TOP SELLER: AFROFUTURISM: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture by Ytasha Womack

 In this hip, accessible primer to the music, literature, and art of Afrofuturism, author Ytasha Womack introduces readers to the burgeoning community of artists creating Afrofuturist works, the innovators from the past, and the wide range of subjects they explore. From the sci-fi literature of Samuel Delany, Octavia Butler, and N. K. Jemisin to the musical cosmos of Sun Ra, George Clinton, and the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, to the visual and multimedia artists inspired by African Dogon myths and Egyptian deities, the book’s topics range from the “alien” experience of blacks in America to the “wake up” cry that peppers sci-fi literature, sermons, and activism. With a twofold aim to entertain and enlighten, Afrofuturists strive to break down racial, ethnic, and social limitations to empower and free individuals to be themselves.

This book introduces readers to the burgeoning artists creating Afrofuturist works, the history of innovators in the past, and the wide range of subjects they explore. From the sci-fi literature of Samuel Delany, Octavia Butler, and NK Jemisin to the musical cosmos of Sun Ra, George Clinton, and the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, to the visual and multimedia artists inspired by African Dogon myths and Egyptian deities, topics range from the “alien” experience of blacks in America to the “wake up” cry that peppers sci-fi literature, sermons, and activism. Interviews with rappers, composers, musicians, singers, authors, comic illustrators, painters, and DJs, as well as Afrofuturist professors, provide a firsthand look at this fascinating movement.

"A really great intro to an important aesthetic force in (at least) literature, the visual arts, and music. One unfortunate effect is that my to-read list just kept growing throughout, as the recommendations keep coming. But really, tying together the strands of Octavia Butler and George Clinton and Sun Ra and any number of up-and-coming artists and authors is a great thing, and I'm very happy to have such a thoughtful reference in this book."-- Goodreads.com



 

"Science Fiction has always been known as the literature of awe, wonder, and possibilities; Afrofuturism challenges us to apply the wonder and possibilities to social redemption and cultural repossession." -- Goodreads.com

" Interesting and wide-ranging high level overview of Afrofuturism as a movement, as well as some of it influences. I'm really hoping this inspires both follow up works and reference works since there are a lot of things I wanted to learn more about as well as works I'd like to track down. Recommended." -- Goodreads.com