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  • Writer's pictureKL Forslund

The State of Black Science Fiction

Updated: Mar 14, 2021

We honor the dead on Memorial Day, but they’re here to remind us every day. We forgive on Forgiveness Day, but we should be doing that every day. Nobody should wait until the special day. The day is meant to reinforce what we should already be doing. February is Black History Month, and we know there’s thousands of years of Black History.


Part of that history is writers of color who’ve been filling the alleged void of Black Science Fiction (and Fantasy!). Some of the stories are about being Black, some are about people who happen to be Black. All of them are fantastic. Some are mainstream, but many are independently published. They’ve taken the hard road where mainstream publishers are just awakening to looking for voices like theirs.


Hear them.


Now.


I set out on the easy road and scroll through my friends’ pages and groups to make a list article. It took long enough that my back hurts. Good. Pain gives the work meaning. The list is not a completed work, but neither is history. There’s always something going on. Read and if you can, add to it.


Black Authors and Where to Find Them


Al Stewart

https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/issho-ni/list?title_no=278326


Alan Jones

https://www.amazon.com/Alan-D-Jones/e/B076YRP3B7%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Aleron Kong

https://www.litrpg.com/


Alex Smith (I think this is the right one, maybe)

https://www.alexoteric.com/


Alex Jennings

http://www.alexjennings.net/


Alexander Simmons

https://simmonshereandnow.com/


Alicia McCalla

https://aliciamccalla.com/


Andrea Hairston

http://andreahairston.com/


Antoine Bandele

https://www.antoinebandele.com/


Ashleigh Davenport

https://linktr.ee/AshWritesLots


Athena Persephoni

https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/rbooker1003


Aurelius Raines

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17773423.Aurelius_Raines_II


Baba Okiki-Ifa Oluso

https://www.facebook.com/OlusoIfalaja13


Balogun Ojetade

https://chroniclesofharriet.com/


Bob McNeil

https://grandmamosespress.com/2021/02/02/black-lives-matter-introducing-bob-mcneil/


Brandon Rouse

https://linktr.ee/Powerlessbybr


Brandon O'Brien

https://www.brandonobrien.space/


Brent Lambert

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blwritings


Brittni Chenelle

https://www.amazon.com/Brittni-Chenelle/e/B00K4SAKOO/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


Bryan D. Convington

https://betweenmagicanddreams.com/


Cadwell Turnbull

https://cadwellturnbull.com/


Carl Hancock Rux

http://carlhancockrux.com/


Carole McDonnell

http://www.amazon.com/Carole-McDonnell/e/B0034Q3BWG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


C. C. Ekeke

https://www.amazon.com/C-C-Ekeke/e/B005GIBHNK/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


Cecil Washington

http://cecilwashington.com/


Celestian Antrig Brightmoon

https://www.illustratoroffantasies.com/shop


Cerece Rennie Murphy

https://www.cerecerenniemurphy.com/


Charles Saunders

https://differentdrumming.com/


Charlie J. Eskew

https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-J-Eskew/e/B07HB78G4B%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Christopher A. Hunter

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B07SKRJNZR?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default


Christopher Chambers

https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Chambers/e/B001H6Q096%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Christopher Surratt

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AChristopher+Surratt&s=relevancerank&text=Christopher+Surratt&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1


Cole Riley

https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Cole-Riley/410651863#:~:text=Cole%20Riley%20is%20the%20pen,a%20columnist%20at%20SexIs%20Magazine.


Colson Whitehead

https://www.colsonwhitehead.com/


Danian Darrell Jerry

https://twitter.com/danianjerry?lang=en


Daniel Jose Older

http://danieljoseolder.net/


Darryl Dawson

https://www.darryldawsonbooks.com/


DaVaun Saunders

https://davaunsanders.com/


David Anthony Durham

https://www.amazon.com/David-Anthony-Durham/e/B001H6PMTU


Denny Upkins

https://dennisupkins.wordpress.com/


Derrick A. Bell

https://www.amazon.com/Derrick-A-Bell/e/B001HD0VCQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


Derrick Ferguson

https://my-dillon.com/


Deston J. Munden

https://www.amazon.com/Deston-J-Munden/e/B07Q2D6948/


Dewaine Farria

https://www.dewainefarria.com/


DeWayne Copeland

https://www.sunstormer.com/


Donovan Hall

https://twitter.com/Donovan49951130


Dwayne A. Madry

https://www.Sahael.com


Dwayne McDuffie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_McDuffie


Echo Ishi

https://echoishiizone.com/about/


Edward Austin Hall

https://www.amazon.com/Edward-Austin-Hall/e/B00G5GMYKM/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1


Ekpeki Donald Oghenechovwe

https://ekpeki.com/


Elwin Michael Cotman

https://www.elwincotman.com/


Emmy Jackson

https://www.emmyjackson.com/


Enock Simbaya

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AEnock+Simbaya&s=relevancerank&text=Enock+Simbaya&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1


Errick Nunnally

http://errick-nunnally.squarespace.com/


Eugen Bacon

http://eugenbacon.com/


Evan Winter

http://evanwinter.com/


Frederick S. Blackmon

https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-S-Blackmon/e/B013SAX4W4%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Geoffrey Thorne

https://www.geoffreythorne.com/


Gloria Sanders Williams

https://www.amazon.com/Gloria-Sanders-Williams/e/B004N6SWO8


Hannibal Tabu

http://hannibaltabu.com/


Howard Night

https://www.howardnight.com/


Ismael Reed

https://ismaelreed.org


Jahmil Effend

https://www.amazon.com/War-Fallows-Council-Jahmil-Effend-ebook/dp/B08VSFYMLJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jahmil+Effend&qid=1612647817&sr=8-1


James Beamon

https://www.amazon.com/James-Beamon/e/B003GS3MYE


James L Hill

http://jlhill-books.com/index.html


Jarla Tangh

http://jarlatangh.blogspot.com/


Jason Malcom Stewart

https://about.me/jaymal


Jelani Wilson

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/15864602.Jelani_Wilson


Jesse J. Holland

https://www.amazon.com/Jesse-J-Holland/e/B002BLY2VE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1


Jessie L. Sifford

https://www.amazon.com/Jessie-l-Sifford/e/B07C3GQHG4/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1


John H. Sibley

amazon.com/author/johnsibley


John Jennings

https://twitter.com/JIJennings


Justin C. Key

https://justinckey.com/


Justina Ireland

https://www.authorjustinaireland.com/


K Ceres Wright

http://kceres.net/


K. R. S. McEntire

https://www.amazon.com/K-R-S-McEntire/e/B083QZ558W/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


KC King

https://www.amazon.com/THRIVE-TRANSGENUS-Book-KC-KING-ebook/dp/B0180GZ4RY/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&geniuslink=true


Keith Gaston

https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Gaston/e/B009DUWQ5K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Keith Hayden

https://keithhayden.net/


Kyoko M

https://www.misskyokom.com/


Kwame Mbalia

https://kwamembalia.com/


Letitia Carelock

http://shewhowritesmonsters.com/


Leon Clarke

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ALeon+Clarke+Jr&s=relevancerank&text=Leon+Clarke+Jr&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1


Levar Burton

https://www.amazon.com/Aftermath-LeVar-Burton/dp/0446605018/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=levar+burton+book&qid=1615732668&sr=8-2


Mack Little

https://www.ellysianpress.com/authors/mack-little/


Malcom Morrow

https://www.killersindisguise.com/


Marc L Abbot

https://whoismarclabbott.com/


Marlon James

https://www.marlonjameswriter.com/


Mat Johnson

http://www.matjohnson.info/


Maurice Broadus

http://mauricebroaddus.com/


Maurice Ruffin

https://loweramericanson.com/we-cast-a-shadow/about/


Milton Davis

https://www.mvmediaatl.com/


Minister Faust (aka Malcolm Azania)

https://ministerfaust.com/


N. K. Jemisin

https://nkjemisin.com/


Nalo Hopkinson

https://www.nalohopkinson.com/


Namina Forna

https://naminaforna.com/


Napoleon Wells

https://twitter.com/NapoleonBXSith


Nicole Givens Kurtz

https://nicolegivenskurtz.net/


Nisi Shawl

http://www.nisishawl.com/


Nnedi Okorafor

https://nnedi.com/


Nmesoma Okechukwu

https://www.amazon.com/Nmesoma-Okechukwu/e/B07WXMCH1H/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


Octavia Butler

https://www.octaviabutler.com/


Odie Hawkins

http://odiehawkins.com/


Percival Everett

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3APercival+Everett&s=relevancerank&text=Percival+Everett&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1


Pierre Demery

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3APierre+Demery&s=relevancerank&text=Pierre+Demery&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1


P.Djèlí Clark

https://pdjeliclark.com/


Penelope Flynn

https://www.penelopeflynn.com/booksandmedia


Q Allen

https://www.amazon.com/Q-Allen/e/B077KF5Z4D/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


R Alan Brooks

https://www.ralanwrites.com/


Rachel Cox

https://coxhenry9.wixsite.com/rachaelcox-writing


Rob Cameron

http://www.rob-cameron.com/


Ronald T. Jones

https://www.amazon.com/Ronald-T-Jones/e/B002C1OJ8Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1612331021&sr=1-1


Ruth de Jauregui

https://www.alienstarbooks.com/


Samuel Delaney

https://www.samueldelany.com/


Steve Bellinger

https://stevebellinger.com


Steven Barnes

https://stevenbarneslife.com/


Steven Van Patten

https://brookwaterscurse.com/


Tade Thompson

https://www.amazon.com/Tade-Thompson/e/B00KU8RQFO%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Ta-Nehisi Coates

https://ta-nehisicoates.com/


Tananarive Due

https://www.tananarivedue.com/


T.C. Morgan

https://instagram.com/authortcmorgan?igshid=guzhszva4vlc


T. L. Thompson

https://www.authortlthompson.com/


Thomas Davis

https://www.versatile-layer.com/


Thomas Webb

https://www.thomaswebbbooks.com/


Tim Fielder

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/infinitum-tim-fielder?variant=33007863824418


Timothy Lee Reed

https://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Lee-Reed/e/B08JYK5TBG/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1


Tobias S Buckell

https://tobiasbuckell.com/


Tochi Onyebuchi

https://www.tochionyebuchi.com/


Toni Adeyemi

https://www.tomiadeyemi.com/


Troy L. Wiggins

https://www.troylwiggins.com/


Valjeanne Jeffers

https://www.amazon.com/Valjeanne-Jeffers/e/B00BNK230G%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Victor Lavalle

http://www.victorlavalle.com/


Violette Meier

http://violettemeier.com/


Walter Mosley

http://www.waltermosley.com/


W. E. B. Du Bois

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7241256-the-comet


William Hayashi

https://www.amazon.com/William-Hayashi/e/B0034WN86O%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share


Wole Talabi

https://wtalabi.wordpress.com/


Zig Zag Claybourne (Clarence Young)

http://www.writeonrighton.com/



Black Comic and Book Publishing Companies

During my search, I found companies making comic books and books and more.


Brown Band Entertainment

http://www.bbe4.com/


Diskordia

http://diskordiacomic.com/


Etan Comics

https://etancomics.com/


Griot Enterprises

https://www.griotenterprises.com/


Heroes of the World

https://theheroesoftheworld.com/


Kronket Comics

https://www.konkretcomics.com/


MV Media

https://www.mvmediaatl.com/


PBS Media

http://pbsmediastudios.com/


RAE Comics

https://www.raecomics.com/


Sistah Scifi

https://sistahscifi.com/


Sovereign Comics

https://sovereigncomicsllc.square.site/


Visonary Studios

https://www.thecatalystjax.com/


Wingless Entertainment

https://www.winglessent.com/comics


Write On Right On

http://www.writeonrighton.com/index.html



Credit Where It's Due

I could not have built this list without the work Milton Davis put in on his site MV Media and The State of Black Science Fiction facebook group. I pretty much scrolled and found names and tested links for everybody who created there. It is a good place to learn about Black Fiction, expand the diversity of you reading, and meet some pretty cool people to talk about The Expanse and Wakanda.


https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20state%20of%20black%20science%20fiction


More

A Twitter friend of mine, Gabino Iglesias tackled a list of Black Authors You Should Read last year. My list is shorter than his, and his was a pebble from the mountain.


https://litreactor.com/columns/black-authors-you-should-read


Feedback

If there’s a typo, bad link or an author I missed, let me know in the comments. The work is not complete.


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