What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Stars #1-6 omnibus
Black Stars: A Galaxy of New Worlds
The sky is not the limit. From an alley in New York to an interstellar wormhole, the path to the future looks different for everyone. These cosmic short stories from some of today’s most influential Black authors reveal a universe of possibilities.
2043...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) by Nisi Shawl
African-descended USians are finally obtaining reparations - underwater. Take a deep breath and enjoy this politically sharp short story that dives into fantastic new territory. Plunge into the action of a visionary future by the award-winning author of Everfair, with narration by LeVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation).
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
By fate and fire, a being four millennia old is reborn in Mali in a short story of contemporary African life and ancient secrets by the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Binti trilogy.
The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
As a powerful matriarchy reshapes the world, two men - old friends - confront the past and future in a bracing speculative short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Americanah.
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
Accidents happen in the strange realms of the African Union system. One of them sends two humans to the far side of a star gate in a thrilling short story of hope, survival, and new dimensions.
Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
A past struggle for racial equity could achieve a profound future victory in this audacious short story about technology, hoodoo, and hope by a Nebula Award-winning author.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
Otherworldly interference in real-world New York City? Or delusions? For the answer, follow two loving strangers in an astonishing short story of faith and hope by a World Fantasy Award winner.
2043...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) by Nisi Shawl
African-descended USians are finally obtaining reparations - underwater. Take a deep breath and enjoy this politically sharp short story that dives into fantastic new territory. Plunge into the action of a visionary future by the award-winning author of Everfair, with narration by LeVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation).
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
By fate and fire, a being four millennia old is reborn in Mali in a short story of contemporary African life and ancient secrets by the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Binti trilogy.
The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
As a powerful matriarchy reshapes the world, two men - old friends - confront the past and future in a bracing speculative short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Americanah.
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
Accidents happen in the strange realms of the African Union system. One of them sends two humans to the far side of a star gate in a thrilling short story of hope, survival, and new dimensions.
Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
A past struggle for racial equity could achieve a profound future victory in this audacious short story about technology, hoodoo, and hope by a Nebula Award-winning author.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
Otherworldly interference in real-world New York City? Or delusions? For the answer, follow two loving strangers in an astonishing short story of faith and hope by a World Fantasy Award winner.
Audible Audio
First published August 31, 2021
8 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Nisi Shawl
134 books584 followersNisi Shawl is a founder of the diversity-in-speculative-fiction nonprofit the Carl Brandon Society and serves on the Board of Directors of the Clarion West Writers’ Workshop. Their story collection Filter House was a winner of the 2009 Tiptree/Otherwise Award, and their debut novel, Everfair, was a 2016 Nebula finalist. Shawl edited Bloodchildren: Stories by the Octavia E. Butler Scholars (2013). They coedited Strange Matings: Science Fiction, Feminism, African American Voices, and Octavia E. Butler (2013).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 13, 2022
13/11/2022
2022 reads book 40
Short story collection: didn't want to mark these all as separate books since they are so short
The visit: 3 stars, where we're in a world where the "typical" gender roles are reversed. Interesting read, and I see what the author tried to do, but it felt a little flat for me.
The black pages: 4.5 stars, would love to have a full length novel of this! Such an amazing premise.
2043... a Merman I Should Turn to Be: 2 stars, I'm not a big fan of anything underwater so figured this one would be my least favourite of the six stories
These Alien Skies 4.5 stars. Adored this one, wished there was a full length novel for this one as well.
Clap Back 4 stars. Had to read this one twice because it felt a little confusing the first time around! I really liked this one
We Travel the Spaceways 5 stars! Loved loved loved this one, will for sure reread this one in the future
2022 reads book 40
Short story collection: didn't want to mark these all as separate books since they are so short
The visit: 3 stars, where we're in a world where the "typical" gender roles are reversed. Interesting read, and I see what the author tried to do, but it felt a little flat for me.
The black pages: 4.5 stars, would love to have a full length novel of this! Such an amazing premise.
2043... a Merman I Should Turn to Be: 2 stars, I'm not a big fan of anything underwater so figured this one would be my least favourite of the six stories
These Alien Skies 4.5 stars. Adored this one, wished there was a full length novel for this one as well.
Clap Back 4 stars. Had to read this one twice because it felt a little confusing the first time around! I really liked this one
We Travel the Spaceways 5 stars! Loved loved loved this one, will for sure reread this one in the future
October 3, 2024
Black stars was interesting…
Both in a good and a bad way.
While the concepts never failed to be intriguing and a lot of important topics were discussed above all racism and sexism, the execution just didn’t do it for me!!!
Which is a bummer really because everything started so well with The visit. The plot focused on reversed gender roles and was overall fascinating and got you thinking. I only wished it was longer and with more substance to it.
—> 4 stars
Next up was The black pages with once again a great concept combining terrorism with magic. But here the problems began… Mostly nothing was explained properly, there was too little time and I was left utterly confused.
—> 3 stars
However, we hit rock bottom with 2043… (a merman I should turn to be). The main topic of this one was the segregation of African Americans into the sea by turning them into merpeople which is an interesting idea, I’ll give it that. But the rest was a mess! Everything was confusing and the lacking execution was one of the worst I’ve ever read.
—> 1 star
From there we were on an upward projector with These Alien skies. Finally, one that was actually suited for a short story! The concept was, as always in this anthology, fascinating, but here the execution was done greatly as well and I especially enjoyed the plot twist. Also the way grief was handled was superb.
—> 3,5 stars
Clap back on the other hand was perfectly fine. The story focused on injustice and racism that sadly stand the test of time until someone decides to finally clap back.
—> 2,5 stars
The anthology wraps up with We travel the spaceways. The concept was once again interesting with trans representation and a lot of talk about homelessness. But as so often, nothing was explained and the story got rather weird.
—> 2 stars
Overall this anthology was ok with some hits and some misses.
—> 3 stars
PS: I’m finally done with the reviews of 2022!!!
Can you believe it?!
Both in a good and a bad way.
While the concepts never failed to be intriguing and a lot of important topics were discussed above all racism and sexism, the execution just didn’t do it for me!!!
Which is a bummer really because everything started so well with The visit. The plot focused on reversed gender roles and was overall fascinating and got you thinking. I only wished it was longer and with more substance to it.
—> 4 stars
Next up was The black pages with once again a great concept combining terrorism with magic. But here the problems began… Mostly nothing was explained properly, there was too little time and I was left utterly confused.
—> 3 stars
However, we hit rock bottom with 2043… (a merman I should turn to be). The main topic of this one was the segregation of African Americans into the sea by turning them into merpeople which is an interesting idea, I’ll give it that. But the rest was a mess! Everything was confusing and the lacking execution was one of the worst I’ve ever read.
—> 1 star
From there we were on an upward projector with These Alien skies. Finally, one that was actually suited for a short story! The concept was, as always in this anthology, fascinating, but here the execution was done greatly as well and I especially enjoyed the plot twist. Also the way grief was handled was superb.
—> 3,5 stars
Clap back on the other hand was perfectly fine. The story focused on injustice and racism that sadly stand the test of time until someone decides to finally clap back.
—> 2,5 stars
The anthology wraps up with We travel the spaceways. The concept was once again interesting with trans representation and a lot of talk about homelessness. But as so often, nothing was explained and the story got rather weird.
—> 2 stars
Overall this anthology was ok with some hits and some misses.
—> 3 stars
PS: I’m finally done with the reviews of 2022!!!
Can you believe it?!
October 11, 2023
The Visit - Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.
The Black Pages - I wasn’t expecting this to have so many personal connections, but when I read the opening quote from Fahrenheit 451 I had my first inkling. A fascinating story about family, libraries, books, knowledge and magical creatures. Absolutely brilliant.
2043 … (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) - Fascinating, but not quite as good as the first ones I’ve read from this “series” of stories. Certainly interesting and kept my attention.
These Alien Skies - In many ways this feels like a very classic, old-school sci-fi story. Maybe something by Asimov, Heinlein or Clarke. But in other ways, this is completely unlike anything from Asimov, Heinlein or Clarke. And that’s a good thing. This is a wonderful story, very enjoyable and sets up what would be a great premise for a novel or longer work. Damn good world-building. Lots of potential here.
Clap Back - This one starts off a little weak (probably the only reason I’m giving it 4-stars), you think it’s going in one rather predictable direction, then it zigs into something else. But by the time you get to the end, it has zagged into something potentially nightmarish … or potentially creating a utopia on Earth for humans who yearn for the impossible. Absolutely brilliant.
We Travel the Spaceways - I wished I’d liked this more. Unfortunately, it wasn’t either weird enough, or grounded enough. And this middle ground between the light and the shadow, this twilight zone, just didn’t quite work for me in the context of this particular narrative. It was beautifully written, that is very true, but the protagonist just didn’t grab ahold of me. Entertaining, yes, but just not remarkable in any way that would make me want to recommend it.
The Black Pages - I wasn’t expecting this to have so many personal connections, but when I read the opening quote from Fahrenheit 451 I had my first inkling. A fascinating story about family, libraries, books, knowledge and magical creatures. Absolutely brilliant.
2043 … (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) - Fascinating, but not quite as good as the first ones I’ve read from this “series” of stories. Certainly interesting and kept my attention.
These Alien Skies - In many ways this feels like a very classic, old-school sci-fi story. Maybe something by Asimov, Heinlein or Clarke. But in other ways, this is completely unlike anything from Asimov, Heinlein or Clarke. And that’s a good thing. This is a wonderful story, very enjoyable and sets up what would be a great premise for a novel or longer work. Damn good world-building. Lots of potential here.
Clap Back - This one starts off a little weak (probably the only reason I’m giving it 4-stars), you think it’s going in one rather predictable direction, then it zigs into something else. But by the time you get to the end, it has zagged into something potentially nightmarish … or potentially creating a utopia on Earth for humans who yearn for the impossible. Absolutely brilliant.
We Travel the Spaceways - I wished I’d liked this more. Unfortunately, it wasn’t either weird enough, or grounded enough. And this middle ground between the light and the shadow, this twilight zone, just didn’t quite work for me in the context of this particular narrative. It was beautifully written, that is very true, but the protagonist just didn’t grab ahold of me. Entertaining, yes, but just not remarkable in any way that would make me want to recommend it.
December 15, 2022
I really enjoyed all of these short stories! Looking forward to checking out other works by the authors!
February 2, 2025
"These alien skies" by CT Rwizi was spectacular. Nalo's was also great but I've read it in another collection. The others were just ok.
March 26, 2022
I am not one that reads sy-fy or fantasy books on a regular basis, but I read all of the shorts in the Black Stars collection. In The Visit, two male friends (one married with kids, one single) from college visit 10 years later. The interesting part of the story is they live in a matriarchal society where men do not have legal control over their bodies. The Black Pages was excellent and left me wanting more. I want so much more information about Faro, Issaka, Issaka's mother, the black book, and what happens next! Why did it have to end so soon? 2043… is a future where people of color have chosen to be "mer" (mermen and mermaids). Nano technology converts lung capacity to live in the sea. These Alien Skies could be a novel that I would read. Two people leave Earth? To head for another planet where previously an Architect has gone to prepare. The two go to look, verify, and report. What they find is mind boggling for this person. Clap Back is weird and yet interesting. Can a designer use a program to bring knick-knacks to "life"? This is futuristic Twilight Zone! We Travel the Spaceways is also weird and interesting. A homeless and apparently schizophrenic man that talks to empty cans and coke bottles may not be what he seems.
October 20, 2022
*3.5 stars
Mixed bag for me, I found it difficult to engage on the whole and even DNF'd two of the stories (perhaps too 'literary' for my tastes?). My favourite was These Alien Skies.
However, I blame myself and my tastes rather than the stories themselves.
Mixed bag for me, I found it difficult to engage on the whole and even DNF'd two of the stories (perhaps too 'literary' for my tastes?). My favourite was These Alien Skies.
However, I blame myself and my tastes rather than the stories themselves.
October 11, 2023
Am outstanding collection from brilliant writers. Every piece in this collection is a gem.
May 23, 2025
This was a fun collection of shorts! My favorites were These Alien Skies and The Visit.
April 22, 2023
I liked some of the stories in this collection. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Halo Hopkinson are two of my favorite Black speculative fiction writers and I think they should get lots more crossover attention. I like Nnedi Okorafor's disturbing addition to this collection, too. The narrators were all exceptional.
May 21, 2022
2043...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) by Nisi Shawl
2 stars. African Americans are paid reparations, but the 'land' they're given is in the sea, so they have to get biologic modifications to live there. The story is confusing and poorly executed, and there's better examples of African mermaid stories to read (The Deep by Rivers Soloman and Flowers For the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn for example)
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
4 stars. Probably my second favorite story in the collection, a young mans visit to his family coincides with an al qaeda attack and the burning of a library, during which a djinn is freed and brings the protagonist a book of black pages. A problem I have with many good short stories is that so often feel like a pilot episode to a show that never got aired. so much potential and set up for up for story that never feels finished. A good story that would be great with more room to be explored in.
The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
1 star. Imagine a short story about misogyny and gender essenstialism to a cartoonish extent. a caricature of sexism to make it as accessibly understandable as sexism to someone who thinks it doesn't exist. Then switch it so men fill the stereotypical feminine gender role and visa versa. With one to one comparisons that at times are laughable (pants that show off your bulge being considered 'slutty' as a stand in for low cut shirts) and at times borderline offensive (male masturabation being illegal as a stand in for reproductive rights.)
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
5 stars. A great concept with the strongest execution. Felt like a complete story and a fully developed setting.
Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
4 stars. A black scientist and artist developes nanobots that find and animate caricature black art (think Sambo and Aunt Jemima) to remove from the market. A white European scientist turned fashion designer releases a line of appropriative clothing with nanobots in it that transmits a story to the wearer. The ideas and execution of them in the story were fantastic, I just wanted more of it.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
3 stars. A homeless man hears voices in the garbage he collects, the voices know and tell him things that he would have no way of knowing on his own, and they have him on a mission. He meets and falls for a homeless trans women and wonders if she can join in on this mission. This is another one that feels like a pilot episode. It ends right when it feels like the story is really picking up.
2 stars. African Americans are paid reparations, but the 'land' they're given is in the sea, so they have to get biologic modifications to live there. The story is confusing and poorly executed, and there's better examples of African mermaid stories to read (The Deep by Rivers Soloman and Flowers For the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn for example)
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
4 stars. Probably my second favorite story in the collection, a young mans visit to his family coincides with an al qaeda attack and the burning of a library, during which a djinn is freed and brings the protagonist a book of black pages. A problem I have with many good short stories is that so often feel like a pilot episode to a show that never got aired. so much potential and set up for up for story that never feels finished. A good story that would be great with more room to be explored in.
The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
1 star. Imagine a short story about misogyny and gender essenstialism to a cartoonish extent. a caricature of sexism to make it as accessibly understandable as sexism to someone who thinks it doesn't exist. Then switch it so men fill the stereotypical feminine gender role and visa versa. With one to one comparisons that at times are laughable (pants that show off your bulge being considered 'slutty' as a stand in for low cut shirts) and at times borderline offensive (male masturabation being illegal as a stand in for reproductive rights.)
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
5 stars. A great concept with the strongest execution. Felt like a complete story and a fully developed setting.
Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
4 stars. A black scientist and artist developes nanobots that find and animate caricature black art (think Sambo and Aunt Jemima) to remove from the market. A white European scientist turned fashion designer releases a line of appropriative clothing with nanobots in it that transmits a story to the wearer. The ideas and execution of them in the story were fantastic, I just wanted more of it.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
3 stars. A homeless man hears voices in the garbage he collects, the voices know and tell him things that he would have no way of knowing on his own, and they have him on a mission. He meets and falls for a homeless trans women and wonders if she can join in on this mission. This is another one that feels like a pilot episode. It ends right when it feels like the story is really picking up.
February 21, 2023
I was trying to make the most of a few months free of Audible and this was well worth my time! Three authors I’ve read before – one I’ve heard of but never read – and two totally new to me. Whee!
Individual Reviews here:
Individual Reviews here:
July 20, 2022
*** 2043...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) by Nisi Shawl
Genetic modifications to live under water, combined with a capitalist dream. The story was a little bit difficult to follow at times, but narration by LeVar Burton was excellent.
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
**** Ancient Jinn combat extremist book burning. I would have liked to see this one developed into a longer story, the ending left us hanging with too many questions. But it was still good.
The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
*** Gender swapping for inequality. This one makes me wonder what historical matriarchies were like.
***** These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
Techno biology, space travel, and our first alien encounter. This one had a surprise twist, and it's not the aliens. I felt that this story had the most emotional depth and I would love to listen again.
***** Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
Nanotech meets voodoo to fuel the question of what it means to be black. This author is the reason I read this book and she did not disappoint.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
***** How do you combine a homeless man who hears voices, a prostitutes, and a series of church burnings, to the dream of escaping to another world? You'll have to read it for the answer, but it was good enough to make me look up this author for more.
Genetic modifications to live under water, combined with a capitalist dream. The story was a little bit difficult to follow at times, but narration by LeVar Burton was excellent.
The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor
**** Ancient Jinn combat extremist book burning. I would have liked to see this one developed into a longer story, the ending left us hanging with too many questions. But it was still good.
The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
*** Gender swapping for inequality. This one makes me wonder what historical matriarchies were like.
***** These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
Techno biology, space travel, and our first alien encounter. This one had a surprise twist, and it's not the aliens. I felt that this story had the most emotional depth and I would love to listen again.
***** Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
Nanotech meets voodoo to fuel the question of what it means to be black. This author is the reason I read this book and she did not disappoint.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle
***** How do you combine a homeless man who hears voices, a prostitutes, and a series of church burnings, to the dream of escaping to another world? You'll have to read it for the answer, but it was good enough to make me look up this author for more.
August 23, 2022
Black Stars Collection, my reading thoughts:
The Visit - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- [ ] What if gender roles were reversed? An interesting look into if men were the ‘trophy wives’ in a world built for women. So short but perfectly paced.
The Black Pages - Nnedi Okorafor
- [ ] A story about the importance of history, and holing on to your cultures history against those who wish to destroy it. Fascinating but took me a while to understand.
2043 - Nisi Shawl
- [ ] Not really sure what was happening in this one - found it confusing but could tell it was an allegory.
These Alien Skies - C. T. Rwizi
- [ ] A combination of ideas which, for me, echoed ideas found in Black Mirror and Avatar. An exploration of grief, race and human progress.
Clap Back - Nalo Hopkinson
- [ ] Perhaps a little too futuristic/science heavy for me in areas to understand it fully. Felt it explored the themes of “Blackness” and the appropriation of image/ Culture.
We Travel The Spaceways - Victor Lavalle
- [ ] This one lost me at the end, I thought it was exploring homelessness and did actually wonder where the science fiction elements were but then it hit and I although I think I understand the ending I also don’t think I did.
The Visit - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- [ ] What if gender roles were reversed? An interesting look into if men were the ‘trophy wives’ in a world built for women. So short but perfectly paced.
The Black Pages - Nnedi Okorafor
- [ ] A story about the importance of history, and holing on to your cultures history against those who wish to destroy it. Fascinating but took me a while to understand.
2043 - Nisi Shawl
- [ ] Not really sure what was happening in this one - found it confusing but could tell it was an allegory.
These Alien Skies - C. T. Rwizi
- [ ] A combination of ideas which, for me, echoed ideas found in Black Mirror and Avatar. An exploration of grief, race and human progress.
Clap Back - Nalo Hopkinson
- [ ] Perhaps a little too futuristic/science heavy for me in areas to understand it fully. Felt it explored the themes of “Blackness” and the appropriation of image/ Culture.
We Travel The Spaceways - Victor Lavalle
- [ ] This one lost me at the end, I thought it was exploring homelessness and did actually wonder where the science fiction elements were but then it hit and I although I think I understand the ending I also don’t think I did.
Read
May 21, 2025
August 2, 2024
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ These Alien Skies
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ Clap Back
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Black Pages
⭐⭐⭐ 2043
⭐⭐⭐ We Travel These Spaceways
⭐⭐ The Visit
An interesting spec fic short story collection. These Alien Skies was far and away my favorite of the group; a lot of heart in this story. Black Pages, Clap Back, and 2043 were all also very good, with I think Clap Back being slightly the best of the three. I think 2043 could've used a bit more fleshing out of the ultimate motives of our protagonists. I often enjoy Victor LaValle and We Travel These Spaceways wasn't bad but I don't think it hit quite as well. It didn't surprise me that I enjoyed stories from Nalo Hopkinson, Victor LaValle and Nnedi Okorafor - what a power lineup. Excited to now get to explore more from CT Rwizi. I didn't really enjoy The Visit, it felt less like interesting spec fic and more like a very obvious reversal of gender roles satire. It wasn't bad in that sense but it felt less interesting than the rest of the stories and also out of place in this anthology.
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ Clap Back
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Black Pages
⭐⭐⭐ 2043
⭐⭐⭐ We Travel These Spaceways
⭐⭐ The Visit
An interesting spec fic short story collection. These Alien Skies was far and away my favorite of the group; a lot of heart in this story. Black Pages, Clap Back, and 2043 were all also very good, with I think Clap Back being slightly the best of the three. I think 2043 could've used a bit more fleshing out of the ultimate motives of our protagonists. I often enjoy Victor LaValle and We Travel These Spaceways wasn't bad but I don't think it hit quite as well. It didn't surprise me that I enjoyed stories from Nalo Hopkinson, Victor LaValle and Nnedi Okorafor - what a power lineup. Excited to now get to explore more from CT Rwizi. I didn't really enjoy The Visit, it felt less like interesting spec fic and more like a very obvious reversal of gender roles satire. It wasn't bad in that sense but it felt less interesting than the rest of the stories and also out of place in this anthology.
November 17, 2022
Each of these stories is written by an author who knows how to turn a good phrase. Exploring different aspects of Afrofuturism. The merman story was fine but only fine - the scifi elements were original but the plot was a little dull. The Black Pages was interesting but too much was left completely unresolved. The Visit fell into the common short story trap of not having much story (although Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's prose is great). These Alien Skies - I bounced off the audiobook narrator so found it hard to focus on the story. Clap Back presented an interesting idea but only right at the end of the story so didn't develop it. I really liked the protagonist's voice in We Travel the Spaceways.
April 24, 2023
3.5 rounded to 4 - a good collection of stories from a range of Black authors, each one entirely unique and brilliantly read by different narrators.
Some were just plain confusing, like 2043 and Clap Back, and I felt like I had no idea what was going on, while The Visit and The Visit were my favourites. In saying that, it could just be that I was reading certain stories in dribs and drabs with long breaks in between listens, which could have caused some problems in enjoyment/comprehension.
Overall though, a good, interesting series of stories that are definitely worth listening to.
TW for racism, death, arson, mental health issues, grief, segregation, sexism, homelessness, death by gunfire, murder, death of parents.
Some were just plain confusing, like 2043 and Clap Back, and I felt like I had no idea what was going on, while The Visit and The Visit were my favourites. In saying that, it could just be that I was reading certain stories in dribs and drabs with long breaks in between listens, which could have caused some problems in enjoyment/comprehension.
Overall though, a good, interesting series of stories that are definitely worth listening to.
TW for racism, death, arson, mental health issues, grief, segregation, sexism, homelessness, death by gunfire, murder, death of parents.
February 19, 2024
Overall I’d probs give this collection 3.5 but I’ll put my individual ratings below!
The Visit - 3.5, good story, great concept of all the gender roles being switched around but not groundbreaking
The Black Pages - 3.75, liked the main character a lot, big whiplash from the first one because this one was a lot darker and a lot more painful
A Merman I Should Turn To Be - the reviews were so bad and the first few pages so confusing that I didn’t finish it :/
These Alien Skies - 4.25!!!!!! EXCELLENT!!
Clap Back - 4!!!!!!! Also so gooood I loved the writing and the characters.
We Travel the Spaceways - 3.5, could’ve done with a lot more context I think
The Visit - 3.5, good story, great concept of all the gender roles being switched around but not groundbreaking
The Black Pages - 3.75, liked the main character a lot, big whiplash from the first one because this one was a lot darker and a lot more painful
A Merman I Should Turn To Be - the reviews were so bad and the first few pages so confusing that I didn’t finish it :/
These Alien Skies - 4.25!!!!!! EXCELLENT!!
Clap Back - 4!!!!!!! Also so gooood I loved the writing and the characters.
We Travel the Spaceways - 3.5, could’ve done with a lot more context I think
February 4, 2023
*3.5*
2043 - 3*
By: Nisa Shawl
Narrated: Levar Burton
The Black Pages - 5*
By: Nnedi Okorafor
Narrated: Naomi Ackie
The Visit - 3*
By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Narrated: Nyambi Nyambi
These Alien Skies - 4*
By: C. T. Rwizi
Narrated: Indya Moore
Clap Back - 3*
By: Nalo Hopkinson
Narrated: Adenrele Ojo
We Travel the Spaceways - 4*
By: Victor LaValle
Narrated: Brian Tyree Henry
Really good collection of stories. I thought all the narrators did a great job and they seemed to be a good fit for the story they were narrating.
2043 - 3*
By: Nisa Shawl
Narrated: Levar Burton
The Black Pages - 5*
By: Nnedi Okorafor
Narrated: Naomi Ackie
The Visit - 3*
By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Narrated: Nyambi Nyambi
These Alien Skies - 4*
By: C. T. Rwizi
Narrated: Indya Moore
Clap Back - 3*
By: Nalo Hopkinson
Narrated: Adenrele Ojo
We Travel the Spaceways - 4*
By: Victor LaValle
Narrated: Brian Tyree Henry
Really good collection of stories. I thought all the narrators did a great job and they seemed to be a good fit for the story they were narrating.
April 9, 2023
A hit-and-miss collection that nonetheless has some great stuff in even the less interesting stories. "The Visit" left me rather cold; the former is beautifully written but conceptually rather one-note, and I can't remember a single thing that happened in "These Alien Skies". "The Black Pages" and "2043..." were more interesting to me, though aside from some neat imagery didn't feel particularly special. The latter two stories, "Clap Back" and "We Travel The Spaceways", were much more gripping. I wanted them to be longer, and go a little harder.
April 21, 2024
Black Stars is a collection of 6 short stories but well-known Black sci-fi authors. I read the book over a long period of time and ended up reading most of the twice. I especially liked these:
2043: A Merman I Shall Be - Nisi Shawl, narrated by the amazing LeVar Burton. Excellent story, and one of the most creative concepts in the book.
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi 4* with a great twist near the end.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle. 5* - A homeless man talks to the empty cans he carries in a trashbag. This may be my favorite.
2043: A Merman I Shall Be - Nisi Shawl, narrated by the amazing LeVar Burton. Excellent story, and one of the most creative concepts in the book.
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi 4* with a great twist near the end.
We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle. 5* - A homeless man talks to the empty cans he carries in a trashbag. This may be my favorite.
March 5, 2023
Black Stars is a collection of short stories that are anywhere from an hour and a half to 45 minutes. I wish some of the stories were longer, as they intrigued me, and I found myself waiting to read more.
We Travel to Spaceways, surprisingly, was my favorite. The story had an exciting concept, but man, I wanted more from the story.
We Travel to Spaceways, surprisingly, was my favorite. The story had an exciting concept, but man, I wanted more from the story.
August 28, 2025
The Visit - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - 3
The Black Pages - Nnedi Okorafor - 1
2043... a Merman I Should Turn to Be - Nisi Shawl - 1
These Alien Skies - C. T. Rwizi - 3
Clap Back - Nalo Hopkinson - 2
We Travel the Spaceways - Victor LaValle - 2
The Black Pages - Nnedi Okorafor - 1
2043... a Merman I Should Turn to Be - Nisi Shawl - 1
These Alien Skies - C. T. Rwizi - 3
Clap Back - Nalo Hopkinson - 2
We Travel the Spaceways - Victor LaValle - 2
May 16, 2022
Read all the shorts individually.
May 28, 2022
A good collection. Clever concepts, mostly well executed. 3.5*
June 16, 2022
There were some I liked more than others, but it was a strong set of stories on the whole. Well performed, too.
July 10, 2022
Cawpile: 4* 7.86
August 7, 2022
It was weird having LaVar Burton read me a story, but I was a major Reading Rainbow kid. Kept waiting for the song 🙃
September 16, 2022
The Visit - 3 stars
The Black Pages - 3 stars
2043 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) - 2 stars
These Alien Skies - 4 stars
Clap Back - 1.5 stars
We Travel the Spaceways - 3.5 stars
The Black Pages - 3 stars
2043 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) - 2 stars
These Alien Skies - 4 stars
Clap Back - 1.5 stars
We Travel the Spaceways - 3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews