At the end of last month's column, I said we would take a look at hard science fiction in the book "Solstice" by David Hewson.  It was a task I found impossible to do without the book, which the publisher failed to send.  Perhaps we can discuss Mr. Hewson's work at a later date.  But for this month's column, I would like to take a look at an anthology of short stories and essays written by talented authors who happen to be African-Americans.  Let's dive right in.
 
 

DARK MATTER, edited by Sheree R. Thomas A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora Aspect/Time Warner -- July, 2000 ISBN: 0446-52583-9  --  Hardcover ISBN: 0446-67724-8  --  Trade Paperback Science Fiction/Fantasy/Anthology Buy a Copy

DARK MATTER contains twenty-nine short stories and excerpts from novels and five essays.  The essays discuss the many aspect of racism in the field of science fiction and fantasy and what has been accomplished to level the playing field for black authors.  In earlier times, we have no way of knowing how many writers of what race were prominent in science fiction and fantasy.  As Sam Delany stated in his essay, all transactions were done by mail and many authors wrote under pen names.  Sometimes, I wish it were still that way, for I prefer the peace and quiet of anonymity.  But now, in the age of the computer and reader conventions, it is hard to keep one's identity a secret, and for some reason, race must be a prominent feature of that identity.

I, personally, am a mongrel, a mixed breed that includes black, white and American Indian, all wrapped in a white skin.  It is a fact, though one that makes no sense to this reviewer, that few writers of races other than white are represented in the world of science fiction and fantasy.  I feel this is a tragedy, for the authors whose work appears here are quite talented.

The oldest of the stories here was written in 1887 by Charles W. Chestnutt, and is titled, "The Goophered Grapevine."  It is set in a time just after the Civil War, though the tale is one that happened before the war.  An old man, a former slave, tells the story of a white vintner who was trying to keep his slaves from eating the sweet grapes from which he made his wine. 

The others range in age from 1931 to 2000.  They are both science fiction and fantasy.  Though I enjoyed most of them, I do have some favorites.  One of them, "Space Traders," by Derrick Bell, where the white government in America was given the offer to trade all the African-Americans in the United States to aliens from no telling where for the technology for cheap energy and cleaning up the pollution in the world.  They had the option of saying no, and the first thing they didn't do in this transaction was ask what the aliens wanted with all the black people.  The last paragraph will haunt me as long as I live, because it is entirely too possible. 

Another of my favorites was, "Chicago 1927," by Jewelle Gomez, and was the story of a black vampire, and how she kept her secret as she traveled the country.  It had a strange ending, one I will never forget.  Another favorite was "Gimile's Songs," by Charles R. Saunders, a fantasy adventure that had a twisted ending worthy of the best of the best.

There were two or three, such as "Butta's Backyard Barbecue," by Tony Medina, that I read and never understood what I read.  These were written in a dialect another black person might understand, but no one else could.  I have to ask myself why such gifted authors would deliberately limit their audience in such a manner.  Please, if you think you will be read only by other black readers, you are mistaken.  I, for one, would like to understand your culture and have you understand mine so that we can better live together on this planet.  I feel that ignorance of other cultures is what creates racial tension and fosters race hatred.  Deliberately writing something you know people from other cultures will not understand is perpetuating the problem.  At the very least, provide a translation!

Many other authors are represented here, Octavia Butler, Walter Mosley, George Schuyler, Nalo Hopkinson, Amiri Baraka and Ishmael Reed, to mention just a few.  Obviously, with more than twenty-five authors, I didn't even attempt interviews.  However, I hope in the future to do columns featuring works of each of these authors individually.  Then we can get to know these gifted men and women better.

In the meantime, do read DARK MATTER.  It is science fiction and fantasy at its best, and it doesn't matter who you are or what color your skin is. You will still enjoy good, well-written stories. 

Next month, we'll take another journey beyond the words, but never again will I say where we are going.  Surprises change the best of plans.  Until the next time, happy reading.