Episode 21 << Click to Listen

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Nnedi Okorafor, author of Zahrah the Windseeker and The Shadow Speaker, joins us to talk about Africa as it’s represented in science fiction and fantasy.

Panel Topic: Africa in Fantasy and Science Fiction

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Introduction

0:00 Introduction by Tor.com

0:38 Dave and John introduce the show and guest

Interview: Nnedi Okorafor

03:58 Start of interview

04:13 Visiting Nigeria as a child

05:15 Early writing efforts and entrance into publishing

07:15 Nnedi’s literary influences

10:06 About attending Clarion Writers’ Workshop

13:44 Other influences: The Moomins, by Tove Jansson;Wizard of the Crow, by Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o

16:31 Nnedi’s first two novels: Zahrah the Windseeker and The Shadow Speaker

18:53 The Carl Brandon Parallax Award, given to the best speculative fiction by a writer of color

19:22 New novels coming out: Who Fears Death and Akata Witch; on writing YA vs. adult fiction

21:15 Regarding teaching at Chicago State

22:31 Nnedi’s early plans to be an entomologist and how it turns up in her writing

24:06 The state of science fiction’s treatment of Africa: who’s getting it right and how others get it wrong

26:45 The popularity of SF/F in Nigeria

28:16 Nollywood, the burgeoning film industry of Nigeria, and some of Nnedi’s favorite Nigerian films: Beautiful Soul and Stronger Than Pain directed by Tchidi Chikere; Warrior’s Heart

30:42 Coming soon from Nnedi: Akata Witch, Disney Fairies, and short fiction coming up in the Life on Mars anthology, and “The Go-Slow” in John’s Way of the Wizard anthology

33:29 End of interview

Dave and John talk about Africa as portrayed in SF/F

33:39 John talks about his upcoming Way of the Wizard anthology, which will include Nnedi’s story “The Go-Slow”

34:54 Alan Dean Foster’s treatment of Africa, and Octavia Butler’s Wild Seed

38:44 Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt” from The Illustrated Man

40:36 Mike Resnick’s Kirinyaga

42:48 Future Earths: Under African Skies edited by Mike Resnick and Gardner Dozois

44:30 She by H. Rider Haggard

46:47 District 9

52:08 Short film Pumzi

53:35 Lion’s Blood, Zulu Heart, and Great Sky Woman by Steven Barnes

55:28 Dave’s experience of interviewing a stranger for Orson Scott Card’s Literary Boot Camp, and discovering the Spirit Tree

57:34 Show wrap-up

Thanks for listening!

Show notes compiled by podtern Christie Yant. Friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.