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| Kalam and Quick Ben; The Malazan series. |
Diversity in fantasy and science fiction is important. The sheer volume of multi-ethnic individuals that nerd out on these genres is sizable, so why aren't we seeing more diversity in print and visual mediums?
People of color are especially underrepresented in fantasy, and science fiction has always striven to portray a dynamic and racially blended future (take Star Trek for example). Fantasy, on the other hand, has always struggled with diversity, often being composed largely of white skinned characters, whose origins are historically grounded in European culture and mythology.
I often rant about science fiction on this blog as I'm pretty biased towards the genre. Yet, I have a deep and abiding love for fantasy. I love the magic of it, the mythological creatures associated with it. I enjoy the rustic and adventurous nature of it; the good versus evil basal stones of it. Nothing, and I mean nothing, thrills me more than gorging myself on turkey legs and slurping down mugs of cold mead whilst watching The Princess Bride, or Game of Thrones. I am obsessed with worlds that are bound by the constructs of wizardry and magic, and I devoured everything ever written or filmed pertaining to JR Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Yet, even as a young child, I noticed that people like myself, or folks that looked like my friends (a multi-ethnic group of peers), did not exist in these worlds.
That's why it is so refreshing to see authors creating vibrant fantasy worlds filled with characters that originate from a bevvy of cultures and ethnic groups, some of which have foundations based on the creation stories of Native Americans or take place in the watery theater that is the Pacific.
Though not as common place as I would like, there is a niche of fantasy writers out there that embrace diversity in their narratives. Check out this list of fantasy authors who are breaking the "fantasy" norms and have created worlds that I believe, has enriched the genre on a whole, and will hopefully inspire the next generation of writers to create worlds just as dynamic and diverse.
*Note: Highlighted titles are clickable and provide additional information on both the authors and their works.
Often referred to as the mother of science fiction, Octavia Butler explored time travel, aliens, womanhood, Black history, and ancient Egyptian plagues in her writing. With works published in the 70s and 80s, Butler truly sculpted the definition of black fantasy.
China Mieville hails from the UK and is well versed in creating interesting and unique characters in fantasy. He also includes characters of varying sexual orientations in his fantasy worlds. He's won several fantasy and science fiction awards and is well respected in the fantasy community.
Steven Erikson trained both as an archaeologist and anthropologist; a fact that is quite apparent in his work. Erikson creates fantasy worlds rife with culture, teeming with different races, all ruled under complex polities. Check out his Malazan series and fall in love with Kalam; one of the most badass characters of all time.
Dragon of the Lost Sea was the very first fantasy book I ever read. Filled with magic that smells like the ocean, dragons that can take the form of humans, and a young boy named Thorn; Laurence Yep skillfully weaves together Chinese mythology and intrigue to create a young adult fantasy series that I still reread every year.
Jemisin, author of the brilliantly written and largely successful, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms series, recognizes the need for people of color in fantasy. She is excellent at character and world building, providing readers with a reading experience that has afforded her a vast following of fantasy enthusiasts. It has also been argued that the dynamics displayed in her series, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, should be picked up by HBO to give George R.R. Martin a run for his money.
*Note: Highlighted titles are clickable and provide additional information on both the authors and their works.
Often referred to as the mother of science fiction, Octavia Butler explored time travel, aliens, womanhood, Black history, and ancient Egyptian plagues in her writing. With works published in the 70s and 80s, Butler truly sculpted the definition of black fantasy.
China Mieville hails from the UK and is well versed in creating interesting and unique characters in fantasy. He also includes characters of varying sexual orientations in his fantasy worlds. He's won several fantasy and science fiction awards and is well respected in the fantasy community.
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| First book in the Malazan series. |
Justice, a member of the Cherokee Nation, creates fantasy worlds with native protagonists. His Kynship Chronicles follows the journey of Tarsa, a character based loosely on Native American culture, as she navigates Everland. I personally haven't read the series yet, but it is on my reading list.
It's not often that you find a fantasy with a woman of color as a protagonist. Bishop's The Etched City, a gothic fantasy, does just that as it follows a savvy, desert doctor trying to survive in a surreal city with hidden secrets.
Dragon of the Lost Sea was the very first fantasy book I ever read. Filled with magic that smells like the ocean, dragons that can take the form of humans, and a young boy named Thorn; Laurence Yep skillfully weaves together Chinese mythology and intrigue to create a young adult fantasy series that I still reread every year.
Jemisin, author of the brilliantly written and largely successful, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms series, recognizes the need for people of color in fantasy. She is excellent at character and world building, providing readers with a reading experience that has afforded her a vast following of fantasy enthusiasts. It has also been argued that the dynamics displayed in her series, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, should be picked up by HBO to give George R.R. Martin a run for his money.
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