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Afromyth: A Fantasy Collection
A varied collection of distinct voices.
Afrocentric Books presents twelve tales that will transport you from Regency England to Post-Apocalyptic Africa. From the lofty branches of a mythical tree to the depths of the underworld, Afromyth explores fantastical worlds through the eyes of characters of indigenous African descent.
In Kenya, a man transforms into a lion, while in the antebellum United States, women transform into birds. Spring forward to the present and find a leprechaun in Alabama. And somewhere, in another world, a woman communes with a goddess.
Each story is unique.Each story is a step away from mainstream Speculative Fiction. Journey into an adventure of epic proportions, as authors of various cultural backgrounds unite under an Afrocentric theme. This collection promises something for everyone.
Afrocentric Books presents twelve tales that will transport you from Regency England to Post-Apocalyptic Africa. From the lofty branches of a mythical tree to the depths of the underworld, Afromyth explores fantastical worlds through the eyes of characters of indigenous African descent.
In Kenya, a man transforms into a lion, while in the antebellum United States, women transform into birds. Spring forward to the present and find a leprechaun in Alabama. And somewhere, in another world, a woman communes with a goddess.
Each story is unique.Each story is a step away from mainstream Speculative Fiction. Journey into an adventure of epic proportions, as authors of various cultural backgrounds unite under an Afrocentric theme. This collection promises something for everyone.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2017
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102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2018
Great book. I enjoy short stories and read a lot of fantasy, sci-fi and horror collections. While this one is in the same vein, it has a twist also. All of the stories revolve around something African in nature. Meaning either the main character, or the setting, or the myths involved, or something. It was a refreshing read, away from the Eurocentric stories that make up most of the things that I read.
Especially good were Descent, and the Eyes of the Goddess. Although all the stories in the collection were well worth reading, these two stood out as the best of the best.
If you like short stories, and are a fan of fantasy and/or mythology, check this one out. You won't be sorry that you did.
Especially good were Descent, and the Eyes of the Goddess. Although all the stories in the collection were well worth reading, these two stood out as the best of the best.
If you like short stories, and are a fan of fantasy and/or mythology, check this one out. You won't be sorry that you did.
July 16, 2020
A good collection of short stories with varying writing styles. These stories are about African myths in some part and/or embellishing it or offering some fictional context.
February 17, 2018
Afromyth is a unique collection of shorts that take ancient African myths and transport their narratives, tropes, and archetypes to places imagined and reimagined. In Lela E. Buis’ Death in Nairobi we get a detective story in present day Kenya where the occult and post-colonial Western arrogance clash from the Serengeti bush to the fetid slums of Nairobi. The sleuth is a Black Seminole with spirit talking capabilities, but the “lion-man cult” takes this mystic on a safari behind the veil and beyond the mythic landscape of her native Florida. Buis’ imagery is fresh and her words punch like boxer’s jabs. You might not be surprised by the who of this who done it, but what happens to the who will wow you.
Joseph Campbell said that every culture has a hero quest story. In Fishing Lake Tanganyika by Clive Tern our hero is Dzonzi Nbelou, a man who works at a fishery and takes good care of his family and even his extended family who live in a distant impoverished village in Zambia. He is content with his life until he loses his job at the fishery. Lake Tanganyika has been overfished and eventually the fishery closes down; this marks the beginning of Dzonzi’s spiritual and existential quest. In addition to the survival of his family, this short story presents a compelling competition to define Dzonzi’s quest. His grandmother in Zambia has her ideas and his wife has hers; however, this is a journey only Dzonzi can define and travel. On the material level, this heroes’ path involves becoming an actual fisherman as opposed to a factory worker who processes fish caught by someone else. My thirst to discover the spiritual aspects of his trip is what propels my interest in Dzonzi’s quest.
This collection seems to have tapped into portals where the external, internal, and unworldly intersect. As a result, Afromyth presents a survey of unchartered landscapes through the lenses of ancient myths. This is a very eclectic collection.
Joseph Campbell said that every culture has a hero quest story. In Fishing Lake Tanganyika by Clive Tern our hero is Dzonzi Nbelou, a man who works at a fishery and takes good care of his family and even his extended family who live in a distant impoverished village in Zambia. He is content with his life until he loses his job at the fishery. Lake Tanganyika has been overfished and eventually the fishery closes down; this marks the beginning of Dzonzi’s spiritual and existential quest. In addition to the survival of his family, this short story presents a compelling competition to define Dzonzi’s quest. His grandmother in Zambia has her ideas and his wife has hers; however, this is a journey only Dzonzi can define and travel. On the material level, this heroes’ path involves becoming an actual fisherman as opposed to a factory worker who processes fish caught by someone else. My thirst to discover the spiritual aspects of his trip is what propels my interest in Dzonzi’s quest.
This collection seems to have tapped into portals where the external, internal, and unworldly intersect. As a result, Afromyth presents a survey of unchartered landscapes through the lenses of ancient myths. This is a very eclectic collection.
June 24, 2018
Anthologies are still not my thing, but I'm still trying, and I figured this one would be worth the effort as not only is it from a fellow micro press, but one of the stories is written by someone I know online. I ended up liking it fairly well. (Which really is about as highly as I've ever praised an anthology.)
All of the stories had something that I liked about them -- there wasn't any dead weight here. There were, of course, some standouts. My favorite is probably "Death in Nairobi," a detective story with a mystical twist, but I also really liked "The Eyes of the Goddess," which often felt like a folktale, "The Black Birds of White Oaks," which mixes Greek myth with post-Civil War reckoning, and even "Fishing Lake Tanganyika," which is a neat little horror story.
Happy my local library picked this up.
All of the stories had something that I liked about them -- there wasn't any dead weight here. There were, of course, some standouts. My favorite is probably "Death in Nairobi," a detective story with a mystical twist, but I also really liked "The Eyes of the Goddess," which often felt like a folktale, "The Black Birds of White Oaks," which mixes Greek myth with post-Civil War reckoning, and even "Fishing Lake Tanganyika," which is a neat little horror story.
Happy my local library picked this up.
June 5, 2022
Afromyth is a collection of fantasy stories set in and inspired by the mythology of the continent of Africa (there's a second volume I will also be reviewing shortly).
I really enjoyed this collection. The short stories vary enormously in subgenre and in theme (and honestly, a little bit in quality as well), but I found them consistently interesting. I'm a bit of a mythology buff, but this collection still introduced me to a number of myths with which I was not previously familiar. The standout story in the collection for me was "The Eye of the Goddess," which is the one that read most like mythology--otherwise, a lot of stories felt a little incomplete, given the short space they had.
Overall, though, this is a great collection, and a wonderful introduction to an under-recognized mythological tradition.
I really enjoyed this collection. The short stories vary enormously in subgenre and in theme (and honestly, a little bit in quality as well), but I found them consistently interesting. I'm a bit of a mythology buff, but this collection still introduced me to a number of myths with which I was not previously familiar. The standout story in the collection for me was "The Eye of the Goddess," which is the one that read most like mythology--otherwise, a lot of stories felt a little incomplete, given the short space they had.
Overall, though, this is a great collection, and a wonderful introduction to an under-recognized mythological tradition.
March 23, 2018
I feel like I always rate anthologies as a 3 because they are by their nature a mixed bag, but overall a very worthwhile read.
The stand out for me is definitely A Drop of Comfort, a Slice of Heart's Desire, if AfroCthulhuEsque isn't already a genre it damn well should be.
The stand out for me is definitely A Drop of Comfort, a Slice of Heart's Desire, if AfroCthulhuEsque isn't already a genre it damn well should be.
September 7, 2019
There are a lot of good stories in this book. I only read a few for the review program.
Let’s start with Emuakpor’s story, Descent. Set somewhere in Earth, God of War Darfaru must find his stepbrother Nakadu and enter the realm of the dead. Why? Love of course! If your hot girlfriend who cooks really well was captured by a hell demon-like Darfaru’s was, so would you? But let’s say she also has twenty g’s in credit card debt? Yes, you should rescue her but you should wait until those debts disappear in seven years. Sorry honey but I need that money.
Anyway, this was the best story in the collection that I read. Four-point five out of 5 stars.
Let’s start with Emuakpor’s story, Descent. Set somewhere in Earth, God of War Darfaru must find his stepbrother Nakadu and enter the realm of the dead. Why? Love of course! If your hot girlfriend who cooks really well was captured by a hell demon-like Darfaru’s was, so would you? But let’s say she also has twenty g’s in credit card debt? Yes, you should rescue her but you should wait until those debts disappear in seven years. Sorry honey but I need that money.
Anyway, this was the best story in the collection that I read. Four-point five out of 5 stars.
November 8, 2020
There were two stories in this anthology that I liked. The one that I liked best was "The Black Birds of White Oaks" by Clive Tern in which a former slave tells an amazing origin story for her people. I also liked "The Eyes of the Goddess Herself" by Marija Smits in which a terrible injury to an artist is eventually overcome. I also read "Death in Nairobi" because I'd seen it praised in reviews, but I didn't care for it.
March 14, 2022
The stories are quite hit and miss - some are great and some just didn't really click for me.
September 13, 2018
My review would be totally biased, but here is one left by Darth Breather (verified purchase) on Amazon: "This is an unusually good collection of short stories, ranging from warm and cheery to near-horror. The pan-African flavor makes it very different from the usual European-style fantasies. Worthwhile and rewarding read"
NOTE: I have no idea who Darth Breather is, but I am super glad for his/her review! Thank you, Darth Breather! Thank you!
NOTE: I have no idea who Darth Breather is, but I am super glad for his/her review! Thank you, Darth Breather! Thank you!
January 16, 2023
Great anthology with a nice mix of different styles/sub-genres of fantasy. Just as the types of fantasy vary from story to story, so does how each author handles the Afrocentric themes. It is a enjoyable read, with each story offering something different, while still having the collection feel like an organic whole. You know it is a good anthology when it makes you excited to seek out other work by the authors involved - and this one does that.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews