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posted May 14, 2019, 2:35 AM by African Speculative Fiction Soc


New Resources added here

A new list of websites and journals that have published speculative fiction by Africans has been added to our Resources page.  Soon to come--a sample manuscript format for your final drafts being submitted and a new comics titles database.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan on Booker shortlist

Candadian-Ghanaian Esi Edugyan's novel of history and speculation has been shortlisted for the 2019 Man Booker Prize.  The Man Booker is generally regarded as the UK's top literary award.  This is Esi Edugyan's second appearance on the Booker shortlist for her novel Half Blood Blues, set in the 1920s in which a biracial German boy meets touring jazz musicians. Her new work is set in an alternative history of flying machines and adventure.  Interesting how some of the Western news reports avoid all mention of the speculative elements of the novel.  Fortunately, Africa literary life is not so sectarian.  

Mame Bougouma Diene's new anthology

The man heading up the ASFS's French-language outreach has a new collection of short stories just published August 28 a new collection of short stories Dark Moons Rising on a Starless Night. Available now from Amazon  at https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moons-Rising-Starless-Night/dp/1944866140

AfroSF third volume announces Table of Contents.

AfroSF the first volume showed the world that Africans not only DID write SFF but MANY Africans were--it was a movement.  AfroSFV2 published in 2016 contributed most of the nominees for the Nommo Award for best novella in 2017.  Series Editor Ivor Hartmann has announced the contents for AfroSFV3 due out in November 2018  and it's an impressive list of names that will be well known to fans of African fiction -- many if not most of the ASFS members. Check out the AfroSF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AfroSF/photos/a.442249019146536/1968056616565761/?type=3&theater

T. L. Huchu 'Njuzu'
Cristy Zinn 'The Girl who stared at Mars'
Mandisi Nkomo 'The Emo Hunter'
Biram Mboob 'The Luminal Frontier'
Gabriella Muwanga 'The Far Side'
Wole Talabi 'Drift Flux'
Stephen Embleton 'Journal of a DNA Pirate'
Masimba Musodza 'The Interplanetary Water Company'
Dilman Dila 'Safari Nyota'
Mazi Nwonwu 'Parental Control'
Andrew C. Dakalira 'Inhabitable'
Mame Bougouma Diene 'Ogotemmeli's Song'

Wole Talabi wins new Caine Prize Reader's Award

'Wednesday's Story' by Wole Talabi nominated last year for a Nommo was nominated for this year's Caine Prize and won a new part of the Caine Prize, the Readers Award.  The Royal Overseas League is a sponsor of the Caine as a whole initiated the new Award for which the thousand-plus members of the ROSL vote.

Tom Ilube given top UK honour

Mr Tom Ilube, the benefactor who funds the Nommo Awards, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.  Well deserved Sir, and thank you. 

Deji Bryce Olukotun's After the Flare shortlisted for John W Campbell Award.

The Campbell is one of the most prestigious of the US-based science fiction awards. Other nominees include Kim Stanley Robison, Kameron Hurley, John Kessel and Paul McAuley. Olukotun is the only African on the shortlist.  After the Flare is also nominated for the Ilube Nommo Award.

Database of all published African SFF update

The database curated by Wole Talabi keeping a record of all published African speculative fiction was updated on 19 May 2018, adding for example, the contents of the most recent issue of Omenana and some surprising publications in Western magazines. Just look at the top bar menu, under RESOURCES, first item.

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