Home andrea hairston black women writing literature nalo hopkinson nisi shawl nk jemisin nnedi okorafor octavia butler tananarive due 7 black women science fiction writers everyone should know. Theyve written of what it was like to live in slavery, what jim crow america was like, and what 20th and 21st century america has been like for black women. Science fiction, feminism, african american voices, and octavia e. Happily ignorant of the obstacles that a black female writer could encounter, she became unsure of herself for the first time at the age of. Theres something in this mix for everyonefrom mindblowing science fiction to heartwarming memoirsall with one thing in common. After her father died, she was raised by her widowed mother. Octavia butlers work has reached a broad, mainstream audience in a way that few black women science fiction authors have enjoyed.
They were written by a black woman, including icons like toni morrison and michelle obama. While hundreds of women published science fiction stories in the 1950s and earlier, it wasnt until the 1960swith its secondwave feminism the first wave focused on suffrage and legal gender equality and the sense that science fiction was a literature of ideasthat a large influx of female authors appeared on the scene. The scifi writers inventive, intricate novels have defied convention and. Octavia estelle butler june 22, 1947 february 24, 2006 was an american science fiction author. Feminist science fiction sf distinguishes between female sf authors and feminist sf authors. The characters try to survive in societies governed by rightwing theocracies where alien viruses mutate men into monsters and almost all of humankind has been wiped out by nuclear war. Octavia estelle butler june 22, 1947 february 24, 2006 was an american science fiction. Butler is a multiplerecipient of both the hugo and nebula awards and one of the bestknown female writers in the field.
Recommended black science fiction and fantasy authors. The 1892 novel iola leroy by frances harper 18251911, the leading black woman poet of the 19th century, has been described as the first piece of africanamerican utopian fiction on account of its vision of a peaceful and equal polity of men and women, whites and former slaves. Told in three distinct centuries, debut author rita woods details how four black women s lives are inextricably bound together by history and by survival. In our judgment, this is the penultimate of the best science fiction books by black women. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book. Below, youll find a list of black science fiction and fantasy authors whose work has left, or is currently leaving, a footprint on the genre we all love. A guide to fantasy and science fiction made for black. A selected list novels and short stories dealing with african american life are an important part of our collection. The science fiction subgenre known for its utopian and liberation themes has become a vehicle for black women artists. In a genre known for being traditionally white and male, octavia butler broke new ground in science fiction as an african american woman. Contrary to some other authors, there are some of us who dont mind being classified as african american writers. It may be black history month, but appreciating writers like octavia e. Born in california in 1947, butler was an avid reader.
In fact, you could argue that mary shelleys frankenstein is one. In 2010, octavia butler was inducted into the science fiction hall of fame posthumously. Standing before the formation was a black woman in her midforties. So, in honor of black history month, here are 20 incredible black science fiction authors who you should add to your reading list as soon as possible.
The history of science fiction in the western world owes a huge debt to women. American science fiction writer octavia butler won numerous hugo and nebula awards, and was one of the best known women in the field. Science fiction and fantasy books by black authors you. Though black womens literature spans every genre imaginable, the visibility of black women in speculative fiction is often low.
Jemisin is a perfect starting point for those who are interested in science fiction but who cannot see themselves in it. Amazing novels by black female authors that should really. But since you asked science fiction like many genres has historically excluded authors of color. To celebrate black history month i would like to share a few extraordinary african american scifi, fantasy and horror authors with you. Octavia estelle butler became one of the worlds premier science fiction writers, the first black female science fiction writer to reach national prominence, and the only writer in her genre to. Each novel, memoir, or collection of poetry or essays listed below is a powerfully written and completely captivating celebration of the black experience. After wakanda5 black scifi writers you should know. Chesnutt 18581932 was a noted writer of folkloric hoodoo stories. In 20, the science fiction and fantasy writers of america named delany its 30th. The black characters, stories, and even the creators in the genre have had to struggle to gain a foothold. The seven best science fiction books by black women at its core, science fiction is about the exploration of alternative worlds.
Recommended black science fiction and fantasy authors this is a list of black science fiction and fantasy authors that i decided to write in the wake of the controversial posts made in the last couple of days here and here about fireside fiction s study on the lack of black authors published in sff short fiction magazines. Discover the best african american science fiction in best sellers. Though this month is a good occasion to bring attention to black scifi and speculative fiction, dont think this is a onetime thing. Canadianbritish science fiction and fantasy author geoff ryman, author of the incredible novel was, has begun a series in which he profiles 100 working science fiction and fantasy writers in. Happily ignorant of the obstacles that a black female writer could encounter, she became unsure of herself for the. In the black community, rape, violence against women, and sexual harassment are as much the. Here are 27 female authors who rule scifi and fantasy right now. Many of the earliest and most influence works in the genre were composed by women, and women have supplied the field with many of its greatest writers through the years. When it comes to female black authors, while some of them are more well know, most people can only name a few. From ya to adult lit, from magical realism to epic fantasy to postapocalyptic scifi feminism, from short stories to series, theres a book on this list for every single reader. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. This month and every month, black scifi writers look to the future.
However, many of these brilliant writers go unnoticed even by black and brown peoples often because theyre unaware that we exist. Below, youll find a list of black science fiction and fantasy authors whose work has. Black science fiction or black speculative fiction is an umbrella term that covers a variety of. For young girls today, its not unheard of to stumble upon fantasy and science fiction stories with realistic female protagonists, inspiring them to strive for independence. Code switch for years, black authors stood out in science fiction and fantasy. She began writing scifi at 12 upon realizing that she could create better fantasy stories than those she saw in tv and movies. African american science fiction, fantasy and horror authors. High profile black female characters that have appeared before us on screen sometimes saving the world and putting the universe to. In recent decades,there has been a small influx of these authors into science fiction fantasy genres. Black women in science fiction open to any science fiction genre featuring a heroine of color. Science fiction is sometimes criticised for caring more about gadgets than people, simon ings is one of the writers changing that. Octavia estelle butler june 22, 1947 february 24, 2006 was an africanamerican science fiction author. His collection the conjure woman 1899 is the first known speculative fiction collection.
Standing before the formation was a black woman in her midforties, with. Rowling harry potter, margaret atwood the handmaids tale, and diana gabaldon outlander has inspired some of the most popular film and television of recent years. Though black women s literature spans every genre imaginable, the visibility of black women in speculative fiction is often low. Both female and feminist sf authors are historically significant to the feminist sf subgenre, as female writers have increased women s visibility and perspectives in sf literary traditions, while the feminist writers have foregrounded political themes. She was also the first science fiction writer to receive a.
In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the macarthur fellowship, nicknamed the genius grant. While there are a number of amazing authors that delve into this genre, very few. Shawl has also edited some great anthologies of speculative fiction youll want to get your hands on, including ones paying homage to black and queer science fiction legends like stories for chip. A multiple recipient of both the hugo and nebula awards, she became in 1995 the first science fiction writer to receive a macarthur fellowship butler was born in pasadena, california. Afrofuturism, which is jemisins genre of choice, takes black protagonists and creates a fantasy or science fiction universe either set in africa or based around afrocentric ideals. From young adult to science fiction, weve got you covered with a diverse range of books to get into this summer. The scifi writers inventive, intricate novels have defied convention and sold. The seven best science fiction books by black women. Black women in speculative fiction exploring the work of. Rowling, suzanne collins and veronica roth make it seem as though the genre has always welcomed women with open arms. He encouraged her to attend the sixweek clarion science fiction writers workshop in clarion, pennsylvania. Ron hubbard presents writers of the future volume 36.
African americans womens experience fiction, african. Whether through space exploration, dystopian natural disasters, or technological advancement, science fiction authors seek to creatively imagine alternatives to our current world. Go into any bookshop in the land and itll be hard to find more than a few women authors on the science fiction and fantasy shelves, let alone black women. Well, actually, quite a lot of the authors are female and many of them already have sold the filmtv rights to their books.
Of course, octavia butler tops any list of black science fiction and speculative fiction writers. In the 21st century, women dominating the field of science fiction and fantasy novels is par for the coursethe overwhelming success of authors like j. The 23 best science fiction books by female authors the. Theres something in this mix for everyonefrom mindblowing science fiction to heartwarming memoirsall with one. To celebrate black history month, weve included 26 books by black authors from the last two centuries, all of which are mustread works. Octavia butlers kindred 1979 is one of a string of novels she penned centering on black female protagonists, which was unprecedented in a whitemale dominated science and speculative fiction. Marvels final black widow trailer is back in the ussr. The 1892 novel iola leroy by frances harper 18251911, the leading black woman poet of the 19th century, has been described as the first. We continue our campaign of highlighting, celebrating, and developing science fiction, speculative fiction, sword and soul, fantasy, horror, movies, and games, in a print magazine as well as an emag. Ask people to name black authors of science fiction and fantasy and only a few names will be repeated, if any names are known at all. Valerie wilson wesleyan african american genre author more notable for writing childrens books than science fiction, wesleys success is still a nod to black women in genre fiction. African american women writers have helped bring the black womans experience to life for millions of readers. Kindred about an africanamerican woman living in 1976 california who is wrenched suddenly back and forth.
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