The 36th installment of the publisher’s Outspoken Authors series (after Ian Shoales’s Veni Vidi Venti) showcases the many extraordinary talents of World Fantasy Award winner Thomas (editor of Africa Risen) across nine poems, seven stories, a critical essay, and the keynote speech she delivered at 2022’s Afrofuturism Gala. Exploring the relevance of Afrofuturism to the current experience of African-Americans, her works veer from the bleak—”Jugganaut” imagines far-future minstrel shows in space—to the hopeful, in “Sweet Chariots in Dixieland,” which explores the possibility of reclaiming and reframing the past. In between, there’s “The Dragon Can’t Dance,” about how society praises the achievements of the marginalized while still devaluing the achiever, and “Child’s Play,” in which a meddling god looks out for an abused child. Thomas’s characters draw strength from their heritage, be they mythological (the mermaids of “River, Clap Your Hands”) or mortal (the young folks of “Generations in the Stream”). As in previous series entries, a centerpiece interview, here conducted by fellow Afrofuturist Nisi Shawl, gives readers insights into the hidden connections of the “Sheree Reneeniverse.” The result is a gift for longtime Thomas fans and an ideal introduction for newcomers. (Aug.)
