Godori is a winning hand in the popular Korean card game called Go-Stop. Played with flower cards called “hwatu”, the basic concept of the game is to take cards from the center deck and pair them with similar picture cards in your hand for points. When you find the special set of three bird cards known as godori, you win the hand and can stop the game to collect your winnings. There are basic rules, but also a myriad of ways to play. The variations are endless and each household has their own rules, but godori is always a winning hand. This game is fast-paced and usually won through strategic moves, some risk-taking, and of course, a little bit of luck—all of which you will see in Ocean’s Godori.
In the 23rd century, a reunified Korea is the powerful leading nation; its space agency, Alliance, dominates the solar system. Ocean Yoon just might be the best pilot in Alliance or maybe even the entire solar system, but after a fall from grace, Ocean has been relegated to the Ohneul, a low-ranking class 4 ship with an eclectic, motley crew that includes an algae-loving but loyal xenobotanist, a mechanic who loves to cook, a selfish captain with questionable priorities, and a new Mortemian medic from Prometheus. While seemingly content with this new life of hers on the Ohneul, trouble is on the horizon when she finds out her best friend, Teo—the second son of the uber-wealthy Anand family and founders of the Anand tech empire— is being framed for murdering his family. This leads Ocean, Teo and the rest of the crew on a quest to clear Teo’s name—one that is filled with space chases, raiders, and mysterious but technologically advanced enemies.
It’s undeniable that Cho has created a unique world. For a member of the Korean diaspora like myself, seeing a reunified Korea become the dominant power in our solar system was fascinating. With so many Korean cultural references from the crew’s skincare routine to the different Korean snacks, as well as the usage of Korean words without explanation, this book felt like a warm hug from a dear chingoo. The exploration of Ocean not feeling “Korean” enough (a feeling so many of us can relate to) despite her long lineage to the Jeju haenyo made it clear to me that this book was written for the Korean diaspora. For that reason alone, this book is special.
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Ocean’s Godori
With descriptions of car-like spaceships set against the vast solar system, Cho has created a world that, for a ‘90s Korean kid like me, was both futuristic and retro. And it’s not just spaceships. There are hoverbikes with manual mechanics built even for the “drift car fanatics”—another vehicle Ocean excelled at riding thanks to her sensitive feet and to her brother, Hajoon, a car expert who’s even rebuilt a Nissan 240SX (a model that was popular for drifting in the ‘90s). This world is in the future, but it also felt like my childhood. Some might find the descriptions of spaceships with manual mechanics like having a clutch confusing and even annoying, but for me it was giving Initial D vibes and I was all for the nostalgia.
The world-building and character setup does take up a good portion of the book, but even with it I did feel confused at times, especially with the robust ensemble of characters. From the Ohneul crew to the Anand Family to the raiders, there are a lot of names, both first and last and sometimes even nicknames, to keep track of. I found myself flipping back pages to keep them all straight, which was at first frustrating, but I soon realized my frustration came out of concern. I cared about them. Cho has an ability to lure you into each character with… nuance. There are the usual, broad strokes of personalities that fit and fill certain character roles, but it’s the small shading and textures she imbues into the interactions and dialogue between them that give this book so much heart. I was expecting the action, the high-stakes political and strategic play, and even the violence, thanks to the hwatu allusion in the title, but I was not expecting to be moved by the relationships and found family in the book, which are, in my opinion, the true stars. I grew to love the characters, as many as there were, and found myself invested—a testament to the care and time Cho spent on them.
The world that Cho starts to build in Ocean’s Godori is special and feels expansive, but it is unexplored. This, coupled with the cliffhanger ending, would no doubt leave the reader craving for more. When this book was released back in April, the question of a second book was still up in the air. I’m happy to report now that the much-needed sequel to Ocean’s Godori has been confirmed (actual release date to be determined). Like many other readers, I want more of this world. I want to know why the Mortemians are shunned for practicing death rights. I want to know how the Anand Tech Empire came to be and at what cost. I want to know what happens to all the characters that captivated me. But most of all, I want to know if Ocean truly ends up with a godori—a winning hand in her life—and what that looks like. I am truly excited for what’s to come.
Ocean’s Godori is published by Hillman Grad Books.
