In my last post, I briefly mentioned “How Long Til Black Future Month” by N. K. Jemisin, though because this is a collection of short stories, I felt that it deserved a more in-depth post itself. So today I will be doing exactly that! I will also be formatting this review slightly differently from my previous ones, and I will showcase a couple of my favorite short stories from within the overall piece. Without further ado, let’s get right into these fantastic stories!
About the Book:
Nora Keita Jemisin is a Black American science fiction and fantasy writer, who I have discussed and reviewed before (check out my review on “The Fifth Season“). Jemisin’s collection of short stories is inspired by the lack of black and queer representation in most sci-fi and fantasy media. Additionally, the name of this collection is based on an Afrofuturist essay she wrote in 2013, and though that piece is not included in the confines of this book, there are a whopping 22 unique and fascinating tales included, three of which would go onto inspire other full-length series’ including “The Fifth Season” and “The Killing Moon” which I am currently reading. Each story includes mythical and technological elements that make each read more exciting than the last.
The first story in this collection is a reimagination of Ursula Le Guin’s famous “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” titled “The Ones Who Stay and Fight.” Set in the utopian city of Um-Helat, the narrative flips the moral dilemma of Omelas by presenting a society where collective responsibility ensures equity, kindness, and justice. However, this utopia requires vigilance and citizens who promote harmful ideologies must be removed to preserve the city’s harmony.
Another one of my favorites is “Non-Zero Probabilities,” set in a version of New York where probabilities have gone haywire, people adapt to a world where good and bad luck play an outsized role in their lives. The protagonist, Adele, tries to make sense of living in a reality governed by randomness.
While many of these short pieces are darker and more intense speculative works, there are also many stories with a strong basis around food. An absolutely lovely example is “L’alchamista,” a story that follows Franca, a jaded Italian chef, who is drawn into the magical world of alchemical cooking by a mysterious visitor. In this shorter piece, the main character is forced to conquer her fears of the unknown and enter a discomforting yet limitless new world of creative potential.
Finally, and perhaps my favorite of all is “The Effluent Engine.” Set in an alternate 19th-century New Orleans, where Jessaline, a Haitian spy, seeks the help of Eugenie, a brilliant but reclusive scientist, to develop a methane engine that could secure Haiti’s independence from colonial powers. Blending espionage, innovation, and romance, the story explores themes of resistance, the transformative power of technology, and queer partnership. As Jessaline and Eugenie navigate betrayal and danger, their collaboration becomes a powerful symbol of defiance against oppression and a celebration of ingenuity and courage in the fight for freedom.
Review of the Book:
It is hard to discuss my overall feelings toward this collection because even with the many fantastic short stories, I also found some to be very dense and somewhat difficult to understand. Not surprisingly, I found the stories that focused more on queerness to be much more digestible, but I attribute that mainly to the fact that it is a part of my identity. I think that being a white American, I struggled at times to grasp a theme or full understanding of what Jemisin was trying to share, but I do believe that this is a collection that everyone, regardless of their background should attempt to read, if not for leisure, then at least for context and recognition of the fact that there aren’t many speculative pieces that represent Black and other POC communities.
I 100% intend on rereading many of these stories, whether that be to reminisce on my favorites, or to better grasp the messages of others. With that, I highly recommend that anyone would read this book in its entirety. N. K. Jemisin is a fantastic and creative writer, every story is so different from the last, and at no point did I feel like I was reading the same thing twice. Black History Month is here, and it will always be here, we must ensure that black stories are told and heard from now and forever forward. So, with that, I hope that this book will also be on your list of reads to celebrate this Black History Month in all its glory!
You must be logged in to post a comment.