Magnetic, haunting, and tender, Extinction Capital of the World is a stunning portrait of Hawai'i-and a powerful meditation on family, queer love, and community amid imperialism and environmental collapse. In ten vibrant, affecting stories, Mariah Rigg immerses readers in contemporary Hawai'i. By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, these stories of love, longing, and grief are fierce dispatches from a state haunted by the specter of colonization, a precious biome under constant threat. An older man grapples with the American-weapons research conducted on a neighboring island that reverberates through his entire life. A pregnant woman seeks belonging while poaching flowers in the rainforest with her partner's mother. Two teenage girls find love during a summer spent on Midway Atoll. A young woman returns home to O'ahu following a breakup and reconnects with her estranged father and the island itself. Linked by both place and character, Rigg's stories illuminate the exotification and commodification of Hawai'i in the American mythos. Extinction Capital of the World is an environmental love letter to the Hawaiian Islands and an indelible portrayal of the people who inhabit them-marking the arrival of an exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.
"The people, plants, landscapes, and histories of Hawaii come alive in this collection of short stories. Jennifer Robideau narrates with a light touch and minimal character voices, choosing instead to provide a welcome continuity of tone across the stories. Through her characters' intimate relationships with each other and their home places, Rigg explores the legacy of colonialism and tourism in Hawaii, as well as the legacies of resilience, resistance, and love. Robideau narrates a story about an older man who is looking back on his life, a teenage girl who is discovering herself, a 20-something who is returning home after a long absence, and more. Her smooth, unobtrusive narration makes this an easy and enjoyable listen, and her careful attention to Hawaiian place names and other words reflects the care and love Rigg put into these works. L.S. � AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine"
