If you’re not really into turning up in the club, why not turn some pages (or swipe)? There’s a long labor day weekend coming up, and for some of us, it’s way too hot to be outside (at least the entire weekend).  Why not get some reading done?  Check out this list of BSF Approved Speculative Fiction that’ll get your Labor Day weekend “lit”.

Binti

If you haven’t yet, check out Binti the story that won author Nnedi Okorafor a Hugo award for Best Novella this year.  In the story, “Binti is the first of the Himba people to to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself — but first she has to make it there, alive.”  Binti is available on Amazon for Kindle.

 
Recurrence Plot: (and Other Time Travel Tales)

In Rasheedah Phillips’ debut novel, readers take a dive into Afrofuturism and time travel—specifically through stories that explore the complexities of time and its effect on past, present and current events as it relates to black people and their place in society. The story tells several intertwining tales, beginning with a journalist who “races against time itself to expose the entity preying on young male teens in Philadelphia”.  If you enjoy stories with mystery, science, and depth, this is definitely a great read for a long weekend.  Recurrence Plot (and Other Time Travel Tales) is available on Amazon now.

The Alchemists of Kush

First off, with a title like The Alchemists of Kush, you know you’re in for something majestic, however, in the story, Minister Faust tells the intriguing tale of two Sudanese orphan boys who lost their fathers to civil war and their mothers during their escape. With elements of hip hop, brotherhood, mythology, history, and the supernatural, The Alchemists of Kush is a book you won’t want to put down! The Alchemists of Kush is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback format.

The Ballad of Black Tom   Victor LaValle’s book The Ballad of Black Tom expertly weaves in pieces of the occult, the culture of New York’s Jazz age and the intrigue of magic into a deliciously frightening story centered on Tommy, a New Yorker who opens the door into a realm that many would say is best left shut.  The Ballad of Black Tom is definitely a must read for any occasion, but why not get your copy now? Available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback format.

Black Girl Magic Literary Magazine, Issues 1-3

This phenomenal collection of speculative fiction includes stories of horror, steam punk, sci-fi and many more genres across the speculative fiction spectrum; featuring authors such as Nicole Givens-Kurtz, Cerece Rennie Murphy and a host of other new and established talent.  Founded by speculative fiction writer Kenesha Williams, who is also Editor in Chief, the overall mission of Black Girl Magic Literary Magazine is to showcase stories featuring “Black female voices and characters”, adding some much needed black girl magic to a genre in which they are often overlooked. Interviews with the authors are also included. All three issues can be purchased on Amazon.

P.S. Make sure to leave an honest review on Amazon…it helps tremendously!

Tiara Janté is a Writer/Digital Journalist who enjoys producing content centered on blerd culture, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, topics pertaining to millennial women of color, and the hip hop culture. She is a Staff Writer & Social Media Curator for BlackSci-Fi.com, a contributor to xoNecole and a Co-Editor for Black Girl Magic Literary Magazine. She is also the author of the eBook, From Pitches to Bylines: A Few Helpful Tips for Digital Media Professionals, and is presently in the process of completing her debut Sci-Fi novel EXO. A self-confessed social media junkie with a wealth of opinions, you can connect with her via her Website as well as her Twitter, Facebook & Instagram pages.