Skip to main content

Does Apartheid & Chauvinism Extend to SciFi? - Back Catalogue Secrets III



Why SciFi?
For years Sci Fi has been the purview of male writers. Specifically white male writers. This is the reason Octavia Butler was repeatedly asked in interviews: Why Science Fiction?

And her response was always “Why not!”

My introduction to screen Sci Fi was through my mother. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, television meant that series such as Dr Who and Star Trek were making their way onto the small screen. I didn’t learn about Dr Who till I came to the UK and went to university. Because of my mother however, Beam me up Scottie, Lieutenant Uhura kissing Captain Kirk and Vulcan salutes regularly featured in conversations. This at a time in my particular part of the world, when cross-racial kissing was frowned upon and not every household owned a TV. The wealthiest families polished their set with Mr Sheen every Friday before friends came round to watch The World at War or Dallas after dinner.

Interestingly, I initially only consumed Sci Fi on the small screen and at the cinema. I adore the films Dune, Bladerunner and The Matrix but didn’t read a novel in the genre until I was in my late 20s. And certainly nothing by a male author until I hit my 30s. That one foray had me racing back to my female favs.

 My favourite SciFi Authors
Ursula K Le Guin
Anne McCaffrey
Nalo Hopkinson
Octavia Butler
A Turning Point
In my early twenties, Anne McCaffrey, known to me only as a Fantasy author, co-wrote a SciFi series with Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. It was set on an icy planet called Petaybee and before I knew what was happening I had moved seamlessly from being solely a Fantasy reader to consuming both genres in equal measure. To this day a set of this series still graces my book shelves and I'm about to reread them as I've run out of library books.


Be The Change
As far as I’m concerned, a great divide still exists in SciFi. There are few heroes and heroines of colour in SciFi, few female authors acknowledged for their prowess in dealing with the genre, let alone female authors of colour mentioned in regards to SciFi. But I’m hoping to make a small contribution to changing that situation. Why don’t you help me spread the word.


 The 2nd book in the series is currently priced at $0.99 and £0.99 until midnight on 17th May. Don't miss out!



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It's much appreciated as is the time you take to write a comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Faetaera: Through The Rabbit Hole

  Larell’s heart was full to the brim.  His audience with Aurelia had been unexpected and full of wonder.  He was not surprised she was aware of his plans to send a force through to the other side.  Aurelia always knew everything going on in her world.  At times he thought he saw the weight of it bearing down upon her.  Then he wished to take her in his arms and carry her as well as the burdens she bore.  But of course he would never do this, merely imagine it.  It made him love her all the more.  She thought he did not know how she came by her information and he planned on keeping it that way.  It was the only way he knew to express his love for her without feeling foolish.   In the crystal lined chamber he felt her load more palpably than usual.   He knew it was simply his foolish love-sickness for his Queen but he let the feeling soak through him regardless.   Aurelia's lips twitched briefly as though she was amused.   She was kind in her tolerance of his ridiculous obsess
Post a Comment
Read more

Aphasia - Phase 1

It was one morning of May 2021. I woke up and I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know I had a stroke. I carried on as though I was okay. I even tried to negotiate with my guest when she was leaving. I tried to talk but only mumbles came out of my mouth. She left me with a big hug. I knew something was wrong. I tried to call my cousin, Michelle. With a few grunts, I convinced her to come round to my place. In the end she came round and she was very worried. She stayed with and we had lunch together. After she left, I called my friend in Sheffield, Bev. I tried to say what was wrong with me. I couldn’t speak. She rang my neighbour, Kathy. Kathy was out with Nelson, her fabulous dog. Bev rang her so she came round. When she came to my house I was sitting in the dark. Bev said she should call an ambulance. I took the phone from her and shook my head. Before long my neighbours Lizz and Leo came to see how I was. Kathy told Leo to ring the ambulance because I took her phone. She did not know w
14 comments
Read more

Faetaera: A Triumvirate

  A Triumvirate Brairton’s minions slipped through a barely noticeable fissure.  The tear would close shortly.  Despite the increase in their regularity the breaches rarely stayed open very long.  To the three insidious spies, the stink of the new world was almost unbearable.  But in time the triumvirate would each become so used to it they would scarcely notice it at all.  That it poisoned them they did not know.  Brairton was not in the habit of informing his operatives of fatal consequences.  Their programming precluded any thought beyond the mission they must complete.  In this Brairton had been exact and had performed the necessary rituals himself. Each had their mission branded into their being.   They would travel together for some time but then slip off to their secret destinations one by one, never to see each other again. The threesome latched on to their individual targets and began their particular brand of individual mischief immediately. Minion one skulked off to en
Post a Comment
Read more