#diverse sff

[explosionshark]

A Master of Djinn by P Djèlí Clark is on sale on the US kindle store for like $2 today (05/01/22) which is a STEAL. It's a Fantasy/Mystery story set in an alternate history version of 1920s Cairo, where magic was discovered and mythical creatures like djinn, ghouls, and angels (or things calling themselves angels) exist.

It follows Fatma el-Sha'arawi a dapper butch supernatural detective investigating the mysterious death of a rich Englishman who was part of a secret brotherhood dedicated to gaining power through arcane study. You want a fun mystery? It's here. You want snappy dialogue and brisk action scenes? Here! Girls kissing? Here! A guy who is turning into a crocodile? HERE, BABEY

There is a prequel novella to this story that's available to read free online right now, if you want a taste of what you're in for! Read A Dead Djinn in Cairo and then buy A Master of Djinn!

[weneeddiversebooks]

I feel really blessed to be debuting in a year with so many other Black women writing fantasy, and how they’re all so much richer for it, because of what it takes to write ourselves into the narrative, even when we’re dealing in fantastical concepts. I’m excited to hear how people speak about in conversation with other Black girl protagonists coming into their power.

Bethany C. Morrow, author of A SONG BELOW WATER. Read our full Q&A with her here.

[becketted]

The first novella by award-winning author Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Amelia dreams of Mars. The Mars of the movies and the imagination, an endless bastion of opportunities for a colonist with some guts. But she's trapped in Mexico City, enduring the drudgery of an unkind metropolis, working as a rent-a-friend, selling her blood to old folks with money who hope to rejuvenate themselves with it, enacting a fractured love story.  And yet there's Mars, at the edge of the silver screen, of life. It awaits her.

Guys you should totally chip in for this. You can give as little as 5 dollars & get the ebook out of it. Silvia Moreno-García is an amazing author and she’s trying to get her first novella (she’s done loads of shorts and editing and three novels) funded. It’s so important to give money to women of color who create art, now more than ever. And like A LATINA IN SPACE. Come on, how can you resist that?

[howlsmovinglibrary]

The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley

[80booksblog]

REVIEW: Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

By Heather A.

5 out of 5 stars   ★★★★★

Del Rey Books April 7, 2020

Synopsis:

A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend–the man he trusts most and might even love–only to learn that he’s secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire. Ettian Nassun’s life was shattered when the merciless Umber Empire invaded. He’s spent seven years putting himself back together under…

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[becketted]

Seeking funding for an Uncanny Magazine special double issue: Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction and Uncanny Magazine Year Four

From Guest Editors-in-Chief Elsa Sjunneson-Henry and Dominik Parisien:

Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction is a continuation of the Destroy series in which we, disabled members of the science fiction community, will put ourselves where we belong: at the center of the story. Often, disabled people are an afterthought, a punchline, or simply forgotten in the face of new horizons, scientific discovery, or magical invention. We intend to destroy ableism and bring forth voices, narratives, and truths most important to disabled writers, editors, and creators with this special issue.

[diversereadingchallenge]

Prompt 35 Rec List

Here are some recs for prompt 35 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here

Prompt 35 -  A speculative fiction book set in Africa, Asia, or Latin America

Gods of Jade and Shadow - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I read this book for this prompt in 2020 and my review is here. 

Set in the 1920s, it follows Casiopea. She accidently frees the Mayan god of death, and embarks on a journey across Mexico with him, to help him win back his throne. This has an interesting premise, and a great romance. If you like mythology, I would recommend it. 

Note: I have not personally read the following books but they are on my to read list. 

The Wicked and the Willing - Lianyu Tan

Set in colonial Singapore, a maid ends up in a love triangle between her vampire mistress, and the woman trying to save her life. 

And I Darken - Kiersten White

A YA novel, it follows a princess, taken from her homeland and raised in the courts of the Ottoman empire, and is planning her revenge. 

She Who Became the Sun - Shelley Parker-Chan

Set in China, it reimagines the journey of the Ming Dynasty’s founding emperor. 

After the Dragons - Cynthia Zhang

Set in Beijing, there is a drought affecting the dragons who live there, and a mysterious disease spreading among the human population. Two men form a partnership to cure the dragons and the disease. 

[diversereadingchallenge]

Prompt 34 Rec List

Here are some recs for prompt 34 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here

Prompt 34 -  A speculative fiction book by an author of color

The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead

I read this book for this prompt in 2020 and my review is here. 

In this novel, The Underground Railroad is not a metaphor, but an actual secret train system underground. The novel follows Cora, who escapes slavery, as she journeys from state to state in search of freedom. This is very gripping and moving book, but is also highly intense. 

Three Dark Crowns - Kendare Blake

A YA novel, every generation a set of triplets is born, each with a unique magical power. One of these children will get to be queen, but they will have to fight to the death for it. It has a really interesting premise, and would be great for anyone who likes dark or gothic fantasies. 

Wild Seed - Octavia Butler

A fantasy novel, two immortal shapeshifters meet and begin a conflict that will last for centuries and shape the future of humanity. This book is engaging, and raises intriguing questions. 

Adaptation - Malinda Lo

A YA sci-fi novel, it follows Reese, who after being in a car crash is healed by a government agency. But the government is keeping things from her, and her search for the truth might expose a vast global conspiracy. This book is so much fun, and would be great if you are an X-Files fan. 

Mr. Fox - Helen Oyeyemi

A fantasy novel, it follows Mr. Fox, an author who always kills the women in his stories, until his muse comes to life, and makes him a character in his own stories. This book is weird and creepy in the best way possible, and is so interesting.