Sheree R. Thomas : Dark Matter


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Perhaps surprisingly there are very few anthologies devoted to science fiction by African American writers -- primarily just this pair compiled by Sheree R. Thomas in the early 2000s. Thomas consciously evokes the astrophysical concept of dark matter as a metaphor for the widespread influence of "preeminent and emerging authors of the African diaspora," from W.E.B. Du Bois to Octavia E. Butler. The first book also includes essays by Samuel R. Delany, Walter Mosley, and Butler; the second, essays by Jewelle Gomez [the transcription of a conference panel], Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, and Carol Cooper.

(A more recent relavant anthology is AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers [isfdb], of original stories.)

  • Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora, (Warner Aspect, 2000) [isfdb]
  • Dark Matter: Reading the Bones, (Warner Aspect, 2004) [isfdb]


Combined Contents by Author and Title


Linda Addison
  • Twice, at Once, Separated -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Amiri Baraka
  • Rhythm Travel (Fertile Ground: Memories & Visions, 1996) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Steven Barnes
  • The Woman in the Wall (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Derrick Bell
  • The Space Traders (Faces at the Bottom of the Well, 1992) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Ihsan Bracy
  • Ibo Landing -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Kevin Brockenbrough
  • 'Cause Harlem Needs Heroes -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
    • Octavia E. Butler
  • The Evening and the Morning and the Night (Omni May 1987) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Charles W. Chesnutt
  • The Goophered Grapevine (Atlantic Monthly Aug 1887) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Wanda Coleman
  • Buying Primo Time -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • John Cooley
  • The Binary -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Samuel R. Delany
  • Aye, and Gomorrah... (Dangerous Visions, 1967) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Corona (F&SF Oct 1967) -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
    • W. E. B. Du Bois
  • The Comet (Darkwater: Voices from the Veil, 1920) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Jesus Christ in Texas -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
    • Tananarive Due
  • Aftermoon -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
  • Like Daughter (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Henry Dumas
  • Ark of Bones (Ark of Bones and Other Stories, 1974) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Will the Circle Be Unbroken? -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • David Findlay
  • Recovery from a Fall -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Robert Fleming
  • The Astral Visitor Delta Blues -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Jewelle Gomez
  • Chicago 1927 (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Andrea Hairston
  • Excerpt from Mindscape -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Akua Lezli Hope
  • The Becoming (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Nalo Hopkinson
  • Ganger (Ball Lightning) (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • The Glass Bottle Trick (Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction, 2000) -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
  • Greedy Choke Puppy (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
  • Sister Lilith -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Tyehimba Jess
  • Voodoo Vincent and the Astrostoriograms -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Charles Johnson
  • Sweet Dreams -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Anthony Joseph
  • The African Origins of UFOs (excerpt) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Douglas Kearney
  • Anansi Meets Peter Parker at the Taco Bell on Lexington -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Tony Medina
  • Butta's Backyard Barbecue (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Walter Mosley
  • Whispers in the Dark (Futureland, 2001) -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
    • Pam Noles
  • Whipping Boy -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Nnedi Okorafor
  • The Magical Negro -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Ama Patterson
  • Hussy Strutt (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Ishmael Reed
  • Future Christmas (excerpt from The Terrible Twos) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Jill Robinson
  • BLACKout -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Leone Ross
  • Tasting Songs (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Kalamu ya Salaam
  • Buddy Bolden (Fertile Ground: Memories & Visions, 1996) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Can You Wear My Eyes (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Trance -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Kiini Ibura Salaam
  • At Life's Limits (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Desire -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Charles R. Saunders
  • Gimmile's Songs (Sword and Sorceress, 1984) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Yahimba's Choice -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • George S. Schuyler
  • Black No More (excerpt) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Nisi Shawl
  • At the Huts of Ajala -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
  • Maggies -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
    • Cherene Sherrard
  • The Quality of Sand -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
    • Evie Shockley
  • separation anxiety (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Darryl A. Smith
  • The Pretended (Dark Matter, 2000) -- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
    • Ibi Aanu Zoboi
  • Old Flesh Song -- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones

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