Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction

Walking the Clouds is a collection of Indigenous science fiction works curated by Grace L. Dillon, featuring stories and novel excerpts from Native American, First Nations, Aboriginal Australian, and other Indigenous authors. The anthology presents pieces from established writers like Gerald Vizenor and Leslie Marmon Silko alongside emerging voices in the genre. The book organizes its selections into key categories including contact narratives, Indigenous scientific traditions, Native apocalypse stories, and tales of Indigenous biskaabiiyang (returning to ourselves). Each section opens with critical context from Dillon that frames the cultural and literary significance of the works. The stories incorporate traditional Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of understanding time, space, and consciousness into science fiction frameworks. Characters navigate interplanetary travel, encounter alien species, experience time slips, and face environmental collapse while maintaining connections to their cultural heritage. Through these narratives, the anthology demonstrates how Indigenous writers use science fiction to challenge colonial perspectives, imagine decolonized futures, and explore the intersection of traditional wisdom with technological advancement. The works collectively present alternative visions of progress that center Indigenous values and experiences.

Readers describe this anthology as eye-opening in how it reframes science fiction through Indigenous perspectives and storytelling traditions. Many note it introduces them to authors they hadn't encountered before. Liked: - Strong academic analysis that provides context for each selection - Mix of established and lesser-known Indigenous authors - Shows how Indigenous stories have long incorporated sci-fi elements Disliked: - Academic language can be dense and theoretical - Some excerpts feel too short or disconnected - Several readers wanted more complete stories rather than fragments Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (219 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) "The theoretical framework helps understand Indigenous futurism but gets heavy at times" - Goodreads reviewer "Opened my eyes to sci-fi beyond the western canon" - Amazon reviewer "Wish there were more full stories instead of excerpts" - multiple Goodreads reviews

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🌟 Grace L. Dillon (Anishinaabe) created the first-ever anthology focused specifically on Indigenous science fiction, coining the term "Indigenous Futurisms" in the process 🌟 The anthology features works that blend traditional Native American storytelling with sci-fi elements, including stories about time travel, alien contact, and environmental justice 🌟 Several stories in the collection challenge the Western concept of linear time, presenting alternative ways of viewing past, present, and future based on Indigenous perspectives 🌟 The book includes works from Indigenous authors across multiple continents, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, showing the global scope of Indigenous sci-fi 🌟 Walking the Clouds helped establish Indigenous Futurism as a distinct literary movement, influencing later works and inspiring a new generation of Native American sci-fi writers