erichealdwebb's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
soupdumpling's review
5.0
I've read several short stories from this anthology -- I'd definitely like to own this book one day and read through all of the stories, but unfortunately it's been difficult for me to sit down for long periods of time with short stories.
ericawrites's review
5.0
Excellent anthology full of powerful and unique stories. I really enjoyed 85% of them, and for a book with different authors on each story that's very satisfyingly.
georgiaand's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
letterbetty's review
4.0
Overall, I really enjoyed these. The first half is especially strong and I’m excited to read a bunch of these with my students. The second half fell off a bit, and some of the excerpts could have used more context.
bethebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed collection
Short story collections can be hit or miss. This one was unfortunately more on the miss side. There were several stories that read like essays (likely since some of the authors had no experience writing fiction), a couple good actual essays, a couple great short stories ("Hollow" was my favorite) and annoyingly two extracts from longer novels.
Short story collections can be hit or miss. This one was unfortunately more on the miss side. There were several stories that read like essays (likely since some of the authors had no experience writing fiction), a couple good actual essays, a couple great short stories ("Hollow" was my favorite) and annoyingly two extracts from longer novels.
phancat's review
Made it through the first few stories - some I enjoyed, some did not. Then lost interest and had to return to library.
atypewritersings1969's review
4.0
So I totally spaced and forgot to add this book to my reads for this year.
i read these stories out of order, as I typically do with most anthologies.
this anthology contains some beautifully tender, heartbreaking, gripping stories about what liberation can look like. it's a must read for those not only interested in PoC sci-fi but for people who want to read some seriously talented writing and want some hope for the future
i read these stories out of order, as I typically do with most anthologies.
this anthology contains some beautifully tender, heartbreaking, gripping stories about what liberation can look like. it's a must read for those not only interested in PoC sci-fi but for people who want to read some seriously talented writing and want some hope for the future
moonknitter's review
4.0
Mixed quality of stories. Some were really good and I wish I could read a whole book of it, while others were kind of cheesy. The benefit of reading a series of short stories by different authors is that you don’t get tired of whatever you’re reading. I would probably reread some of these later.
razishiri's review
3.0
5 stars for concept, 3 for execution. I read almost all of them. Some highlights:
"Kafka's Last Laugh," a commentary on mass incarceration and capitalism that reads like something my sociology professor would think of if she tried her hand at fiction writing
"Runway Blackout," in which a race of shapeshifting supermodels protests conventional/racist beauty standards
"the river," where gentrifiers in Detroit are literally swallowed up by the city itself
"Hollow," a disability-justice story by activist Mia Mingus - the first one I read, because she recently visited Bryn Mawr! - which reminded me very much of The Last Book in the Universe and also reminded me how nice it is to have queer characters casually turn up in sci fi and fantasy
"The Token Superhero," similar to "Runway Blackout," having to do with underrepresentation of Blacks in comic books
The two where I fell in love with both characters and concept were "Black Angel" and "Revolution Shuffle." I would totally read continuations of both as full novels, especially anything Bao Phi wrote! (Unfortunately, it looks like she's only published poetry.) I just love her vision of post-zombie-apocalypse America.
"Kafka's Last Laugh," a commentary on mass incarceration and capitalism that reads like something my sociology professor would think of if she tried her hand at fiction writing
"Runway Blackout," in which a race of shapeshifting supermodels protests conventional/racist beauty standards
"the river," where gentrifiers in Detroit are literally swallowed up by the city itself
"Hollow," a disability-justice story by activist Mia Mingus - the first one I read, because she recently visited Bryn Mawr! - which reminded me very much of The Last Book in the Universe and also reminded me how nice it is to have queer characters casually turn up in sci fi and fantasy
"The Token Superhero," similar to "Runway Blackout," having to do with underrepresentation of Blacks in comic books
The two where I fell in love with both characters and concept were "Black Angel" and "Revolution Shuffle." I would totally read continuations of both as full novels, especially anything Bao Phi wrote! (Unfortunately, it looks like she's only published poetry.) I just love her vision of post-zombie-apocalypse America.