Blog
Black History Month: The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy by Black Authors
From the elliptical Golden Age work of Samuel R. Delany, through dystopian reflections on race and gender from Octavia E. Butler, to the spectacular Afro-futurism of Tade Thompson, black authors have always been pioneering voices in the twin literary worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy. In celebration of Black History Month, and to reflect the upsurge in game-changing speculative fiction from black authors, we have compiled a list of the finest examples. Very much a jumping-off point into a vast, immersive literary universe, the books below will leave you desperate to explore more fantastical worlds.
£8.99
Paperback
10+ in stock
Available
There’s wild invention and then there is Rosewater, the initial instalment in Tade Thompson’s magnificently-realised trilogy Wormwood. Dipping between genres, from biopunk thriller to enthralling futurism, Thompson unspools even the most fantastical of narrative elements with precision and wit.
£8.99
Paperback
10+ in stock
Available
Magic can burn, turn tides, light darkness and bring back the dead. But magic is gone. So one girl must bring it back in the first in a gripping trilogy. A fierce and unflinching saga of divided love, belief and legacy. A book that combines heart-stopping drama with unforgettable characters this is a story that ripples with magic, a tale that will haunt a reader long after the final page.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
Already tipped for prize lists in 2019, Marlon James’s follow-up to his Man Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings is a fever-pitched combination of magic, myth and history pitched as ‘an African Game of Thrones’ by the Guardian. The first in a trilogy, set in an alternate world founded on brutal power struggles, it’s a thrilling ride.
£8.99
Paperback
In stock
Available
A bravura example of literary world-building and rich, rounded characterisation, the opening instalment of The Broken Earth trilogy conjures up an immersive post-apocalyptic dystopia for the ages.
£9.99
Paperback
5+ in stock
Available
Samuel R. Delany was at the forefront of the 1960s sci-fi boom and Babel-17 is possibly his most emblematic work. A discourse on linguistics and philosophy wrapped up in a pulp space opera, its unique strangeness and stylised narrative make it a countercultural classic and an oddly addictive read.
£14.99
Hardback
We can order this from the publisher
Usually dispatched within 10 working days
This excellent debut novel from author Temi Oh brings together the cabin-fever adrenaline of a space mission gone wrong with an intense and thought-provoking human drama of identity and belonging. Following ten strangers as they leave Earth on a 23-year mission to a new home world, Oh’s novel grips even as it asks important questions about the choices we make and why.
£9.99
Paperback
10+ in stock
Available
California in the 2020s descends into anarchy and violence but one woman has the power to transform everything in this alarmingly prescient dystopia that takes in climate change, inequality and racism.
£9.99
Paperback
In stock
Available
Intelligent and meditative, The Best of All Possible Worlds is an intergalactic love story that explores issues of gender politics and ethnography alongside a stunningly immersive sci-fi plot. Perfect for fans of Ursula K. Le Guin, Lord’s great novel is imaginative fiction for grown-ups.
£8.99
Paperback
In stock
Available
Set in a stunningly realised post-Apocalyptic Africa, Who Fears Death is part fantasy fable about the uses and abuses of magic and part densely woven character study. Winner of the 2011 World Fantasy Award, Okorafor’s scorching narrative marks her out as one of the great voices in contemporary fantasy.
Now optioned as a TV series for HBO, with executive producer George
£7.99
Paperback
10+ in stock
Available
A dystopian Romeo and Juliet that makes eloquent statements about race relations and the burning passions of the teenage heart, Noughts and Crosses is absolutely pivotal in the evolution of the Young Adult novel.
Related articles
Sign In / Register
Not registered? CREATE AN ACCOUNTCREATE A plus ACCOUNT
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Place a reservation by selecting a shop below. Pay upon collection at the shop, rather than online.
Alternatively, for multiple items you may find it easier to add to basket, then pay online and collect in as little as 2 hours, subject to availability.
Alternatively, for multiple items you may find it easier to add to basket, then pay online and collect in as little as 2 hours, subject to availability.
Thank you for your reservation
Your order is now being processed and we have sent a confirmation email to you at
When will my order be ready to collect?
Following the initial email, you will be contacted by the shop to confirm that your item is available for collection.
Call us on or send us an email at
Unfortunately there has been a problem with your order
Please try again or alternatively you can contact your chosen shop on or send us an email at
Comments
There are currently no comments.