Thursday, October 29, 2020
On the Edge of the Abyss: Why I Wrote Nat Turner's Secret
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Support Nat Turner's Secret
Nat Turner's Secret -- Go Fund Me.
A live reading of Stafford Battle's tale of rituals, rage and redemption is being performed by a cast of talented and experienced actors on September 23rd.
This dramatic revolutionary drama showcases the artistic talents of creators who express their views and solutions to inspire us all.
We appreciate all your support and suggestions. You can be a part of this now.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
The Greatest Super Villain: Dr. Anti-Science
The eruption of the deadly COVID-19 virus has exposed more than the extreme corruption in our world governments. The virus has revealed basic problems in our day-to-day society. A disturbingly large segment of people (who don't understand or openly fear rational, scientific thought) are likely refuse to consider the positive aspects of science fiction.
Apparently rational citizens who normally would be open to civil discussion on a variety of controversial topics now attack wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of a disease because medical scientists recommend the use of masks.
Our respected and reputable technologists are the real super heroes. Anti-maskers are today's super villains -- Drs. Anti-Science.
Just a thought to consider. Read more sci-fi.
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Future Sexual Relationships: The Gender Revolution
Monday, June 1, 2020
Science Fiction and Religion (Part 1 Super Heroes)
Super Heroes
Gods and saints appear regularly in comic books with characters such as Thor, Hercules, Wonder Woman, Isis as well as the Judeo Christian God. Religious texts offer larger than life heroes such as Samson who, like Hercules, had tremendous strengths and multiple vulnerabilities. Moses could turn his staff into a snake. Jesus had amazing abilities including the ability to defy death like Deadpool or Wolverine.
Science and technology has long inspired writers and artist to delve into sci-if. Historically, there are founders of religions who were real humans and crusaders with phenomenal abilities.
Black and brown societies are not strangers to amazing technology — there are engineering marvels throughout Africa and the Americas since ancient times. These scientists and technologists have produced stories to be absorbed by the masses.
It is up to each person to chose what to believe in to feel whole. We need our super heroes in science fiction and religion.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
The Most Fearful Aspect of Sci-Fi
Science Fiction is highly political.
In the beginning, Captain Nemo voyaged his futuristic submersible invention "The Nautilus" deep underwater during the 1800s to confront deep-sea monsters and vicious human greed. Later, Samuel Delany gave us fantastic excursions throughout the Galaxy and into the depts of exploding stars and decaying civilizations in the award-winning novel Nova. Octavia Butler's final literary expeditions pushed readers into a cataclysmic new religion, failed government and persistent human survival.
Many sci-fi authors offer terrifying tales of dystopia. Read 1984 by George Orwell, The Iron Heel by Jack London, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, or Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. Likewise, George Schyler's classic Black Empire is essentially a retelling of a 2nd American Civil War on a global scale where (Spoiler Alert!) Black people win, almost.
A plethora of writers has created vivid stories and world-building scenarios that deserve to be examined because of their futuristic visions of society and how we should be governed for good or bad. It can be argued that the innate appeal of Sc-Fi is its presentation of politics in the past, present, and future.
One of my favorite themes is Kirk(s)/Federation vs the Klingons. The Klingons are the most diverse, endearingly complicated humanoid species in all of Star Trek lore (next comes the Vulcan/Romulans closely followed by the Borg). In CBS's Picard, powerful adult themes involving sex, race, and politics makes the series entertaining and thought-provoking (far beyond the childlike trivialities of Star Wars.)
In speculative fiction, we are experiencing the American Civil War and the contradictions of our inner selves over and over again in outer space and multi-universes. This creates artistic opportunities for new solutions to old problems.
Thoughts to Ponder: Politicians and elected officials need sci-fi to prepare a better future for all of us. Read. Write. Perform.
Monday, December 23, 2019
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Preview: The AFROFuturist Bible Part One
Credits: Music by Otis McDonald (YouTube Audio Library); Art from Pixabay
Part One
Introduction:
Two grime-encrusted intruders wearing patchwork military gear approached my private picnic on the beach. Online Social Media had promised me a pristine parcel of manicured green grass on the sultry west coast of Africa where persistent ocean waves smashed rhythmically against jagged rocks.
I had surrendered polished, antique Roman gold coins to ensure exquisite cuisine, anonymity and sharp salty breezes for romantic tranquility to charm an enchanting female by displaying my wit, wealth and masculine prowess. The distant strangers hoisted rusty, Asian-manufactured, semi-automatic weapons. Prey masquerading as predator; a desperate tactic in hostile times.
This was a distressing distraction.
It brought to mind, the first prophecy in my AFROFuturist Bible: “Mami Wata rules us all. The strong will always succeed until the weak get smarter.” I had written it, I own it, and it haunts me in my dreams and when I awoke in tangled sheets of cotton. When you swear an oath to celestial beings, there is very little wiggle space, limited possibilities to dishonor your commitment without suffering dire consequences.
I expected ruinous retribution for any transgressions against Mami Wata, the Eternal African Matriarch and founder of all human religions and mythologies on this world. I wondered if this was just another test of my resolve — what or who was I willing to sacrifice?
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Podcast Alert: My Amazing Aunt Raven Part 2
Part Two of "My Amazing Aunt Raven" is now available online.
I offer my sincere thanks to Ariel Therkiel for her excellent work to promote AFROCentric speculative fiction. We must support creators like her.
Be sure to visit her Patreon Page at: https://www.patreon.com/talesfromablackuniverse
Listen to Part Two of "My Amazing Aunt Raven" Is Here!
Friday, May 3, 2019
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
30-Second Book Review: We've Got Zombies and Hotdogs!
The fantastical duo of Steven Barnes and Tananarive both award-winning, AFROFuturism sci-fi writers, offer readers their take on the Zombie Apocalypse in the books Devil's Wake and the sequel Dominio Falls. These are different walking dead monsters with new traits that can surprise or trick the unwary human dinner entre. But as always, the genre explores the psychology of the human survivors; zombies are just the storm. So, we have a multi-cultural clutch of teenagers, on a rickety bus, angry at the world, themselves, and the shortage of contact lens solution.
Be sure to watch the entertaining and enlightening short horror film "Danger Word" based on the books written by Due and Barnes.
Danger Word (Horror Short)
Starring Frankie Faison and Saoirse Scott
We must Vote this November
Don't vote for this dummy!
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