Fantasy and Science Fiction Books by black authors don’t have to be hard to come by. If you’re looking to read some great books I’ve included a short list here of books I’ve read and books on my TBR (to be read) pile. For the books I’ve read I’ve included a short book review and recommendation. I’m excited to share these great Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels with you and hope you find something new to read! #booktube #blackhistorymonth #bookreview
Books Mentioned:
Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
The Broken Earth Series by N.K. Jemisin
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
The Earthseed Books by Octavia E. Butler
Black Dawn Series by Adrienne Maree Brown
Black Empire by George S. Schuyler
Dhalgren Samuel R. Delaney
Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:57 Read Fantasy Books
05:47 Read Sci-Fi Books
12:44 Sci-Fi Books TBR
17:38 Outro
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I will be very interested to hear your reaction to The Parable of the Talents!
I've been reading a lot of Octavia Butler lately. She is SO good! Her Earthseed series is next up for me. (Ursula Le Guin has a series called Earthsea. This really confused me for… okay, until today!) Thank for another terrific video, Nicole.
Great recommendations! I've read Kindred, the Earthseed books and The 5th Season and they were all very different and interesting.
If my order of Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor arrives in time, that's what I'll read in February. It's the third book in the Nsibidi Scripts series. The first one is Akata Witch. I've loved all of her books so far. Binti is Afrofuturism as well.
If it doesn't arrive in time, I have Wild Seed and Dawn by Olivia E Butler waiting to be read.
For Black History Month, I'm planning to read An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi. I've been enjoying reading about history from the perspective of people other than white colonisers a lot lately. And also history with the women put back in, or just about the women.
Black Empire sounds amazing. I'm going to read Babel 17 by Samuel Delaney. We're supposed to get lots of snow here, so hopefully I can get some reading done.
Nicole, just this morning, I received an email from the Library of America about an online event that they are hosting on February 19 entitled "The Black Fantastic: The New Wave of Afrofutrist Fiction." They are featuring "Black voices at the cutting edge of American Science Fiction and Fantasy," people like Tananarive Due, Victor LaValle, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and andre carrington. Have you heard about this? I immediately thought of you and your latest video that I had just watched yesterday. Are you on voxer? I'd love to send you this email. Additionally, they are featuring the collection edited by carrington, The Black Fantastic: 20 Afrofuturist Stories. Have you seen that collection? Just wanted to reach out….
Amazing I love your recs! I recently decided to take a step back from reading recent releases and I’m having a great time rereading Octavia Butler and getting into (new for me) older Sci-fi and fantasy works
Have you by chance read Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward or The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates? I've only read the one book by each of them but look forward to reading more of their stories. I bought Slave Narratives Mega Collection last year and only finished about one half of the stories, as they are stories of real people and what they went through I just had to put it aside, it's so very painful. I really believe that it should be taught in schools.
Kindred is tame compared to Corrigedora or Eva's Man by Gayl Jones. Just started Black Empire and it's a wild ride. Also, recommend Balck No More by rhe same author. Dhalgren is on my TBR for March.
Pen and paper in hand. Thanks for the recs!
Good list full of proven talent. I have actually read Grievers, Kindred and Parable of the Sower (graphic versions), and The Broken Earth trilogy.
Oh man, I think I'm misremembering the Broken Earth trilogy because I could have sworn we knew the second person narrator in the first book! I think I read those books too quickly. Great video! I love Octavia Butler.
Great list! I read The Fifth Empire a few years ago and really enjoyed it but need to finish the rest of the series. I recommend The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark, and the Binti series by Nnedi Okorafor. I'm definitely adding Black Empire to my TBR and can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.
Fabulous. I have them on my list.
I am not a big fantasy person and I hate time travel but I can get into a little Sci-fi or dystopian. I didn't know Kindred was about time travel. Grievers looks interesting.
Great topic! The Fifth Season and Dahlgren sound interesting, and I can't wait to hear what you think of Black Empire.
I started with Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, found her prose and concepts really engaging, then jumped into Kindred, Parable of the Sower, and Parable of the Talents. Parable of the Sower was the best book I read last year. And I also read and loved the entirety of the Broken Earth trilogy. I’d already read Jemisin’s Great Cities duology (enjoyed it).
I am always on the lookout for recommendations for other authors if you love Butler and Jemisin. Love this video!
I read the three books in the Liliths brood series by Octavia Butler. Absolutely loved them!!!
What a great idea for recommendations. Thank you so much
Great recommendations. I've read Kindred and it is indeed a gut-punch. I thought it was great, and I'm looking forward to reading more Octavia E Butler too… when I feel up to it!
I'd recommend Ring Shout, a novella by P. Djèlí Clark. It blends sci-fi, fantasy, alternate history, and cosmic horror.
Nnedi Okorafor writes sci-fi and fantasy. Akata Witch and Akata Warrior were good.
I'm aiming to read A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark, The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters, and Parable of the Sower this year.
I really liked Kindred. I did not need the time travel explained which is interesting because usually I want answers. What would I do if thrown into a plantation during slavery times as a Black woman? I am a white person but I am a woman and could understand her need for self-preservation as well as a sense of powerlessness. I like that uncomfortable feeling that speculative fiction gives when there is no easy answer.
I did not enjoy Parable of the Sower as much as Kindred. Sower’s ending was satisfactory, but the religion aspect turned me off of wanting to continue with Talents. Well, that and the fact Butler died before finishing the series. My curiosity was not piqued enough to overcome the idea of a forever cliffhanger.
Great video, Nicole. Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve read some N. K. Jemison—her City duology. I liked it but didn’t love it. Great discussion. Thank you.
I’m currently reading Kindred and you’re so right, it’s a gut wrenching and disturbing no holds barred read. I can’t wait to finish it so I can start reading Parable of the Sower next.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I have the first in the Broken Earth series, I haven't tried it yet. I also have 'Kindred' on the ereader.
Have you read River Solomon?