The State of AFRO Sci-Fi at Arisia 2013

Part One

I have returned from Arisia 2013. There is a lot to reveal, examine, and extract, therefore, I will offer my experiences to you in digestible e-chunks.

Arisia 2010 in Boston was my first con 4 years ago. Since then, I have attended other cons  in Atlanta, Georgia (Dragoncon & ONYXCON) and all the way to Madison, Wisconsin (Wiscon) as well as other places in-between. There are hundreds of Cons celebrating science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, urban faeries and so forth every year. Millions of  fans attend cons.  People come in costume (The Weeping Angels and Star Wars Storm Troopers are always a big hit as well as anything Dr. Who).  People also come to talk and learn. There are many, many panels and presentations  on sci-fi/comic cultural icons such as which Green Lantern was best -- Hal Jordan or Jon Stewart -- or who was the best Star Fleet Captain -- Sisko or Kirk. There are conversations on the use of  solar energy or practical travel to another star system.  The politics and economics of science and fiction may take center stage. Writers, artists, editors,  publishers and educators gather to compare notes, plan and build new relationships as well as sign contracts and build agreements to promote science and technology in our schools.

Cultural Diversity was a key word  spoken often at Arisia. Writers and readers sought to explore and expand the presence of  "the other" character  in the books, movies and TV shows that offer science fiction and fantasy. It was agreed that human society must become more inclusive. Big name authors, small press publishers, indie writers discussed  the new trends in speculative fiction to satisfy the desires of a wider audience yet make a reasonable return to sustain this effort.

Arisia 2013 honorees were Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes -- both extraordinary speculative fiction authors, Hollywood film writers, educators, mentors and spouses. The Carl Brandon Society also was out in force as convention panelists, audience participants, late night session moderators, and greeters in jovial hotel party suites.

But before, I reveal more of my journey ot Arisia 2013, we must pause for a word from our sponsor -- me.

"As a member of the Carl Brandon Society, I wholly support the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship fundraiser.  Everyone who appreciates the works of Octavia should donate to Carl Brandon and in appreciation receive the new ebook Bloodchildren: Stories by the Octavia E. Butler Scholars Edited by Nisi Shaw . Click here to get information on buying the book. "  -- Stafford L Battle"

Now back to my blog: 

Arisia 2013 has come and gone.  The weather was icy cold but the spirits were warm and sometimes very heated. Andrea and Steve locked horns for a blazing moment when the discussion of Sci-fi vs  Fantasy came up. What exactly is culture fail?  Are Zombies the end of the world?  What do you expect from a sword wielding, sexy grandmother? If you missed the pillow fights and rabid debates this time, you can get involved next year. Shields Up! Launch the photon torpedoes!  Arisia 2014 will be in Boston, Massachusetts,  January 17 - 20, 2014.


Part Two: The State of AFRO Sci-Fi at Arisia 2013 -- Barnes and Due

Meet You At Arisia

Hundreds of speculation fiction conventions known as "Cons"  occur every year in the U.S. and around the world. You should plan to attend at least one. You will not regret it. In January, I will be in Boston, briefly.

Note: when I say "speculative fiction" I include science fiction, comic books, AFRO sci-fi, Hollywood movies, TV shows, roadside faeries, love-sick vampires,  steam punk, sword and soul, horror and everything else that involves out of the normal experience in fictional entertainment.

Cons are like flavors of ice cream: you will like some and some you may be less fond of  but it is always an experience. There is a  speculative fiction convention for every lifestyle  and every age.  In January, 2013, I will be seen at Arisia, a  con in Boston, Massachusetts.

I've attended Arisia for several years. In fact, it was my first con. I've  seen the same short Batman guy every year (he's kinda of kooool). The Carl Brandon Society always has a great gathering. And, the green, toxic  beverage they serve at the Klingon party gives me delightfully fuzzy memories and just a mild hangover. People who attend represent all ages and races and economic strata. They are  open-minded, willing to express themselves and fun to be around. There is lots of fab art, hot discussion, new people to meet -- and did I mention the parties?  I always laugh too hard and learn much more than I expected and make connections that I hope will further my writing career.

This Arisia takes place January 18-21, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts. I will Blog about the major events and points of interests via several of my websites (I lose count, Google me or send email to sbattle@sbattle.com --  I promise to respond).

Tananarive Due was at Arisia 2011 to collect a Carl Brandon Award for her story "Ghost Summer" in the anthology "Ancestors". We enjoyed her energy and enthusiasm so much that Arisia wanted her to come back.  Her husband, Steven Barnes, is better known in science fiction circles, starting with Dream Park (with Larry Niven) and continuing on to write many more books as well as television screenplays and novelizations. Barnes is also a martial arts expert and a writing coach. Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes have collaborated with Blair Underwood on the Tennyson Hardwick mystery series.

So each month, I will endeavor to post my thoughts on the Speculative Cons of the month. Even if you missed the event, you can always plan for next year. Go! But be wary of the Romulan Ale.

AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers

I constantly hunt for collections of speculative short stories featuring themes and characters with an Africa flavor. I was excited to discover AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers edited by Ivor W. Hartmann.  AfroSF presents 22 noteworthy and emerging authors who are Africans living on the continent and throughout the world. I have read or been involved with other sci-fi collections such as Genesis: An Anthology of Black Science Fiction (Black Science Fiction Society); Dark Matter: Reading the Bones edited by Sheree R. Thomas; and The Darker Mask: Heroes from the Shadows edited by Gary Phillips and Christopher Chambers. I've published my own anthology (AFRO Sci-Fi) that features my stories. I like sci-fi anthologies, a lot. 

AfroSF as with all anthologies has literary high plateaus, mediocre valleys and dismal pits. Most readers will find at least one or two stories that they will thoroughly enjoy and be enlightened by and perhaps even be moved emotionally to tears. There are midrange stories that despite flaws are still worth the time to read and ponder.  And, some stories will make you wonder, how in heavens did the manuscript get past the editors.  

My biggest concern is the price of the e-book: I paid a whopping $9.99 for the Kindle edition! In reality, this is far too much money for a digital volume of this scope (apparently, the U.S. Justice Department agrees with me). However, my curiosity overcame my fiscal sensibilities.  I wanted to read purely “African” science fiction; and embrace the hopes, fears and view-of-the-future by writers who intimately are aware of the 54 individual nations and thousands of social cultures in Africa.

“Home Affairs” by Sarah Lotz is set in an African dystopian where robots are the face of the government that most people interact with. A slight computer error can cause a catastrophic loss of your personal and national identity. It is a thought-provoking piece that is probably closer to reality than we would like to admit. “The Rare Earth” by Biram Mboob is an excellent piece set in a future Africa ruthlessly controlled by global corporations, hi-tech gangs, and a self-proclaimed messiah who uses stolen technology to produce religious miracles. 

There are other stories offering killer drones, spaceships, political and technological conflict that I found interesting. However, many of the contributors are young writers and not conversant with concepts such as FTL and other sci-fi hardware. For instance, traveling to the edge of the Earth solar system in a chemical-powered rocket would take more than a few months such as depicted in "Heresy" by Mandisi Nkomo. The NASA Voyager space crafts, the fastest human-made machines ever, have been traveling for more than three decades just to reach the fringes of the solar system boundaries. The science in science fiction should be plausible or at least current with existing tech. 

The real power of AfroSF flows from the exploration of everyday human problems in futuristic settings. Situations involve oppressive government, newly incurable diseases, innovative expressions of sexuality, foreign nations occupying huge tracts of native lands, corporate greed, global climate change and religious fanaticism. These are relevant issues for Africans today and tomorrow. Many of the writers in AfroSF strove to investigate the crucial element of sci-fi by asking, “What if Africa was . . .?”

Sci-Fi Can Close the Black Tech Gap

The Great Recession is fading into the pages of history,  mainstream America is rising from the ashes. However, the revival of the Black community will be a much more difficult task; full recovery may depend upon science fiction.


The growth of our economy is directly related to technological innovation.  For example, the Internet has turned barefooted entrepreneurs into overnight billionaires. E-commerce is booming. Smartphones and "apps" are transforming the way we communicate, sell and buy. More astounding inventions are soon to come.  What was fantasy yesterday is becoming science fact, today. Autonomous cars will replace taxi drivers. Factories will be completely controlled by robots. The tourist industry will be literary out of this world. Home schooling will include getting a university degree while sitting on the edge of your sofa bed. We will have to adapt daily if we want to thrive in the 21st century. But where do we get the tools to rebuild an entire community in this new age?  We can start by reading more science fiction.


I and many of my Black Science Fiction Society colleagues are seeing an impressive surge among African Americans who are buying sci-fi (also called speculative fiction) paperbacks and e-books.  Speculative fiction brings a sense of wonder and motivation to young and old readers. Sci-fi celebrates the successes of Black astronauts, scientists, engineers and innovators engrossed in 21st century activities.  Spec-Fic can provide a practical path to new career choices, and help to close any tech gap that might threaten the Black community. In the chapters of any well-conceived speculative fiction tale are visions of prosperity and personal fulfillment that Black populaces can eagerly embrace.


Recently reelected President Obama acknowledges that the dynamics of America have changed. Employment opportunities that dried up during the Great Recession are gone forever. The World Future Society likewise predicts that, "Many recently lost jobs may never come back. Rather than worry about unemployment, however, tomorrow’s workers will focus on developing a variety of skills that could keep them working productively and continuously, whether they have jobs or not." Science fiction stories are a treasure chest of ideas to enhance our lifestyles.


Urban novels and hip hop fiction gave the publishing industry profitable inroads to literary enthusiasts of African heritage. It helped to ignite a reading frenzy. Booksellers and public libraries stocked their shelves and databases with publications that offered gritty tales of dark mean streets filled with outrageous, streetwise gangsters and sly, mini-skirted vixens. But another wave is on the horizon; a rising tide of titles that offer hi-tech space ships, super soldiers, and savvy world geniuses.

These fantasies can become realities with a little hard work. 



Buy more Black Sci-Fi. It will change your life.

Available for .99 cents at Amazon and  Smashwords. (I will have to raise the price soon.) I welcome any comments. Thanks

I Am An AFROFuturist

I am an AFROFuturist. And, I boldly state that I make my own definitions. I can define myself and the conditions that I thrive in.  It does not bother me if  other people describe the term differently or take offense at what I choose to believe and promote. In fact, I welcome and embrace the diversity of definitions.

I am an AFROFuturist.  Don't label me as a Moslem, Hindu, Jew, Christian or Atheist. Organized belief systems that are rigid and unable to adapt can be  dangerous and lead us to the path of extinction. Ask T-Rex. However, AFROFuturists can open our minds to new paths of survival and life satisfaction and the perpetuation of our kind. Therefore, the AFROFuturistic vision is wide and welcomes multiple interpretations and new pathways of thought. It is not imprisoned by words or canvas or song or movement.

As an AFROFuturist I believe that racism is insanity.  Social classes are a wicked illusion. We all are born penniless and at the end of our lives leave accumulated riches behind for others to fight over. Our true wealth are the contributions that we offered to society during our sojourn that will hopefully enrich the lives of others. We are all one race, one species, one culture, subject to the whims of a Universe that could eradicate us all in a bright moment. No one survives a Super Nova. It merely recreates us into new forms to start over again. But until that moment we must strive to be the best we can.

I am an AFROFuturist. This is what I believe:

1) We must mold a future that embraces all of us
2) Education and learning is "cradle to grave" and critical to our survival
3) Our greatest wealth resides in the people who have the least
4) We have the knowledge and the power to protect the planet and all the creatures that live on it
5) God is not above us, God grows within us, if we allow

I am an AFROFuturist. Join me!!

Say Good-Bye To Television

Since the addition of color to TV screens -- moving from stark black and white into "Wizard of Oz" RGB reality  -- there have been no real innovations (IMHO) in on-the-air TV.  From the 1950s to now,  traditional  programming hasn't deviated far from talent shows,  celebrity interviews, game shows, candidly  raw video and nightly news featuring square jaw commentators (you can't  view edgy comedy on broadcast TV or lengthy reporting on current events as well as other innovative  programming --SNL is a rare exception).

In the heyday of TV rabbit ears, there were only 4 maybe 6 channels to watch in each city. In smaller markets, there were only 2 or 3 choices to tune into.

Today, Old Style Television technologies are waving good-bye. They are cartoon caricatures buried face deep in smoking mud pits on the banks of steaming rivers while green forests burn into gray  ashes. The sky boils with red cinders of new entrepreneurial   start-ups roaring into the marketplace. The ground shakes, opening deep fissures from whence there is no return. Survival depends upon the ability to adapt to changing conditions and to fly nimbly within a shifting social environment. If you cannot adapt, you die. Many TV executives and producers have leaped antenna first into the communications oblivion; refusing to accept the obvious. Others have grown new wings.

Today, many young people don't buy TVs; instead, they opt for powerful laptops, slick tablets or the latest smart phones to view content that is important to them. People can roam freely around the world for knowledge as well as interact with the creators of that content.

The wide, world, internet  strives to reach and offer its wares to every human being in every  corner of the planet. This expanding digital medium offers millions of channels to view and learn from. Anyone can be the writer,  producer, host, camera person, reporter, animator or focus group. This is good.

But this is the Stafford Battle Blog; how does has this  tirade affect Black people? 

For more than 50 years,  television has mostly  portrayed  white males, doing white male things, while excluding  everybody else. (One programming exception was "I Love Lucy" which  featured an interracial relationship between Lucy and Ricky. Later, this situation became extreme taboo on American communications networks.) In the 21st Century, people of color can produce his or her or their own particular programming to promote important messages. These netcasts can cover the world and beyond.

Old Style Television has sunk into the void of ancient history. We as African Americans are rising to  express our views and concerns using a new method of global communications, that no one can take from us, if we fight for the right to speak out.

As  T-Rex decays into dust, new forms of life must emerge.

A Bad Turn to the Right

I disagree with President Barack H Obama for many reasons. We spend too much money and forfeit too many lives on imperialist conquests overseas in places where the US flag doesn't belong. During Obama's reign, major banks and corporations continue to cheat and steal every penny they can just to make a few CEO's hyper-rich.  The justice system has all but declared open warfare on black men -- jails are crowded with African-Americans who couldn't afford good lawyers or pay to find fair and impartial judges. The Planet earth's environment is swirling down the toilet while we continue to poison the air, rape the land, and build walled mansions for the one percenters.

Of course, I am not the leader of the still most prosperous nation on the planet.  I don't have to live under a microscope while every poop and splash I make is  dissected and analyzed. I don't have to compromise my morals just to allow a tiny glimmer of  sanity to shine and perhaps light a path to a better world. I am not the commander-in-chief of a gigantic military comprised of loyal men and women who only seek to serve their country while risking their lives.

Yes, even though I may disagree with many of President Obama's policies, I am truly horrified by what the conservative right is doing.  It is so blatant, I get chills. Republicans seek to steal this country blind by fixing the game. People will be denied their right to vote. Only the poor and middle class will pay taxes. America will get involved in even more useless wars.  Women will lose their right to govern their own body. More prisons will be built to lock up  more black men and woman. The legal system will harshly punish anyone who makes less than a million dollars. Social security, healthcare, employment insurance will be on the auction block -- sold to the highest corporate bidder.

That  is the type of country that the political right wants. They don't care about people. The political right wingers are mostly rich  and white and male with the right connections and no conscious or caring for anyone not in their social class. The only hope to stop their madness is our power to get involve and to  protest and  to boycott and  to vote. But don't blindly vote for the reelection of President Obama because he is the only choice.  Let everyone running for office  know that you are voting for specific causes such as:

• everybody pays their fair share of taxes including churches; 
• school teachers are more important than basketball players; 
• the earth is our only home and we need to protect it, vigorously; 
• how we elect our public servants is desperately flawed and corrupt; 
• we must stop the flood of money purchasing our mayors, senators and judges;
• we must respect religious freedom including the freedom to NOT believe;
• guns must be tightly regulated--gun offenders must be treated harshly;
• build fewer prisons and fund more community colleges; and
• open a diagloue where all people can discuss their problems and find solutions to help us all.

 Also, lighten up. I may disagree with Obama but in my heart  of hearts, I hope that Obama's heart is in the right place even if his head may be on a slightly different plane.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Jesus on a Dinosaur

Frankly, other than for funerals or weddings, I don't go to church. I have many friends and family who are avid church goers. I love them and wish them well while politely turning down their requests to join them for worship services. Church is not always bad, it is just not right for me.  I believe that some churches actually benefit our communities. Many church leaders are sincere and hardworking souls.  They put people first and religion second and politics a distant third. If you took away the holy books, these people would still do good for the world. They would feed the hungry, help heal the sick, and prepare a better future for our children.

However, there is an aspect  of religion that truly frightens me. Fanaticism exists in all organized movements and there is too much evil in our various religions. I define "evil" as hatred against our fellow beings and the planet. There are people who  rabidly adhere to the notion that their god is the only god and their beliefs are the only beliefs that people should follow. They will kill and destroy for that belief. I doubt that God really cares which day we go to church or how much money we donate to the preacher or which president we vote for. 

Yet despite these ills, most disturbing to me is the lack of intellectual curiosity that conflicts with established doctrine. There is a  movement in America that promotes "anti-thought" and downgraded education.  Dystopia is a word that science fiction writers would use to describe what may be happening to our world. (From my friend Wiki-- Dystopia:  a society, generally of a speculative future, characterized by negative, anti-utopian elements, varying from environmental to political and social issues.) 

Evil cannot overwhelm us if we are aware of it and take action. We need to expose the greedy charlatans in our churches, news media, congresses, and businesses.  The world is not flat (but the Universe could be flat).  Education from elementary to post collegiate should be free to all people (pay teachers more money).  All religions have some good and some bad elements. Jesus never rode a dinosaur because the earth is more than 5,000 years old. Evolution is real and we are still learning to cope with our existence on a planet that is heating up as a result of our activities.

Creationist Museum: http://creationmuseum.org/

The Ark: http://arkencounter.com/

Interfaith Alliance: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/

Reason and Science: http://richarddawkins.net/

Celebrations

In case you have been hiding under a rock, NASA and the United States of America have landed another robot on Mars.

 Is this a big event?

Yes!

Contrary to the misconceptions promoted by the political right, NASA is alive and doing well, and setting the organization's sights on higher goals. Almost every nation has a satellite or access to a satellite in low Earth orbit. Only the U.S.A. has a SUV cruising on the surface of Mars. Several countries are attempting to get back to the Moon. American spacecrafts have exited the solar system (any moment now) on their way to the stars.

There are oceans larger than the Pacific on bodies around the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn. NASA and its partners have plans to "Go Fishing" there. And,  later, maybe capture an asteroid or two in the Asteroid Belt.

How does all this effect the price of a price of a dozen of eggs? $2.5 billion which includes spacecraft development, science investigations, and the cost of launch and operations has been injected into our economy. This is not money squandered in some rich playboy's offshore bank account. These are salaries paid to thousands of workers who made NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission possible.  Landing on Mars allows people on Earth to buy cereal and orange  juice and gasoline and  tuition to college for sons and daughters.

That is a good reason to celebrate. 

See NASA at: http://www.nasa.gov

Atlanta Loves Onyxcon

August 17-18, 2012

Atlanta, Georgia

Be There!