Black History Month 2026 Reading List

Ok first of all, is it really 2026?  That . . . that doesn't seem right.  That seems weird.  I'll look into that and get back to you

But just in case my calendar is correct and it is indeed 2026, it's time for Black History Month in February.  As always, I like to put together a reading list.  This should be a good one

Before that, though, here are some books that I can recommend for anyone else who'd like to get in on some speculative fiction by Black and African authors.  There's a ton out there, here are some I've loved:

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**1920s-era sword and sorcery, in which a trio of Black American heroines fight against white, pointy-headed "Ku Klux" demons.  Yeah, exactly, it's great**


**A discussion of America's prison-industrialism complex and our near-fetishization of carceral solution to our society's problems, wrapped up in a blood-soaked adrenaline rush of a book**


 **A retelling of one of Lovecraft's stories, honoring Lovecraft while also showing how much better he could have been**

* * *

With that, here's what I'm hoping to read this month.  No idea if any of these will be good, but I'm pretty excited regardless.  Feel free to join in!

"The Splinter in the Sky" by Kemi Ashing-Giwa (2023)

Far-future space opera, set in the aftermath of a long and bloody war.  Our main character is out for revenge.  But is also a tea seller, hooray, fun!

"You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty" by Akwaeke Emezi (2022)

I'm not saying I'm only reading this because of the great title.  It's supposed to be a wonderfully told queer romantic story about moving on after loss, by a very well-regarded author.  But yes, I'm a little bit reading this because of the great title

"Do You Dream of Terra Two?" by Temi Oh (2019)

An exploration novel, about a spaceship sent from Earth to colonize a new planet.  And of course, about what it's like on the spaceship as they head on their way . . . drama and excitement!

"Goliath" by Tochi Onyebuchi (2022)

To be perfectly frank, I'm readying this solely because I loved Onyebuchi's debut novel, "Riot Baby", so much.  Will his second be as good?  Looking forward to finding out

"Black No More" by George S. Schuyler (1931)

I'm looking forward to this.  An OG speculative fiction work, about a black man in Harlem who undergoes a treatment to become white.  Satirical and whimsical, should be fun

"No Gods, No Monsters" by Cadwell Tumbull (2023)

Urban fantasy, set in a version of our modern world where the myths and legends suddenly begin to appear.  Set in front of modern politics, but also, you know, werewolves and shenanigans and stuff!

"The Dead Cat Tail Assassins" by P. Djèlí Clark (novella; 2024)

By day, mild-mannered Dexter Gabriel is a mild-mannered history professor, who research specializes in comparative slavery and emancipation across the Atlantic Ocean.  But then he puts on his superhero costume and, as P. Djèlí Clark, puts out some of the best fantasy being written today.  I will read anything he wants to write

"Lost Ark Dreaming" by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (novella; 2024)

Afrofuturism following climate disaster, with heavy anti-capitalist vibes as the rich have managed to save themselves in towers above rising sea waters, and the rest of us, well . . . should be a fun read

"The Ancestors" by Brandon Massey, L.A. Banks, and Tananarive Due (novella collection; 2010)

A collection of three horror novellas by three of the very best in the game.  Honestly, the names alone were enough to get me on board

"New Worlds, Old Ways: Speculative Tales from the Caribbean" by Karen Lord (short fiction; collected 2016)

Karen Lord deserves to be way more well-known than she is.  She's a fantastic specfic author, and is bringing Caribbean literary traditions to the global stage.  Very excited for this collection

"Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance" by Zora Neal Hurston (short fiction; collected 2020)

Although this collection was published in 2020, it contains stories written by Hurston as she was just starting out as a struggling author in 1920s Harlem.  I can't wait

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Anyways, as I said above, reach out and let me know if you plan on joining me on any of these!  I'm looking forward to a great month


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