Dark Matter A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora

by Thomas, Sheree R.

• ISBN13: 9780446677240
• ISBN10: 0446677248
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-01
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Summary

An important new anthology, the first of its kind, Dark Matter explores a century of fantastic fiction by preeminent and emerging luminaries of the African diaspora. A richly vibrant collection of stories and essays, it displays the brilliance of writers ranging from early pioneers such as W. E. B. Du Bois, to famed sf authors including Samuel R. Delany and Octavia E. Butler, to such luminaries of the literary tradition as playwright-critic Amiri Baraka and satirist Ishmael Reed, as well as a spectrum of acclaimed new writers.

Author Biography

Sheree R. Thomas edits the literary journal Anansi: Fiction of the African Diaspora and has contributed to national publications including the Washington Post, Black Issues Book Review, and QBR: The Black Book Review.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Looking for the Invisible	ix
Fiction
Sister Lilith	1	(4)
Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
The Comet	5	(14)
W. E. B. Du Bois
Chicago 1927	19	(16)
Jewelle Gomez
Black No More (excerpt from the novel)	35	(16)
George S. Schuyler
separation anxiety	51	(18)
Evie Shockley
Tasting Songs	69	(17)
Leone Ross
Can You Wear My Eyes	86	(5)
Kalamu ya Salaam
Like Daughter	91	(12)
Tananarive Due
Greedy Choke Puppy	103	(10)
Nalo Hopkinson
Rhythm Travel	113	(3)
Amiri Baraka
Buddy Bolden	116	(8)
Kalamu ya Salaam
Aye, and Gomorrah...	124	(10)
Samuel R. Delany
Ganger (Ball Lightning)	134	(18)
Nalo Hopkinson
The Becoming	152	(6)
Akua Lezli Hope
The Goophered Grapevine	158	(13)
Charles W. Chesnutt
The Evening and the Morning and the Night	171	(26)
Octavia E. Butler
Twice, at Once, Separated	197	(13)
Linda Addison
Gimmile's Songs	210	(16)
Charles R. Saunders
At the Huts of Ajala	226	(9)
Nisi Shawl
The Woman in the Wall	235	(25)
Steven Barnes
Ark of Bones	260	(13)
Henry Dumas
Butta's Backyard Barbecue	273	(2)
Tony Medina
Future Christmas (excerpt from the novel The Terrible Twos)	275	(15)
Ishmael Reed
At Life's Limits	290	(22)
Kiini Ibura Salaam
The African Origins of UFOs (excerpt from the novel)	312	(7)
Anthony Joseph
The Astral Visitor Delta Blues	319	(7)
Robert Fleming
The Space Traders	326	(30)
Derrick Bell
The Pretended	356	(16)
Darryl A. Smith
Hussy Strutt	372	(11)
Ama Patterson
Essays
Racism and Science Fiction	383	(15)
Samuel R. Delany
Why Blacks Should Read (and Write) Science Fiction	398	(7)
Charles R. Saunders
Black to the Future	405	(3)
Walter Mosley
Yet Do I Wonder	408	(7)
Paul D. Miller, a.k.a. DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid
The Monophobic Response	415	(2)
Octavia E. Butler
Contributors	417	(7)
Copyrights and Permissions	424	(2)
Acknowledgments	426