Sci Fi and Fantasy by PoC Authors

[Serenla Tamowith]

Cross post from General:

This topic has come up a few times lately- where do I find fantasy and sci fi books written by POC? A talented author I've met several times at JordanCon put together this list. His name is Gerald Coleman and he's a poet and novelist. Also, a really smart, witty, genuine man. Check out his recommendations if you've been wanting to expand your fiction reading list.

https://geraldlcoleman.com/just-add-coffee/the-beginners-guide-to-black-sf-f

 

[Bruce al'Kay]

I also am about 40% through the Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and I don't have enough words for how incredible it is. Didn't see it on the list with a ctrl-f so wanted to chime in.

 

[Serenla Tamowith]

Please recommend more! The list Gerald posted wasn't meant to be all inclusive.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

I can recommend Tananarive Due. I’ve just started The Good House and the writing is excellent.

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

If Rebecca Roanhorse isn't on this list yet, she most definitely should be.

@Bruce al'Kay, is Poppy War the one where a girl goes to a university and gets all magical and stuff? (Worst description ever, but had no clue how else to be spoilerfree. Probably should've just not been lazy and looked on Goodreads, but human interaction is more fun than Googling!)

 

[Elia LePhant]

She is on the original list in the link! I am really loving her series and can't wait for the third book.

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

Same! And her new book with Riordan's imprint is really good, too, I've heard. It's next on my list. Didn't enjoy her SW book, sadly, but I think that's just because her unique voice didn't seem to fit the world the way I like it.

 

[Elia LePhant]

That one is on my list too. It sounds really good, plus I'm liking the Riordan Presents series in general. I haven't read the SW one but I haven't read any SW books before.

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

That is quite the confession. Wow. But I suppose you're still pretty all right.

 

[Elia LePhant]

In my defense, I've had many SW books on my "to read" list for years but I have a crippling case of indecision on where to start because there are just so many. D:

 

[Eluial Aldaran]

Rick Riordin is a national treasure and a gem and should be protected at all costs. I highly recommend his "presents" series. He's a shining example of how to use your platform to amplify the voices of the less privileged.

I don't have any sci fi/fantasy to add to the list, as i've been on more of a non fiction kick lately, but I'm excited to dig through this list.

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

Went through the list. I'm missing An Unkindness of Ghosts. Which is one of the best books I read in the past twelve months.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Books I've read/am reading
The Good House by Tananarive Due -- probably more horror than sff, but I've seen Due on other fantasy lists
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia -- set in Mexico in the 1920s, a girl meets a god and goes on an adventure.
Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote (graphic novel, probably more horror)
Mem by Bethany Morrow
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Anything by Nnedi Okorafo
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee (my husband loves this series and I'm trying to get into it)
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
Parable of the Sower (and anything else) by Octavia Butler

Books that are on my list because they sound good/I've heard good things:
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps series by Kai ashante Wilson
The City We Become by NK Jemison
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color, edited by Nisi Shawl
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

 

[Bruce al'Kay]

@Bruce al'Kay, is Poppy War the one where a girl goes to a university and gets all magical and stuff? (Worst description ever, but had no clue how else to be spoilerfree. Probably should've just not been lazy and looked on Goodreads, but human interaction is more fun than Googling!)

I don't know how I never saw this, but that's a decent description of the first quarter of the book, yes! It's excellent. Although to be fully honest I have to say two friends I recommended it to loved it and one was very not impressed, so YMMV

 

[Cursor Wrathwind]

There is TONS of good sci-fi coming out of China. In English, there's a 90% chance it will have been translated by Ken Liu (a Chinese born American and Hugo Winner...can put his "Dandelion Dynasty" series on the list too for fantasy). Some recommendations include:

The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, Death's End by Liu Cixin (the "Remembrance of Earth's Past" series. The Three-Body Problem is a Hugo winner)
The Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan
Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang
Invisible Planets (an anthology edited and translated by Ken Liu, including Hao's Hugo-winning story "Folding Beijing")
Broken Stars (another anthology edited and translated by Ken Liu)

There's also a huge variety of Chinese fantasy novels in either the wuxia or xianxia genres, though the vast majority have only a fan translation into English at best. At least one that has an official translation is the legendary (and I mean that EVERYONE in China knows it, and has either read it or seen one of the hundreds of adaptations) Legends of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It's being split into 4 volumes for English translation, the first three of which are already out and the fourth of which is due first quarter 2021. The three already out are A Hero Born, A Bond Undone, and A Snake Lies Waiting

 

[Robertus]

This seems like a tread worth following

I'm just looking for decent series, and slightly diversifying on genres.
I can't really get to grip with the detectives in modern day, but any other suggestions are good.

 

[Gwynidon Camyrin]

I don't know how I never saw this, but that's a decent description of the first quarter of the book, yes! It's excellent. Although to be fully honest I have to say two friends I recommended it to loved it and one was very not impressed, so YMMV

I am reading it now and I am loving it, I should be finishing part 2 of Poppy War today!

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

I think people should check about Sabaa Tahir and Tomi Adeyemi if they like YA.

 

[Clan Lan of the McMalkier]

Cross post from General:

This topic has come up a few times lately- where do I find fantasy and sci fi books written by POC? A talented author I've met several times at JordanCon put together this list. His name is Gerald Coleman and he's a poet and novelist. Also, a really smart, witty, genuine man. Check out his recommendations if you've been wanting to expand your fiction reading list.

https://geraldlcoleman.com/just-add-coffee/the-beginners-guide-to-black-sf-f

Great call, thanks.

 

[Clan Lan of the McMalkier]

I also am about 40% through the Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and I don't have enough words for how incredible it is. Didn't see it on the list with a ctrl-f so wanted to chime in.

I went and looked at this, too. I like the look of it a lot. Only issue is: I got 12 more WoT books to go, I am reading Volume 1 (Youth) of the Winston Churchill Biographies, and I literally don’t know when I’ll get to this trilogy. But, great call, they are on the list. Thanks.