#fiyah magazine of black speculative fiction

[ilikereadingactually]

Magazine highlights: FIYAH Issue 29, Winter 2024

you can tell how far behind i've gotten in my magazine reading because i'm still working my way through issues from LAST WINTER, but i've been so looking forward to diving into FIYAH! every work here was incredible, but these two are my particular favorites:

"Kiss of Life" - P.C. Verrone

premise: angels—of a sort—pick up an enslaved young girl and make her their translator as they travel from place to place..."building bridges."

gut reaction: holy shit! i've come away from this one bleeding internally. the voice and the progress of the plot are both so compelling, and then the slow horror of what's happening starts to dawn, and both the text and the allegory stab you right in the chest. stunning.

"D.E.I. (Death, Eternity, and Inclusion)" - N. Romaine White

premise: a freshly turned vampire is called to the office of the head of the clan, who makes her an offer.

gut reaction: sharp and hilarious! i would read a whole novel about Carolyn and her new role in undead society. what a glorious callout of corporate racism! and also each character is beautifully clear and distinct, a real challenge in short fiction.

for real though, an exciting range of styles and emotions to be had in this issue, and it's short enough to read in a sitting (even though i did not manage to read it in a sitting whoops).

[highladyluck]

I was panicking about what to get my dad for Christmas because I absolutely dropped the ball on gifts this year and it's Christmas Eve. And behold, the perfect solution:

A gift subscription to a science fiction magazine!

If you have a science fiction lover in your life, who would like either ebook versions of a science fiction magazine (or even a print and ebook version!) consider gifting them a subscription today or tomorrow.

Some fun options: Clarkesworld: https://clarkesworldcitizens.com/direct-support/

Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine: https://fandsf.com/subscribe.htm

FIYAH literary magazine of Black speculative fiction: https://fiyahlitmag.com/product-category/subscription/

Lightspeed: https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/subscriptions/

Uncanny: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/support-uncanny/

And I found two free options: Beneath Ceaseless Skies: https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/subscribe/

Strange Horizons: http://strangehorizons.com/donate/

There are ways to exchange money for those two (you can get an automatic ebook download for money at Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and donate to Strange Horizons to keep them running, they're a 501(c)3!) but if you have no money and want to give a fun gift, point people to those two.

[elizabethminkel]

The big story in the SFF world last week was Clarkesworld's announcement that they were being flooded with AI spam and had to temporarily close submissions. So for WIRED, I talked to EIC Neil Clarke about what's actually been going on, as well as LD Lewis of FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction and Matt Kresell, the developer of Moksha, the submission software used by lots of SFF publications (including Tor, Uncanny Magazine, Strange Horizons).

They discussed the ways they're thinking about dealing with a host problems around AI submissions—and I was struck by how practical and measured they all were, which was reassuring! Because a lot of writers (in SFF and beyond) are rightfully freaking out right now. I was also struck by how they all stressed those solutions can't create new barriers that would hurt marginalized authors in particular—that commitment to openness/accessibility feels really important.

[zekethefreak]

My latest novelette: ANANSI MOON in FIYAH Magazine!

Ladies and gentlemen, issue #32 of FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction is now available! Inside you’ll find my story, ANANSI MOON. Please purchase a copy of an award-winning publication and help support some amazing authors. I’m extremely proud to be a part of this and eternally grateful for your support! https://fiyahlitmag.com/shop/issues/2024-issues/fiyah-32-spacefaring-aunties

[fiercynn]

if you like short fiction, poetry, and short nonfiction, there are also so many great speculative fiction sites and online literary magazines that prioritize nonwhite authors and anti-colonial perspectives! three of my favorites:

FIYAH: a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about black people of the african diaspora

khōréō: a quarterly magazine of speculative fiction and migration that is dedicated to elevating the voices of immigrant and diaspora authors

strange horizons: a weekly online magazine about speculative fiction; check out some of their special issues like their 2023 caribbean issue, their 2022 southeast asia issue, their 2021 palestine issue, their 2020 mexican special issue, and honestly so many more if you go further back. (they also have a sibling magazine called samovar that is specifically focused on speculative fiction translated into english, i'm not as familiar with them tbh but i've heard good things)

many of the authors listed above have been published in these sites and magazines too!

also, one more author rec: nisi shawl is a black queer speculative fiction author who is also just a very cool person. nisi's novel everfair is fantastic, as is nisi's other fiction and nonfiction. i don't think nisi's website is very up to date but there are still a lot of fantastic links there!

PLEASE for the love of the universe read anti-colonial science fiction and fantasy written from marginalized perspectives. Y’all (you know who you are) are killing me. To see people praise books about empire written exclusively by white women and then turn around and say you don’t know who Octavia Butler is or that you haven’t read any NK Jemisin or that Babel was too heavy-handed just kills me! I’m not saying you HAVE to enjoy specific books but there is such an obvious pattern here

Some of y’all love marginalized stories but you don’t give a fuck about marginalized creators and characters, and it shows. Like damn

[deadassdiaspore]

[moontiara-action]

Forgot to post this here (better late than never), but I wrote about a freelance demon slayer who travels the US and happens to be nonbinary. The story's called "All in a Day's Work." I hope to write more stories featuring Walker the demon slayer in the near future!

[ethereallad]

ONLINE EVENT: Beyond Afrofuturism -- MAY 17

ONLINE EVENT: Beyond Afrofuturism — MAY 17

Join me and Black editors Eboni Dunbar (FIYAH Magazine),  Brent Lambert (FIYAH Magazine), Chinelo Onwualu (Omenana/Anathema), and LaShawn Wanak (Giganotosaurus).  We’ll be discussing their journeys into editing and the role editors play in creating space for the voices of BIPOC communities in the speculative fiction field. Moderated by Arley Sorg of Locus and Fantasy Magazine. Further…

[skrutskie]

Earlier this year, I announced my intent to donate the advances I've received and will continue to receive for Bonds of Brass to organizations and initiatives promoting authors and publishing professionals of color. As of today, I have donated 125% of the money I've received this year and roughly 40% of the money I have received overall. I'm continuing to donate on a monthly basis and plan to make even more large scale donations when I receive the remainder of my advances. Given that many other people are looking for places to donate this holiday season, I thought I would highlight some of the organizations these funds have gone to.

We Need Diverse Books: A grassroots organization of children's book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. They do astounding work that includes an emergency fund for diverse creatives during the pandemic, mentorships and internships, classroom resources, and much, much more.

People of Color in Publishing: A grassroots organization created by book publishing professionals dedicated to supporting, empowering, and uplifting racially and ethnically marginalized members throughout the industry. POC in Publishing provides networking opportunities, mentorship, and informational events for publishing professionals who self-identify as people of color.

Melanin in YA: A resource for all things Black in traditional Young Adult publishing, providing a hub of information to amplify and invest in Black voices. Officially launching in January, this site provides directories of not only books, but also influencers, events, adaptations, and Black-owned bookstores.

MarginsBox: A monthly subscription box featuring Black, Indigenous, and person of color (BIPOC) young adult authors alongside handcrafted items from BIPOC creators curated to coincide with book themes.

FIYAH Lit Mag: A quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora. In addition to publishing fantastic fiction, FIYAH runs reviews of Black speculative fiction books and hosts a convention celebrating marginalized voices in SFF.

If it's within your means, I strongly encourage you to help support these initiatives! Just yesterday, the New York Times published a critical look at how white publishing remains, a reminder of just how much work there is left to do. With our support, we can help these organizations make that essential change happen.

[fiyahlitmag]

Introducing the FIYAH Grants Series

The FIYAH Literary Magazine Grant Series is intended to assist Black writers of speculative fiction in defraying costs associated with honing their craft.  The series includes three $1,000 grants to be distributed annually based on a set of submission requirements. All grants with the exception of the Emergency Grant will be issued and awarded as part of Juneteenth every year. The emergency grant…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Science Fiction Writers of America on Black Lives Matter

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has published an excellent statement on Black Lives Matter and the protests.

https://www.sfwa.org/2020/06/04/a-statement-from-sfwa-on-black-lives-matter-and-protests/

In it, they acknowledge that "SFWA has historically ignored and, in too many instances, reinforced the injustices, systemic barriers, and unaddressed racism, particularly toward Black people, that have contributed to this moment."

Science fiction has had a large reactionary element literally from the start, when leftist science fiction writers from the Futurian house were excluded from the very first World Science Fiction Convention because of their political views.

http://www.jophan.org/mimosa/m21/kyle.htm

SFWA's forums and message boards were slow off the mark to address racist and sexist harassment, and white supremacist elements in the field have tried to sabotage the Hugo Awards, picketed conventions, and sent racist messages over SFWA's channels.

But SFWA underwent a sea change some years ago and has been making meaningful strides towards inclusion ever since. In the new statement - unanimously signed by SFWA's board - the organization acknowledges that these measures are not enough.

They announce a raft of new, concrete steps they will take to improve the inclusivity and diversity of the field, including:

* Donating proceeds from June Nebula Conference ticket purchases to the Carl Brandon Society and the Black Speculative Fiction Society

* Matching every Nebula ticket bought in June with a seat for a Black writer at the event

* Waiving fees for Black writers at next year's Nebula event

* Offering travel subsidies to Black writers attending next year's Nebulas

* Waiving SFWA membership dues for Black writers for the next year

* Offering grant money to Black-led sf/f organizations

The organization also links to several reading lists, notably Ibram X Kendi's "Antiracist Reading List":

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html

And they provide links to several Black sf/f and literary organizations:

* Black Science Fiction Society

https://blacksciencefictionsociety.com/page/contact-us

* FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction

https://www.fiyahlitmag.com/support-us/

* Carl Brandon Society

https://carlbrandon.org/

* Black Tribbles

http://www.blacktribbles.com/

* People of Color in Publishing

https://www.pocinpublishing.com/donate

* I Need Diverse Games

https://ineeddiversegames.org/donate/

* We Need Diverse Books

https://diversebooks.org/fundraising/

[deireads]

Short Story Review: Your Rover Is Here by LP Kindred

Genre: Speculative Fiction

I listened to this story on LeVar Burton Reads yesterday. I will listen to this story again today. I believe everyone needs to listen to this story. 

Ahmad is a rideshare driver and grad student just trying to get a bonus to make ends meet. He is trying his best to do the “independent adult” thing, because, as we all know, depending on parents can often come with a price. At just two rides away from achieving his goal, Ahmad finds himself in the middle of a magical fight while attempting to thwart an evil plan. He is both astonished and enraged by the situation and its aftermath. 

As I stated earlier, everyone should read or listen to this story. 

Your Rover Is Here was originally published in Issue #14 of FIYAH, a literary magazine that publishes Black speculative fiction. Yes, I purchased Issue #14 after listening to the story. 

LP Kindred’s writing is...I’m not sure the words exist. At first, I thought I only enjoyed it because LeVar Burton does such a wonderful job reading these stories. So, I read it myself and enjoyed it more. I could see, hear, and smell this story taking place. I rode shotgun with Ahmad. This story is powerful. Ahmad’s character is relatable as both a person and as an entire race. To understand that constant struggle to be “good” and do the right thing, only to feel defeated by those you think should have your back. Ahmad’s fight is our fight. 

I expect great things from this author. 

[lauraroselam]

Worldcon NZ Schedule

I’ll be at virtual Worldcon over the next few days! Here’s my schedule:

  July 29th, 2020

Representing the Other Programming – Programme Room 1 (Webinar) 19:00 NZST  – 19:50 NZST  (8 am BST) | 50 minutes Fellow panelists: Dr. Bradford Lyau (M), Brandon O’Brien (FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction), Cliona Shakespeare, Prema Arasu (University of Western Australia), Laura Lam (me!)

July…