San Francisco, CA, September 24, 2024 -- San Francisco Public Library's African American Center is proud to present a unique literary event as part of its ongoing Sistah Scifi Series on Thursday, October 10th at 6PM. This event will feature celebrated authors Nalo Hopkinson and Michele Tracy Berger discussing their latest short story collections - Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions and Doll Seed: Stories, respectively. This in-person event offers an opportunity to delve into the realm of Afrofuturism and Black Speculative Fiction, two vibrant—and often overlapping—genres. that are gaining momentum and recognition. Please note that Nalo Hopkinson will be joining virtually.
Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions, published by Tachyon, is Nalo Hopkinson's latest literary offering. Hailed as a "commanding short story collection" by Meg Nola in a starred review from Foreword Magazine, this book is a testament to Hopkinson's creative brilliance. Known for her imaginative storytelling that seamlessly blends art, folklore, science, and magic, Hopkinson offers readers riveting stories that range from a future waterworld inhabited by a woman and her cyborg pig to the exploration of the remains of an alien lifeform. Her works have been instrumental in expanding the boundaries of Afrofuturism.
Michele Tracy Berger's Doll Seed: Stories, published by Aunt Lute, is a dazzling debut collection of speculative short fiction. These fifteen stories invite readers to explore themes of freedom, sacrifice, trust, betrayal, otherness, and safety. Berger's unique voice, as described by Hugo Award-winning editor Julia Rios, brings to life characters with compelling narratives set in diverse and extraordinary worlds.
The Sistah Scifi Series is a recurring event that connects community to celebrate and promote Black Speculative Fiction, a genre that gives voice to Black experiences and imaginations in a futuristic or fantastical context. Past authors that have participated in Sistah Scifi Series include Andrea Hairston, Kemi Ashing-Giwa, and Angela Dalton. This occurance of Sistah Scifi Series coincides with Black Speculative Fiction Month. Founded by Balogun Ojetade and author Milton Davis, Black Speculative Fiction Month is celebrated every October. This event provides an opportunity for readers, fans, and newcomers to engage in thought-provoking discussions and to discover new narratives.
Aunt Lute Books is an intersectional, feminist press committed to publishing literature by authors who have been traditionally underrepresented or excluded by the literary canon. Aunt Lute believes in the power of stories to foster understanding, strengthen ties across cultures and experiences, and build a more just future. Similarly, the African American Center at the San Francisco Public Library serves as a resource center for anyone interested in learning more about the historical, political, and cultural experiences of African Americans.
Tachyon Publications, the publisher of Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions, is known for championing the creative storytelling of authors through its smart science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as mystery, memoir, young adult, and literary fiction titles.
This event is free and open to the public due to the generous support of the San Francisco Public Library, the Zellerbach Foundation, and the San Francisco Arts Council.
Aunt Lute Books is an intersectional, feminist press dedicated to publishing literature by those who have been traditionally underrepresented in or excluded by the literary canon. Core to Aunt Lute’s mission is the belief that the written word is critical to understanding and relating to each other as humans.Through the sharing of stories, we strengthen ties across cultures and experiences, and at the same time honor the hurt, loss, and harm incurred through structural power imbalances, prejudiced and gendered systems, and ancestral trauma. We uplift these voices in order to build a more just future.
