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Helon Habila". Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  9. ^ "2012 PEN Open Book Award". pen.org. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  10. ^ Omoniyi, Tosin (11 November 2017). "Helon Habila, Maaza Mengiste named The New American Voices award judges". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 28 May 2020.