A review by zoes_human
Black Sci-Fi Short Stories by Temi Oh

3.5

Showcasing the work of Black authors, this impressive collection of speculative fiction has original publication dates from 1859 to 2021. The modern fiction is, without exception, good with far too many excellent stories to list off. The classic fiction, however, is a bit more challenging. The pieces published closest to the American Civil War have the tendency towards didacticism that was prominent in the era, which can be wearing. However, their historical significance is not to be underestimated, and they offer a fascinating insight into some of the perspectives of the time. The stand-out star of those pieces is W. E. B. Du Bois' "The Comet" which is timeless in the way of classics, though most sadly so.

I would strongly recommend reading Dr. Sandra Grayson's insightful Introduction as an Afterword. I consider her essay to be well worth your time; however, it does contain spoilers.