Recently, a former colleague of mine asked for my favorite books set in space or about space by authors of color. I immediately thought of many different books or series, but then realized that even though they were about diverse communities and cultures they were not necessarily written by a person of color. With the importance of #ownvoices, I thought it would be nice to share the ones I did find. I did take some liberties with the definition of “set in space”, but at the heart of these stories are the wide range of characters and the rich worlds built around them.
Binti novellas by Nnedi Okorafor
This trilogy of sci-fi novellas is probably the poster child of Afrofuturism and rightfully so, as Okorafor weaves a wonderful tale in so few words. Touching on serious topics such as racism and diplomacy, this story belongs to the complex and compelling main character, Binti. Binti is a gifted mathematician who finds herself embroiled in inter species conflict while also grappling with coming of age and leaving her tight-knit community. I highly recommend the audiobook editions as Robin Miles is an excellent narrator.
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
I haven’t read this book, but it has been highly lauded and reviewed. On a generation ship, the racism and slavery have oppressed the main character Aster, whose struggles may spark a revolt. The serious nature of the story is giving me a bit of a pause because I try to escape the harsh realities of the world with my reading. This book reminds me of a book that came to my mind when prompted, only to find that the author was not a POC. But if you liked Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport, you will probably enjoy this book as well.
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
The first in a trilogy, The Three-Body Problem is not set in space and mostly takes place on Earth, but the concepts definitely reach far into the stars. In Communist China, a program to contact extraterrestrials leads to a domino effect that has implications for all of humanity. The best part of this book is how it roots itself in the characters and their flaws despite the grand conspiracy going around. Unfortunately, the rest of the series goes way out there (in my opinion) so I did not enjoy them as much. With more stories being translated, this book is an excellent introduction to Chinese sci-fi.
Super Extra Grande and Condomnauts by Yoss
This entry is a two-fer! Cuban author Yoss has some fun and short sci-fi stories that remind me of what others might call the “golden age” of sci-fi, such as Asimov and the like. Yoss digs deep into science fiction theories but keeps the stories light and fun. Both books are full of profanity and Condomnauts is super racy, so I would not recommend them for the faint of heart. But if you like your stories a little vulgar and well written, then these are for you!
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
I’ve mentioned this series before in my worldbuilding post, but The Machineries of Empire is definitely the hard sci-fi space opera many would associate with “set in space”. Extremely dense, this series is complex and expansive. Someone I know listened to the audiobook, but I would not recommend this book for listening. I had to re-read several sections for clarity, which would make print the preferred format. For something more accessible, try Lee’s middle grade novel, The Dragon Pearl.
This YA space romance is a bit by the numbers, but includes rich worldbuilding steeped in Arabic references. The author describes herself as poetry lover, which can be seen in the lyrical writing style. The story follows Amani as she is gangpressed into serving as a body double for the princess of the occupying space colonizers. While set in space with interplanetary conflicts, it reads more as a historical fiction. This interesting mix makes the story engaging even when it is extremely predictable.
The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord
I like to describe this book as Star Trek lit. Following a scientific and humanitarian mission to repopulate a species that suffered a genocidal attack, this story contains romance elements and exploration that will appeal to sci-fi fans who enjoy lighter fare. Think of it as cozy sci-fi. Technically there is a sequel, The Galaxy Game, but it is ostensibly a stand-alone and does not have the same feel as this first book. I hope someday Lord will revisit the main characters from this book and expand on some of the ideas brought up in it. I want to know what the deal with the spaceships are!
These are just some of the space based books I have read by authors of color. I am sure there are others and hopefully the trend of more diverse offerings will only increase. Let me know if you have enjoyed others!
Lemons & Lemonade 