Love After the End

Love After the End is an anthology of Indigenous speculative fiction and science fiction edited by Joshua Whitehead. The collection features works by Two-Spirit and queer Indigenous writers envisioning futuristic worlds and possibilities. Each story presents a different take on themes of apocalypse, survival, technology, and Indigenous ways of being. The settings range from post-environmental collapse landscapes to worlds with advanced AI, interplanetary travel, and virtual reality. The characters navigate relationships, community, and identity in these reimagined futures while maintaining connections to tradition and ancestral knowledge. The writers employ Indigenous storytelling approaches and worldviews to construct their narratives. The anthology demonstrates how Indigenous futurisms can challenge colonial narratives while exploring themes of resilience, adaptation, and the endurance of Indigenous values across time and space. These stories represent acts of Indigenous sovereignty through imagination and creation of new possibilities.

Readers appreciate this anthology's Indigenous two-spirit and queer perspectives in speculative fiction. Reviews note the collection offers fresh takes on post-apocalyptic themes while centering Indigenous futurism. Likes: - Strong representation of queer and trans characters - Diverse writing styles and storytelling approaches - Blend of traditional knowledge with sci-fi elements - Inclusion of both established and emerging writers Dislikes: - Inconsistent quality between stories - Some readers found certain stories hard to follow - A few felt the speculative elements overshadowed character development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (290 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (23 ratings) One reader called it "a breath of fresh air in queer sci-fi," while another praised how it "reimagines Indigenous futures." Critical reviews mentioned "uneven pacing" and "abstract narratives that lost me." Several noted standout stories like "Abacus" and "Story for a Bottle" as highlights of the collection.

Walking the Clouds by Grace L. Dillon This anthology collects Indigenous science fiction stories that blend traditional knowledge with futuristic technologies and explore themes of colonization, identity, and survival.

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich A pregnant Indigenous woman navigates a world where evolution has reversed and society collapses while she seeks to protect her unborn child and cultural heritage.

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline In a post-apocalyptic world, Indigenous people are hunted for their bone marrow, which holds the key to recovering humanity's lost ability to dream.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse A Navajo monster hunter uses traditional powers to protect her people in a climate-changed world where ancient gods and creatures have returned.

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice An Anishinaabe community must rely on traditional ways to survive when modern infrastructure fails and winter approaches their northern reservation.

🌟 "Love After the End" is an anthology of Indigenous science fiction and urban fantasy focusing on Two-Spirit and queer storytelling. 🌟 Editor Joshua Whitehead is a Two-Spirit, Oji-nêhiyaw member of Peguis First Nation and the acclaimed author of "Jonny Appleseed," which won the Lambda Literary Award. 🌟 The collection reimagines Indigenous futures through a lens free from colonialism, featuring stories of hope, resilience, and rebirth after apocalyptic events. 🌟 The term "Two-Spirit" was created in 1990 at the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American/First Nations Gay and Lesbian Conference to describe Indigenous people who embody both masculine and feminine spirits. 🌟 The book serves as a response to the popular "post-apocalyptic" genre by highlighting that Indigenous peoples have already survived an apocalypse through colonization and continue to thrive and imagine new futures.