New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color

New Suns is a speculative fiction anthology featuring seventeen original stories by authors of color from around the world. Editor Nisi Shawl brings together works spanning science fiction, fantasy, and genres in between. The collection includes contributions from established writers like Tobias Buckell, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Rebecca Roanhorse, as well as emerging voices in speculative literature. Stories range from near-future science fiction to mythological fantasy, with settings that span Earth and distant worlds. The authors explore themes of identity, power, tradition, and change through diverse cultural perspectives and storytelling approaches. These narratives challenge conventional genre expectations while expanding the boundaries of what speculative fiction can achieve.

Readers highlight the anthology's diverse voices and range of genres, from science fiction to magical realism. Many note standout stories like "The Fine Print" by Chinelo Onwualu and "The Virtue of Unfaithful Translations" by Minsoo Kang. Liked: - Fresh perspectives on familiar sci-fi themes - Mix of established and emerging authors - Strong opening and closing stories - Quality of writing across stories Disliked: - Uneven story quality - Some stories feel incomplete or experimental - A few readers found certain pieces hard to follow - Collection's pacing varies Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (150+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 (200+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Each story brings something unique to the table. Some hit harder than others, but that's true of any anthology." - Goodreads reviewer "The variety is impressive but some stories feel rushed or underdeveloped." - Amazon reviewer

Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora by Sheree R. Thomas This anthology collects works by Black authors across 100 years of science fiction and fantasy, exploring themes of identity, power, and possibility through diverse cultural perspectives.

So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction & Fantasy by Nalo Hopkinson Writers from colonized nations and their descendants reimagine speculative fiction through the lens of colonialism, diaspora, and cultural inheritance.

Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction by Grace L. Dillon Indigenous authors from various nations combine traditional storytelling with science fiction elements to create narratives that challenge conventional genre boundaries.

Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation by Ken Liu This collection presents works by Chinese authors who merge cultural perspectives with speculative elements to examine technology, society, and human nature.

Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was by Angélica Gorodischer This mosaic novel presents interconnected stories of an imaginary empire through the voice of a storyteller, blending political commentary with magical realism.

🌟 Editor Nisi Shawl coined the term "writing the Other" and co-authored the essential guide Writing the Other: A Practical Approach, which helps writers thoughtfully craft characters from different backgrounds. 🌟 The anthology's title pays homage to Octavia Butler's famous quote: "There's nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns." 🌟 The collection features 17 original stories from award-winning authors including Tobias S. Buckell, Steven Barnes, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia. 🌟 Many stories in the anthology blend multiple genres, incorporating elements of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and magical realism through diverse cultural lenses. 🌟 The book won the 2020 Locus Award for Best Anthology and was praised for challenging the traditionally white-dominated landscape of speculative fiction.