Nisi Shawl

Dec 4, 2024 | reactormag.com | Nisi Shawl |Aislyn Fredsall

In the same world as Everfair, a brutal king plagued by visions of the Black people he slaughtered in Congo attempts to destroy the spirits haunting him using an inventor’s powerful but unproven machine . . . Author’s note: This story was difficult for me to write, and it may be difficult for you to read. Because it’s told from the viewpoint of Leopold II of Belgium, a notorious creep, it includes instances of antisemitism, misogyny, and racist name-calling.

Sep 12, 2024 | publishersweekly.com | Les Johnson |Nisi Shawl |Richard Chizmar |Nalo Hopkinson

Travis S. Taylor and Les Johnson. Baen, $28 (320p) ISBN 978-1-982193-75-1This cozy hard-science-fiction mystery, the fascinating sequel to 2021’s Saving Proxima, finds two spaceships full of Earth scientists and military personnel attempting to make sense of the lack of female births among the newly contacted humans of Proxima Centauri b.

Jun 26, 2024 | reactormag.com | Nisi Shawl |Aislyn Fredsall

Set after the events of Everfair, espionage, betrayal, and political intrigue follow, when the estranged son of a founding member of Everfair visits his sister in Zanzibar . . . A version of this story appeared in the anthology, Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation, published by Upper Rubber Boot Books. Though the sun grinned fiercely down, September’s steadily blowing kaskazi kept Rosalie cool enough as she walked out from under the shadow of the recently arrived aircanoe.

May 23, 2024 | lightspeedmagazine.com | Wendy Wagner |Nisi Shawl

She should go back inside the watchpod. Maree and Blaise didn’t have to be dead. The air hadn’t been gone that long. And even if their current bodies were hopeless, damaged beyond repair, probably the back-up system was uncorrupted. Probably its uploads of those two—as well as the uploads of all the other prisoners—were just fine. Josie could confirm that, then crawl into her cryo drawer. Shut herself down. But she stayed outside, watching the stars. The stars were strange.

Apr 11, 2024 | seattletimes.com | Nisi Shawl

My long-lost friend Octavia Butler wrote stories that have been read by hundreds of thousands of us, to great acclaim. She was a role model, an award-winner, and by most standards, a genius. Many of us also considered Octavia our friend, even those of us who were never so fortunate as to meet her. But I not only met Octavia, I talked with her on the phone about character names and dream dates. I had her over for dinner and ate dinner in her kitchen.