Black History Month is recognized as a time for looking back at the leaders, changemakers, and fights for justice that shaped our past. But it’s also a crucial time for examining how that history has led to our present and how we can learn from it to build a better future. That’s why I’ve gathered some of my favorite sci-fi books by Black authors involving space travel, distant worlds, and the future of our galaxy. From epic space operas to alien encounters to historical fantasy about the space race, these books reflect on Black history while envisioning out-of-this-world Black futures.
I’d also love to take this opportunity to shout out an excellent indie bookstore to support in February and beyond: Sistah Scifi, the first Black-owned bookstore centered around science fiction and fantasy. Founded in 2019 by Ghanian-American bibliophile Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi has hosted pop-ups and book vending machines in Seattle and Oakland. You can find many of the books on this list available for purchase on their website (including some signed copies!), and I highly recommend following them on social media or subscribing to their newsletter to learn about more diverse SFF reads.
Space Sci-Fi Novels by Black Authors
Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
Nnedi Okorafor is one of the most prolific, boundary-pushing Africanfuturist authors writing today, and Binti is where I typically suggest readers start with her work. This trilogy of novellas stars Binti, a young woman with a talent for mathematics and “harmonizing”, a way of negotiating peace. Binti is invited to attend a prestigious university on another planet and journeys aboard a spaceship to Oomza Uni. But before she arrives, a group of jellyfish-like aliens attack the ship and kill everyone aboard — except Binti. Why was she spared? And can she stay that way until she reaches her destination? It’s a wildly imaginative tale with a protagonist you’ll never forget, and this complete trilogy collection also includes a bonus short story.
The Starseekers by Nicole Glover
Nicole Glover weaves together history, dreams of the future, fantasy, mystery, the space race, and more in The Starseekers. NASA engineer Cynthia has an aptitude for mathematics, arcane magic, and — thanks to generations of sleuths in her family (see Glover’s other books in the Murder and Magic series) — mystery solving. When a tragedy in the lab threatens her work in the space program, Cynthia suspects it wasn’t an accident but something more targeted. If Cynthia wants to pave the way for space travel, she’ll first have to tackle an underworld of crime and curses. Marketed as “Indiana Jones meets Hidden Figures”, it’s an adventurous tale that celebrates the role of Black women in the space race.
Swords and Spaceships
Sign up to Swords and Spaceships to receive news and recommendations from the world of science fiction and fantasy.
Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler
We can’t talk about Black sci-fi without talking about the Earth-shaking impact of Octavia E. Butler. The Xenogenesis series (starting with Dawn) is among Butler’s most popular space-set books. But whether you’ve read all her best-known works or are looking to read Butler for the first time, this collection of short stories (and a couple of essays on writing craft) is a great under-the-radar choice. From humans playing host to alien eggs on another planet to alien colonies in Earth’s deserts, Bloodchild and Other Stories is filled with parables exploring modern humanity, connection, and cross-cultural understanding. The title story won both Hugo and Nebula awards, and the collection also includes notes from the author on her inspirations and approach to short story writing.
The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
This expansive queer space opera by writer and scientist Kemi Ashing-Giwa takes place in the shadow of a war on a colonized planet. Enitan stays far from politics, instead focusing on building her tea business. But when Enitan’s lover becomes the target of a political assassination and her sister is kidnapped, Enitan has no choice but to join the fight and journey to the capital to bring her sister back. With fast-paced action, intergalactic intrigue, and exploration of themes like colonization and cultural appropriation, it’s a thrilling sci-fi read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
Set aboard a spaceship socially organized like the antebellum South, Rivers Solomon’s debut novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts, explores how our future will continue to echo our past unless everyday people are willing to fight back. The HSS Matilda has spent decades carrying the last hopes of humanity toward the promise of a kinder star system. Aster has a sharp mind for science, but she’s forced into manual labor on the lower decks because of her skin color. Could letters from Aster’s mother be the key to sparking a revolution? It’s an imaginative story from an author who has already established themselves as a leading voice in science fiction and fantasy.
War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
Tochi Onyebuchi’s YA dystopian sci-fi War Girls series draws on real history — specifically the Biafran War in 1960s Nigeria — to imagine a futuristic world of advanced space stations, nanotechnology, and flying robot fights. In 2167 Nigeria, two sisters are pushed to opposite sides of a civil war. Former child soldier Onyii is tasked with overseeing the residents of a refugee camp, including her adopted sister Ify, an inventor who dreams of escaping their violent circumstances in space. Balancing action-packed battles with intense emotional journeys, it’s an unforgettable story that continues in the sequel, Rebel Sisters.
Infinitum by Tim Fielder
Tim Fielder’s Infinitum is a dazzling graphic novel exploring Black history and futures, set across centuries. AjA Oba is a ruthless African king whose concubine curses him with immortality. After watching everyone he loves die, he wanders the globe, witnessing the rise and fall of slavery, global conflicts, the advent of space travel, and first encounters with alien species. It’s a one-of-a-kind story told through breathtaking art and deeply layered characters.
Black Star by Eric Anthony Glover, illustrated by Arielle Jovellanos
This high-stakes interstellar thriller sees TV writer Eric Anthony Glover’s unproduced screenplay about astronauts stranded on a dangerous planet transformed into a vivid graphic novel, illustrated by artist Arielle Jovellanos. Harper is one among a group of scientists taking a risky journey to a distant planet to acquire a potentially humanity-saving flower. But after hitting an asteroid storm, their ship lands 100 kilometers away from their intended destination, and the vast majority of the crew dies in the fires of the crash. Harper still hopes to complete the mission and bring the flower back aboard the one-person rescue shuttle — but one other survivor is determined to thwart Harper and claim the ship for herself.
Bonus Nonfiction Recommendations
This list, so far, has focused on sci-fi novels by Black authors set in space. But why not take this opportunity to celebrate some real Black scientists exploring space today? Here are two nonfiction picks for anyone interested in Black history, Black futures, and space exploration.
The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein was one of the first Black American women to earn a PhD in physics. Now, she’s an astrophysicist and theoretical cosmologist who also specializes in Black feminist science studies. Prescod-Weinstein has a gift for discussing highly complex topics in astronomy in an accessible way while also weaving in elements of Black history, gender studies, and social science. Her debut book, The Disordered Cosmos, is a brilliant treatise on why our understanding of the cosmos must be expanded beyond its racist, misogynistic roots. While you’re reading it, go ahead and preorder Prescod-Weinstein’s next book, coming in April: The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie.
Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe by Aomawa Shields
Dr. Aomawa Shields clearly had an aptitude for science, but she dreamed of a full life balancing a career, a family, and the arts. In her first year in an astrophysics PhD program — where Shields was the oldest and only Black student — a white male professor told her she would have to give up everything else she loved to become an astronomer. This memoir shares the story of how Shields persevered to achieve her dreams, and why her heart led her to explore the world beyond our planet in the first place. It’s a poignant personal story that will change the way you look at the night sky.
Thanks for checking out these books about outer space by Black authors! You might also enjoy:
English (US) · 