AfroSF Books

AfroSF is the first ever anthology of Science Fiction by African writers only that was open to submissions from across Africa and abroad. It is comprised of original (previously unpublished) works only, from stellar established and upcoming African writers: Nnedi Okorafor, Sarah Lotz, Tendai Huchu, Cristy Zinn, Ashley Jacobs, Nick Wood, Tade Thompson, S.A. Partridge, Chinelo Onwualu, Uko Bendi Udo, Dave de Burgh, Biram Mboob, Sally-Ann Murray, Mandisi Nkomo, Liam Kruger, Chiagozie Fred Nwonwu, Joan De La Haye, Mia Arderne, Rafeeat Aliyu, Martin Stokes, Clifton Gachagua, and Efe Okogu. Print Edition release March 2013. 'Proposition 23' by Efe Okogu nominated for the 2013 BSFA awards. “A ground-breaking anthology. I could not recommend it enough.” — Lavie Tidhar, World Fantasy Award winning author of Osama. “AfroSF will serve as an admirable antidote for all those who have to be reminded that Africa is a continent, not a country. Both the stories and the authors are as diverse as any reader could wish...Looking over this broad assortment...it’s clear that this anthology has lived up to its ambition...highly readable and enjoyable stories that take the raw materials of science fiction and give them a different spin...Although it is coming from a small press, it would be lovely if this anthology were to get some of the wider attention it deserves.” — Karen Burnham, Locus December 2012. “Africa is in our future and AfroSF demonstrates that the same can be said of its authors. These stories have an energy and a vitality that is missing from much western science fiction today, and they’re as varied as the continent itself. Read them and you’ll find your new favourite authors. Recommended.” — Jim Steel, Interzone’s Book Reviews editor and widely published short-story writer. “The stories in AfroSF feature all the things fans of science fiction expect: deep space travel, dystopian landscapes, alien species, totalitarian bureaucracy, military adventure, neuro-enhanced nightlife, artificial intelligence, futures both to be feared and longed for. At once familiar and disarmingly original, these stories are fascinating for the diversity of voices at play and for the unique perspective each author brings to the genre. This is SF for the Twenty-first Century.” — David Anthony Durham, Campbell Award winning author of The Acacia Trilogy “I’d like the repurpose the title of an old anthropological study to describe this fine new anthology: ‘African Genesis.’ The stories in this unprecedented, full-spectrum collection of tales by African writers must surely represent, by virtue of their wit, vigor, daring, and passion, the genesis of a bright new day for Afrocentric science fiction. The contributors here are utterly conversant with all SF subgenres, and employ a full suite of up-to-date concepts and tools to convey their continent-wide, multiplex, idiosyncratic sense of wonder. With the publication of this book, the global web of science fiction is strengthened and invigorated by the inclusion of some hitherto neglected voices.” — Paul Di Filippo, co-author of Science Fiction: The 101 Best Novels 1985-2010. “This is a book of subtle refractions and phantasmic resonances. The accumulated reading effect is one of deep admiration at the exuberance of the twenty-first century human imagination.” — A. Igoni Barrett, author of Love is Power, Or Something Like That. “AfroSF is an intense and varied anthology of fresh work. Readers and writers who like to explore new viewpoints will enjoy this book.” — Brenda Cooper, author of The Creative Fire.

Continuing the groundbreaking tradition of the first volume AfroSFv2 is an anthology of five original SF novellas by African writers. “AfroSFv2 is not only as entertaining as all hell, it's a smorgasbord of top-class imaginative storytelling, originality, superb writing and searing social critique. If this is the future of speculative fiction, we're in safe hands.” — Sarah Lotz, author of Day Four. "I loved every minute of it. A bouquet with Africa's finest bring futures seen from African perspectives. Refreshing, surprising, magical, grim and beautiful. There is a pulse throbbing through these stories that insists you follow along." — Margrét Helgadóttir, author of The Stars Seem So Far Away. “There was a time when William Gibson said: ‘The future is already here, it’s just not very evenly distributed.’ Then came Ian McDonald who replied: ‘The future is actually evenly distributed - as everyone from Nigeria to America, from China to India gets the same iPhone at the same time – it’s just that other people are doing more interesting and funky things with it.’ So, as the Future arrives everywhere, be prepared to read AfroSFv2 stories, a brilliant mixture of emerging voices from the vanishing peripheral of the world.” — Francesco Verso, author of Nexhuman and editor of Future Fiction. Table of Contents ‘The Last Pantheon’ Tade Thompson & Nick Wood An epic superhero face-off thousands of years in the making. ‘Hell Freezes Over’ Mame Bougouma Diene Long after the last skyscraper has drowned who remains and how will they survive? ‘The Flying Man of Stone’ Dilman Dila When ancient technology seems like magic legends live again in the midst of war and sides will be chosen. ‘VIII’ Andrew Dakalira A space shuttle crash, the numeral eight, serial murders, what connects them all could end humanity. ‘An Indigo Song for Paradise’ Efe Tokunbo Okogu Change is coming to Paradise city and it won’t be pretty, but if this is paradise then heaven must be hell in need of a revolution.

Space, the astronomical wilderness that has enthralled our minds since we first looked up in wonder. We are ineffably drawn to it, and equally terrified by it. We have created endless mythologies, sciences, and even religions, in the quest to understand it. We know more now than ever before and are taking our first real steps. What will become of Africans out there, will we thrive, how will space change us, how will we change it? AfroSFv3 is going out there, into the great expanse, and with twelve African visions of the future we invite you to sit back, strap in, and enjoy the ride. 3 shortlisted for the ASFS Nommo Awards 2019: T. L. Huchu 'Njuzu', Cristy Zinn 'The Girl who stared at Mars', and Biram Mboob 'The Luminal Frontier'. 9 nominations for the African Speculative Fiction Society Nommo Awards 2019 for: T. L. Huchu 'Njuzu', Cristy Zinn 'The Girl who stared at Mars', Biram Mboob 'The Luminal Frontier', Gabriella Muwanga 'The Far Side', Wole Talabi 'Drift Flux', Stephen Embleton 'Journal of a DNA Pirate', Masimba Musodza 'The Interplanetary Water Company', Dilman Dila 'Safari Nyota', and Mazi Nwonwu 'Parental Control'. 4 nominations for the 2018 British Science Fiction Association Awards for: Cristy Zinn – The Girl Who Stared at Mars, Biram Mboob – The Luminal Frontier, Dilman Dila – Safari Nyota: A Prologue, and Stephen Embleton – Journal of a DNA Pirate. “The third in this pioneering series with an honour roll of some of African writing’s biggest names contributing. Unmissable.” — Geoff Ryman, author, awarded the Nebula, two-time Arthur C. Clarke, three-time BSFA, two-time Canadian Sunburst, as well as the Campbell, Philip K. Dick, and James Tiptree Jr., awards. “The compelling, graceful stories in AfroSFv3 embrace a generous spectrum of places and peoples, eras and objectives. From sophisticated space operas to gritty cyberpunk streets; from day-after-tomorrow beginnings to far-off futures; from familial closeness to alien vastness, these well-wrought tales, infused with all the sharp, bright, enticing flavors of their African origins, show us the commonality of our species across all racial, ethnic and gender lines. Truly, these writers speak the same science fiction tongue as their like-minded cousins from the rest of the planet, with beautiful accents of their native soil.” — Paul Di Filippo, author of Cosmocopia, The Steampunk Trilogy, and others. “With stories ranging from mundane science fiction to distant space opera passing from post-colonial biopunk and new family ties, the latest book of in the AfroSF series shows that inclusivity and multiculturality is the key to the future. As quality storytelling - rooted in every culture and tradition – doesn’t belong to a single country or language, these stories prove that the future - as evident as it might sound although not always considered so - does happen everywhere. Excellent reading!” —Francesco Verso, author of Nexhuman and editor of Future Fiction. Table of Contents T. L. Huchu ‘Njuzu’ Cristy Zinn ‘The Girl who stared at Mars’ Mandisi Nkomo ‘The Emo Hunter’ Biram Mboob ‘The Luminal Frontier’ Gabriella Muwanga ‘The Far Side’ Wole Talabi ‘Drift Flux’ Stephen Embleton ‘Journal of a DNA Pirate’ Masimba Musodza ‘The Interplanetary Water Company’ Dilman Dila ‘Safari Nyota’ Mazi Nwonwu ‘Parental Control’ Andrew C. Dakalira ‘Inhabitable’ Mame Bougouma Diene ‘Ogotemmeli’s Song’ Edited by Ivor W. Hartmann