Uppinder Mehan

I stumbled upon this collection of sci-fi stories written by various black and people of color writers. I originally was looking for books written by black female sci-fi authors like Octavia Spencer and so many other greats. Unfortunately a lot of their works are not in the library system individually but within collections. I wasn't sure i would like that format. Very few of the stories i skipped or skimmed which is a first. I was shocked when many of the stories ended in cliffhangers. I wanted more. It was so beautiful reading about these worlds where they not only look like me or other non white people but have their cultures interwoven into the plot, theme, main idea of the story in a respectful incredible way. If we lived in a better world these stories would make incredible movies and tv shows. Unfortunately it will never get that opportunity not without a lot of whitewashing and demeaning changes. I not only felt like i learned more about my people but other cultures as well. I high recommend this book.… (mais)

I like the idea behind this collection so so SO much more than another tired collection of retold European fairy tales. I particularly liked Eden Robinson's "Terminal Avenue," because the characters in the dystopia felt completely real and realized, even if the dystopia itself was only dimly sketched. Vandana Singh's "Delhi" reads like a heady, suicidal and Indian version of [book: The Time Traveler's Wife]. Karin Lowachee's "The Forgotten Ones," Greg van Eekhout's "Native Aliens" and Celu Amberstone's "Refugees" question land settlement and dispossession. And finally, I appreciated Carole McDonnell's "Lingua Franca," a nuanced and uncomfortable look at language and the power it grants--or takes away.… (mais)