Author/playwright Roger Collins recently had his stage play “Humanoid Traffic Stop” published in the spring 2020 issue of Astral Waters Review. We spoke with him about relations between the African-American community and the police, Afrofuturism, and his 2020 goals.
Interview with Jennie Wright of The Sankofa Experience
The Sankofa Experience kicks off at People’s Liberty in Over-the-Rhine next month. The first half of the programming – Feb. 2-24 – explores the Harlem Renaissance while the second half – March 7-24 – explores the dawn of the age of hip hop. We recently talked to Jennie Wright, Chief Imagination Officer of The Sankofa Experience, about how she and her crew tie speculative fiction, African-American history and the Afrofantastic together for this imaginative programming. Continue reading “Interview with Jennie Wright of The Sankofa Experience”
Black Sci-Fi Book Club: Octavia Butler’s “Bloodchild”
We’re continuing our tradition of exploring the work of Octavia Butler during our next Black Sci-Fi Book Club with “Bloodchild” from her collection of science fiction stories and essays, Bloodchild and Other Stories. Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, at the Groesbeck branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati Hamilton County to discuss the story! Continue reading “Black Sci-Fi Book Club: Octavia Butler’s “Bloodchild””
Napoleon Maddox Talks About “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine”
We recently talked to Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox about his Dec. 18 event “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine,” a performance that will merge the real lives of Millie-Christine McKoy (subjects of his upcoming show, Twice the First Time) with Octavia Butler’s science fiction character, Dana, from the novel Kindred. Continue reading “Napoleon Maddox Talks About “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine””
Octavia Is Dead. Long Live Octavia!
Science fiction writer extraordinaire Octavia Butler died 10 years ago this February. In honor of this legend, I’ve been re-reading Parable of the Sower, which split my dome wide open when I first encountered it 16 years ago. Continue reading “Octavia Is Dead. Long Live Octavia!”
October Black Sci-Fi Book Club Wrap-Up
On Oct. 21, we held the second installment of our Black Sci-Fi Book Club, featuring writer and Cincinnati native Dani McClain! She discussed her story “Homing Instinct” in the anthology, Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. It was an honor to have one of the anthology’s contributors and a hometown girl walking us through her story and what Octavia Butler’s legacy means to her. A small group came out to Sweet Sistah Splash to discuss the story, their interest in speculative fiction, their favorite authors and more.
Interview with Octavia’s Brood Contributor Dani McClain
October is Black Speculative Fiction Month and next week, the Midwest BSFA is hosting a reading/discussion of Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements with one of the anthology’s contributor’s Dani McClain! We talked to her about her story “Homing Instinct,” the difference between fiction writing and journalism, and defining home on your own terms. Continue reading “Interview with Octavia’s Brood Contributor Dani McClain”
First Installment of the Black Sci-Fi Book Club Kicks Off March 31!
Kathy Y. Wilson, freelance journalist, author and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County’s first writer-in-residence, will lead a discussion on Octavia Butler’s short story “The Evening and The Morning and The Night” from Bloodchild and Other Stories during the first installment of the Midwest BSFA’s Black Sci-Fi Book Club!Continue reading “First Installment of the Black Sci-Fi Book Club Kicks Off March 31!”
