I’ve been reading a lot of Afrofuturist series lately – so I wanted to share a bit about what I love about this genre/art movement and what I love about some of the classics of the genre so far this year.
Series Mentioned:
Binti Trilogy – Nnedi Okorafor
Raybearer/Redmeptor Duology – Jordan Ifueko
Broken Earth Trilogy – N.K. Jemesin
Book ‘unt is a channel for bookish content! The views here are sweary, feminist, communist, fat positive, inclusive, pro lgbtqia+ and anti-racist & anti-ablest – they are also often partially formed when I hit record – it’s all the beginning of a further discussion I hope we’ll carry on in the comments!
QUICK NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS CONDUCT: Open commentary is very much encouraged but that does not include hate speech or bigotry of any kind. Any comment that I decide infringes on peoples identity/humanity/happiness will just be deleted and the person attached blocked. I’m not arguing about peoples personhood nor debating any censorship decisions I make. My channel = My rules. So There.
If you like these videos don’t forget to subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrvXMTtWEUNfvLbjI38y7eA?sub_confirmation=1
You can also support me to make more content by buying me a cuppa at my kofi link:
https://ko-fi.com/bookunt
Follow me on storygraph to see what I’m reading right now!
https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/nellegunpowderfictionandplot?redirect=true
Or you might like to check out my husbands channel (that has lots of guest appearances from yours truly!)
https://www.youtube.com/c/GunpowderFictionPlot
source
YES YES YES I am late here but I agree with all it. Finished the stone sky while on holiday and absolutely adored it. And then I also love the binti trilogy. Raybearer is waiting for me on my shelf 🙂 I will always stan afrofuturism. Probably one of my favourite genres of all time.
I love Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism. So many incredible books here. ❤️
Ooh, I love Raybearer and Redemptor. So good! I also really liked what I have read of the Akata Witch series (can’t remember the real name right now).
Amy directed me to your channel and these recommendations proved that was a brilliant idea. 👏👏 Added every book to my mental TBR except The Fifth Season because I already own it and needed a reason to start it soon 🤩
I absolutely need to read The Fifth Season. Booktube with Amy shouted out your channel so I came to check you out! Great video and explanation.
Ooo I have fifth season on my shelf. I’ve only heard good things about it.
I loved the NK Jemisin series! I have started her Inheritance trilogy and still need to read book 3. They are good but not as good as Broken Earth. Binti was excellent too.
The Fifth Season seems to be a BookTube darling at the moment- I think I will fit it in somehow this year and see what everyone is talking about.
Amazing books! I really need to get to reading Binti 3 this year
Binti has been on my radar, Raybearer is on my list and I've swithered about the fifth season because I read the city we became I think it was called by NK Jemisin and I didn't enjoy the writing style but this series gets so much love that im tempted haha.
I have the Binti trilogy on my general TBR. I also have the Raybearer Redemptor duology on my general TBR too, I didn't know it was Afrofuturism. I have The Broken Earth trilogy on my general TBR too, I have heard many amazing things.
I don't tend to read sci-fi or trilogies 🤔 I get a bit lost in world building and lots of characters. However, you're description of the women in The Broken Earth trilogy sounds like it's definitely my thing. I adore female characters who challenge the world they are in and defy norms and expectations. I've added it to my library wishlist. My library also has a short story collection by N.K. Jemisin – How long til black future month? I don't know if you are into short stories? Have you read the collection? Thank you so much for the inspiration 😀
I once heard Afrofuturism described as a focus on the future since Black folks have less of a tendency to romanticize to past than white folks (based on things like who was most likely to wear frilly gowns and fashionable jackets in the Antebellum Southern USA, for instance).
I cannot argue that looking forward moreso than backward is a productive instinct.
This was fabulous – adding Raybearer to my TBR and this really inspires me to get to the Broken Earth Triliogy. Thanks!
Last part of my research the author is Nora ketia jemisin known as nk jemisin she is American science fiction fantasy writer her fiction works including wide range of themes notably cultural conflict oppression her debut novel hundreds thousands kingdoms subsequent books in her inheritance trilogy’s received critical acclaim she has won several awards for her work including locus award three books for her broken earth series made her first author to win hugo award for best novel in three consecutive years as well as three novels in trilogy jemisin recipient of Mac Arthur follows program genus grant in 2020 jemisin won fourth Hugo award for best novelette in 2020 for emergency skin iam so sorry to be little long but reading and writing both are great ways to improve our English language as none native speakers ihope we became intimate friends from now on your name is Irish means shining light or mercy my name is Turkish origin means Nobel lady as princess iwish for your channel more success and progress stay safe blessed iam subscriber to your husband channel mr Scott gunpowder fiction too best wishes for you your family friends.
How are you doing mrs Nell iam new subscriber Arabic lady citizen since Christmas 2019 I began to subscribe to British and American YouTube channels we are as foreigners subscribers as overseas students want to increase our cultural level improve our English language as well literature lovers first of all make friendships with people from different countries in the past only travel aboard or looking for books to learn new information nowadays YouTube channels as open universities for every one google is our library so that I looked up for meaning of idiom afrofuturism it’s cultural aesthetic that combines science fiction, history, fantasy to explore African American experiences and aims to connect those from black diaspora with their forgotten African ancestry. If you please I choose one of books which you are mentioned just main theme and author biography briefly here it’s broken earth trilogy set on massive continent called stillness in far future earth wracked with periodic disasters known as seasons these seasons are not just bad storm they are massive apocalyptic events that last for generations reshaping world and inhabitants.
I started Fifth Season but then got sick so couldn’t focus on it but I definitely want to get back to it! Love how you share your enthusiasm about what you love and why in such a clear and concise way!! I wish I could do that but I am way too rambly 😂
I really need to give Jemisin a try.
I wasn't a big fan of the Binti trilogy, but I think it was because it was marketed as 3 separate books and to me it was just one. I really enjoyed the Broken Earth Trilogy and have 2 of her other series on my shelves. I've been debating reading Raybearer, but I'm not usually a huge fan of YA. The Reading Women Podcast has a good episode on Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism if you're interested! Episode 81.
Loved Binti and Broken Earth. Someone else commented about Okorafor preferring African. I have liked everything I’ve read from that writer though.
🙌to being a woman who says what she thinks! I absolutely loved The Broken Earth trilogy and will check out your other recs too.
Nnedi Okorafor is quite vocal about her work being Africanfuturism rather than Afrofuturism. I haven't read anything by Ifueko yet, but I do love Jemisin and Okorafor.
I really loved The Fifth Season, I must continue with that series!!
Great list Nell 🧡
"Weird looking and grumpy"? I thought for a minute you were talking about me.
Thank you for the recommendations.
Yay I love how much you love Afrofuturism! I loved the first Binti, still need to read the other two.
Are you aware of Onyx Pages’ channel? Worth checking out for you’re not and are looking for Afrofuturism discussions.
Great video. I enjoyed Binit but it didn't make a major lasting impression. I think Jemisn may be on the level of Le Guin as far as her impact on scifi. I need to read the final book in the broken earth trilogy but it is amazing.
I love this video. Binti 1 was all over very quickly and didn't feel like it was a whole book, should I read the trilogy all at once and pretend it is one book?