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nannahnannah's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Matter is the first (and only) series collecting sci-fi/fantasy short stories by black authors. Like Booklist says on the cover, it’s a great “who’s who of African American writers”. There were a little over 25 pieces - pretty massive for a short work collection, so it really is an excellent guide or even introduction to black writers.
Short story collections are usually a gamble, with some stories incredible while others fall short. This one is no different, although some of these works soared Very high (Whispers in the Dark) and others were just Not something I enjoyed (The Binary). And although short story collections usually just contain, you know, short stories, this one has transcripts of discussions on what makes science fiction as a genre work, biographies, and even works as short as a page and a half. All are equally as important. I love that the books teach you about the black authors that came before as well as the ones alive and publishing today.
Though there may have been more pieces here I disliked than those I liked, the ones I liked I liked Very Much, and it makes up for the rest. I’m a bit sad this is a library book, and one the library requested from another library, because I’d like to read some of these stories again. A lot of them are incredibly layered and deep, written to make you think a long time after the first read.
Anyway, I’ll definitely be reading the other books in this collection! And taking note of which authors strike a chord with me as I go on.
Short story collections are usually a gamble, with some stories incredible while others fall short. This one is no different, although some of these works soared Very high (Whispers in the Dark) and others were just Not something I enjoyed (The Binary). And although short story collections usually just contain, you know, short stories, this one has transcripts of discussions on what makes science fiction as a genre work, biographies, and even works as short as a page and a half. All are equally as important. I love that the books teach you about the black authors that came before as well as the ones alive and publishing today.
Though there may have been more pieces here I disliked than those I liked, the ones I liked I liked Very Much, and it makes up for the rest. I’m a bit sad this is a library book, and one the library requested from another library, because I’d like to read some of these stories again. A lot of them are incredibly layered and deep, written to make you think a long time after the first read.
Anyway, I’ll definitely be reading the other books in this collection! And taking note of which authors strike a chord with me as I go on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Fatphobia and Racial slurs
also: lynching
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