Friday, September 02, 2016

Seven notable works of Afrofuturism

Ardi Alspach is a writer, editor, designer, and teacher. One of her seven top works of Afrofuturism, as shared at the B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog:
Brown Girl in the Ring, by Nalo Hopkinson

The debut novel by award-winning author Nalo Hopkinson draws heavily on the lore and traditions of Afro-Caribbean culture, bringing elements of magical realism into a dystopic vision of downtown Toronto. Ti-Jeanne is a single mother who has recently given birth to a baby boy and is forced by circumstance to live with her grandmother, Gros-Jeanne, a well-respected herbalist and spiritualist. The baby’s father, Tony, finds himself in trouble and seeks out Gros-Jeanne for help, requiring Ti-Jeanne to come to terms with her heritage and embrace her grandmother’s spirituality, which she had previously rejected. In a bleak future, traditions of the past come alive and two strong women take charge of their own destinies.
Read about another entry on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue