How Long ‘til Black Future Month

Currently, I’m about one-third of the way into How Long ’til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin. How Long ’til Black Future Month is a collection of short stories by N.K. Jemisin. In an interview, Jemisin mentioned that many of these short stories were crafted early in her career, predating some of her more well-known works like The Fifth Season. Some of these stories were penned in the early stages of her career, and it’s possible that others were written later on.

She uses short stories as a creative space to explore premises and ideas, often working through concepts that might eventually evolve into full-length novels or contribute to her writing techniques. Jemisin shared that her initial foray into writing short stories was guided by advice from someone in the writing industry. The suggestion was that to improve as a novelist, she should delve into writing short stories. Following this guidance, she dedicated herself to crafting short stories, a practice she credits with contributing to her growth as a novelist.

So, why did I choose this book?

At the time, N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy had won the Hugo Award three years in a row for the first, second, and third novels, gaining significant acclaim. With the buzz surrounding her work, I decided to read The Fifth Season and enjoyed it. In December of last year, How Long ’til Black Future Month became available on Overdrive, so I placed it on hold and got my hands on it. As she’s known as a talented author, I’m curious to explore more of her works.

First Impressions

What are my initial thoughts so far? Well, I like it. I can’t really point out anything negative at this point. The different stories within the collection span various genres, mostly falling into sci-fi or fantasy, but each is unique. I find myself wondering about the mental shift required to move between these diverse storylines. In one moment, Jemisin writes about two interconnected worlds that desperately need to be linked, and in the next, she explores a futuristic Afro-Latino character in the Bronx being pursued by a strange, spider-like Robocop.

Afro Steampunk and Award-Nominated Tales

The complexity extends further with the character Oscar, a young boy. I believe this story might have even been nominated for an award. When I initially listened to it, I caught bits and pieces, but the full depth of it didn’t fully register. Learning about its award nomination makes me want to go back and give it another listen. In this tale, Jemisin delves into the past, portraying a Creole woman from Haiti seeking an invention to protect her people from the French who are attempting to enslave them. It seems to blend historical fantasy with science fiction. Another interesting aspect is the exploration of what could be considered Afro steampunk, a sub-genre for black sci-fi writers that incorporates steam technology. I’m curious if this story falls into that category.

A Tale of Climate Change

Currently, I’m immersed in a narrative about climate change. It features a group of people on Earth who, at a certain point, decided to leave the polluted planet and settle in the asteroid belt beyond Mars. Meanwhile, some individuals chose to stay on Earth and live a simpler life. The sky people, technologically advanced and periodically returning to Earth, inform the protagonists, particularly the DOD father, about chemical pollutants reemerging in the sky. There’s a fascinating dynamic as they offer technology to address the issue, but the father dismisses their claims.

The narrative takes a turn as the sky people attempt to address the pollution issue with a missile, leading to unexpected consequences like tornadoes that wreak havoc on the Earth’s villages. A girl, along with a little boy, manages to escape the destruction caused by the missile, leaving uncertainties about the fate of the planet and its inhabitants. It adds an element of suspense and curiosity.

The City Born Great

There’s a story reminiscent of Tron, involving computer avatars and the ability to upload into humans, adds another layer of complexity. The accidental discovery by the younger character, Odette, adds intrigue as she navigates through the challenges presented by others in her world who attempt to harm her.

Jemisin’s Versatility: A Literary Odyssey

The diversity in these stories, from futuristic scenarios to sci-fi with computer avatars, showcases Jemisin’s versatility. It’s interesting to think about the mental shift required to move between these different genres, considering she likely wrote these stories over an extended period. The variety adds a thought-provoking dimension to the overall reading experience. Looking forward to exploring more of the book and uncovering where these intriguing stories lead.

Original draft written in July 2019.