Fantasy writer N.K. Jemisin joins Kurt Andersen in Studio 360 to talk about her new collection of short stories, “How Long ’til Black Future Month?” and her approach to writing speculative fiction.
Asked about the book’s title, Jemisin explains: “As African Americans, we’ve done lots of processing of our history, as we should, as we must. It’s necessary that we understand where we came from.”
But she adds, “It’s also necessary that we start thinking about where we’re going, and we need to look at the ways in which science fiction renders us or doesn’t render us, or leaves unspoken apocalypses all over the place in which something clearly happened to us, but no one mentions it. So I feel like it’s a good idea to engage with that, too.”
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!