Diversity Spotlight Thursday (#6)

Welcome to Diversity Spotlight Thursday, a feature created by Aimal @Bookshelves and Paperbacks to shed light on diverse literature. I’ll be sharing three different books: one that I’ve read, one that I want to read, and an upcoming release. For this week, I decided to go with a theme: women of color in space. These books have been written by and about women of color. Let’s check them out!

---

 – A BOOK I HAVE READ –

Dawn by Octavia E. Butler

| Goodreads |

Lilith Iyapo has just lost her husband and son when atomic fire consumes Earth—the last stage of the planet’s final war. Hundreds of years later Lilith awakes, deep in the hold of a massive alien spacecraft piloted by the Oankali—who arrived just in time to save humanity from extinction. They have kept Lilith and other survivors asleep for centuries, as they learned whatever they could about Earth. Now it is time for Lilith to lead them back to her home world, but life among the Oankali on the newly resettled planet will be nothing like it was before.

The Oankali survive by genetically merging with primitive civilizations—whether their new hosts like it or not. For the first time since the nuclear holocaust, Earth will be inhabited. Grass will grow, animals will run, and people will learn to survive the planet’s untamed wilderness. But their children will not be human. Not exactly.

---

A science fiction tale of consent, what it means to be human, and identity. It’s one that made me think and I still don’t know how I feel about it! It’s definitely great for discussions. This is the first of a series, but it stands on its own perfectly fine.

---

– A BOOK ON MY TBR –

Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson

| Goodreads |

It’s Carnival time, and the Caribbean-colonized planet of Toussaint is celebrating with music, dance and pageantry. Masked “Midnight Robbers” waylay revelers with brandished weapons and spellbinding words. But to young Tan-Tan, the Robber Queen is simply a favourite costume to wear at the festival–until her power-corrupted father commits an unforgivable crime.

Suddenly, both father and daughter are thrust into the brutal world of New Half-Way Tree. Here monstrous creatures from folklore are real, and the humans are violent outcasts in the wilds. Here Tan-Tan must reach into the heart of myth–and become the Robber Queen herself. For only the Robber Queen’s legendary powers can save her life…and set her free.

---

Even though I can’t quite grasp the plot, it sounds like incredible world-building (pun intended). Also, the cover is so pretty, I love all the details and colors!

---

– AN UPCOMING RELEASE –

Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor

| Goodreads |

The thrilling sequel to the Nebula-nominated Binti.

It’s been a year since Binti and Okwu enrolled at Oomza University. A year since Binti was declared a hero for uniting two warring planets. A year since she left her family to pursue her dream.

And now she must return home to her people, with her friend Okwu by her side, to face her family and face her elders.

But Okwu will be the first of his race to set foot on Earth in over a hundred years, and the first ever to come in peace.

After generations of conflict can human and Meduse ever learn to truly live in harmony?

---

I featured Binti (the first part of this tale) in a previous Spotlight Thursday, and since today I went with the theme of women of color in space, I thought it was perfect to remind everyone that it has a sequel coming out on January 31st, 2017! The first novella introduced us to Binti, from the Himba people, who goes into space to attend Oomza University. Suddenly, the ship she’s traveling in is attacked by an alien race called the Meduse that’s at war with the university and she must do anything to survive.

---

What books with women of color in space have you read? I’d love your recommendations in the comments!