Much of what has been shared so far in the wake of George Floyd’s death has been petitions, donation links, education materials for people to understand the impact of systemic racism in this country and fight it. That is, of course, so important.
I think it is also important to celebrate the achievements of black people, and the art they have put out into the world. I get asked quite often to share book recommendations, and I really enjoy doing it. To that end, I thought I would share a list of 10 science fiction and fantasy short stories, novellas, and novels by black authors that I found particularly enjoyable and/or impactful.
Please look through and consider reading one of these books (purchase if you are able, or request from your local library if you are not) and writing a review (reviews are the lifeblood of publishing, especially on Amazon).
Please also share any other books (don’t have to be SFF) by black authors that you have enjoyed in the comments! And if you do end up reading any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
The Black God’s Drums, P. Djèlí Clark
This Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novella 2019 features wonderful worldbuilding (alt-history steampunk-esque New Orleans as the precariously protected neutral port in a fractured North America), compelling characters, distinct voice, and a tight plot.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015, P. Djèlí Clark
Worldbuilding is definitely a strength of Clark’s; like the Black God’s Drums, this 2020 Hugo Award nominated novella paints a vivid alternate history (although this time it is a 20th century Cairo-as-world-power full of djinns). It’s the same world as Clark’s other work “A Dead Djinn in Cairo”, and I appreciated the nods to that story here. The plot is neat and the resolution satisfying overall, with some loose ends that hopefully suggest more shorts in this setting.
Dread Nation, Justina Ireland
This 2019 Lodestar Award Nominee is an alt-history adventure tale of a biracial girl kicking zombie butt – and building wonderful relationships with other women around her. The pace keeps the pages turning (especially in the second half).
The Broken Earth Trilogy, N.K. Jemisin (The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, The Stone Sky)
This series is magnificent. It is a masterwork addressing prejudice, slavery, personhood, motherhood, and choice. Pulls no emotional punches – but also wonderfully hopeful in the end. All three books won Hugo Awards for Best Novel.
The City Born Great, N.K. Jemisin
https://www.tor.com/2016/09/28/the-city-born-great/
This short story has a very cool concept, a very strong voice, and writing that begs to be read aloud. The words leap from the page, lush and alive and fierce, like the city they describe.
On my TBR: The City We Became, a novel which begins where The City Born Great leaves off.
Riot Baby, Tochi Onyebuchi
Riot Baby is an achingly powerful novella that does so much in its slim 160 pages. Through Ella, and her manifestation of revolutionary power, and Kev, locked up for the crime of being a black man, Onyebuchi shows us the cycles of violence perpetrated against the black community and explores the ways that freedom can be claimed. It is at the same time an intensely personal story of two siblings and a damning condemnation of structural racism. Now, more than ever, it is a must-read. (CW: police brutality, institutional racism, references to multiple real-life instances of same, e.g. Rodney King, Philando Castile, etc.)
Witchmark, C.L. Polk
A lovely fantasy which is part mystery, part romance, and part alt-historical fiction. Polk builds an immersive secondary world that feels a bit like Edwardian England and populates it with a rich cast of characters. There’s maybe one too many subplots in this debut (I would have liked a little more space for the breakneck pace to breathe) but it certainly kept me turning pages.
An Unkindness of Ghosts, Rivers Solomon
Engrossing despite some uneven patches which reflect this book’s status as the author’s debut. Scenes were viscerally immersive, the narrative voice was strong, the book’s concept had powerful potential, and the world was wonderfully queer.
The Deep, Rivers Solomon
Hugo Award Nominee for best Novella 2020; this fascinating little piece based on the song of the same title by clipping. builds out a fascinating mythology (CW: it’s a society of mermaids born from pregnant African women thrown overboard from slave ships) and makes some excellent points about history, legacy, and the way trauma is passed down.
A Taste of Honey, Kai Ashante Wilson
A beautifully written M/M love story in a rich, fantastic world. A nonlinear narrative gives additional complexity.
The Great Novel Adventure 