Dark Matter

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year. “An important book, and nobody interested in speculative fiction or Black literature should pass it up.” —The Washington Post Book World

An important anthology, the first of its kind, Dark Matter explores a century of fantastic fiction by preeminent and emerging stars of the African diaspora. A richly vibrant collection of stories and essays, it displays the brilliance of writers ranging from such early pioneers as W. E. B. DuBois, to famed sf authors including Samuel R. Delaney and Octavia E. Butler, to such luminaries of the literary tradition as playwright-critic Amiri Baraka and satirist Ishmael Reed, as well as a spectrum of acclaimed new writers.

Astonishing, compelling, erotic, and profound stories of worlds within and beyond abound in Dark Matter. From the bittersweet legacies of Africa to utterly phantasmagoric future civilizations, here is a compilation of tales that transmute our human experience.

“This singular collection stands out for its breadth . . . uncovers a rich—but unheralded—tradition that deserves attention.” —Ebony

“Compelling . . . Perfect . . . A fascinating collection that will provoke debate and delight well into this millennium.” —Vibe

“A rich anthology . . . Dark Matter zooms in on Black sci-fi writing.” —Minneapolis Journal Sentinel

“Dark Matter is a celebration, and will for many readers be a revelation, and it may well be a watershed in the long overdue but rapidly accelerating diversification of sf as a whole.” —Locus

“Dark Matter boldly goes where no anthology has gone before.” —New York Daily News

“Brilliantly diverse selections [that] manifest a powerful effect.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)