Madame Askew and The Grand Arbiter

Originally posted to our Patreon

My dearest darlings,

My favourite way to celebrate almost everything is a good cup of tea and an excellent book. When I can combine that with elevating authors I admire, well, it’s practically perfect in every way!

As we are honouring Black History this month in the United States, I thought I would share some book recommendations in two parts. The first half of the list is some of my favourite  steampunk books by African American authors. The Second half of the list represents a variety of genres from poetry to romance, but these are all books that have forever claimed a piece of my heart.

Happy reading!
~Madame

Steampunk:

Black God’s Drum by P Djeli Clark — I am an acknowledged fan of Mr Clark’s writing, not only for his riveting stories but for his gorgeous writing. This novella is an absolute gem of a story, bursting with incredible characters. I adore the setting in the Louisiana swamps and the way he weaves history, myth, and sociology into such a riveting adventure. It’s also an excellent stand alone story and a great place to start with his work.

Everfair by Nisi Shawl — There are so many reasons why this novel is a critical darling. One of the most literary steampunk books I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy, Everfair combines an epic story, spanning many decades, with nuanced characters and gorgeous writing. Not a quick or easy read, but one meant to be savoured and revisited!

Dr. Marvellus Djinn’s Odd Scholars by B. Sharise Moore — This book was an absolute stand out for me the year we presented it for the Temporal Textual Talks book club. Filled with a brilliant blend of magic, history, myth, and clever characters, this Young Adult novel is not only entertaining but informative in the very best way. The characters are the sort that stick with me after putting the book down.

Pimp my Airship by Maurice Broaddus — Do not be misled by the title, this is not a comedy although there are a few comic moments. This novel is really a love letter to the Harlem Renaissance, poetry, jazz, the roots of rap, and early 20th century African American culture, all wrapped up in a dizzying adventure in a steampunk world that never was.

From Here to Timbuktu by Milton J Davis — Mr Davis understands the power of a rousing adventure tale and unleashes a fantastical story filled with fast paced action, vivid characters, and just the right amount of surprising connections. In the grand tradition of action stories, flare and audacity are at the center of this story.

A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark — Honestly, there is a reason that P. Djeli Clark is on this list twice! He really is a master storyteller and he brings all of his considerable skill to this incredible novel. One of my favourite steampunk novels of all time, A Master of Djinn enchanted me from the very first page. Not only are the characters nuanced and intriguing, but I felt at every moment as though they were simply waiting to step off the page. Equal parts mystery and adventure, with a little romance, this novel elevates our hero, Fatma el-Sha’arawi, into one of the great fictional detectives.

Soulstar by CL Polk — The final book in an absolutely brilliant trilogy, Soulstar is such a gift to the reader. I do highly recommend the rest of the Kingston Cycle before diving into this book, but this is the reward for reading two other fantastic novels. C.L. Polk has a talent for creating fascinating characters and a world that is so vivid and, frankly, enchanting. The conclusion to the series has many tense moments, high stakes conflicts for our protagonists, and some harrowing meditations on prejudice and oppression, and somehow, Polk ties all of these threads into a truly remarkable and satisfying story.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland — I instantly fell in love with the cover of this book, before I knew anything else about it, and then I cracked the cover. I could barely put this book down to drink my tea. A riveting plot propels the reader through the pages, but the characters, especially the two young women at the heart of the novel, really are what elevates this into a favourite book. Ireland is a deeply skilled writer, with beautiful prose and a thoughtful blending of history, culture, and the what-if of alternative history.

Treasure Trove:

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins — An exquisite and tender romance, Indigo is a marvelous example of how much this genre is underrated and even dismissed. Forget the stereotypes of “bodice rippers” published in the 1970s and 80s; Indigo is a gem of historical fiction and loving character centered stories. Beverly Jenkins is a masterclass storyteller and she brings all of her finesse and insight to crafting one of the great Romance novels

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison — One of the rare books that I have been carrying with me for decades, Invisible Man is indeed a classic American novel, often neglected by the sundry best of lists. Ellison created something that is profound statement on the pain of isolation and the human condition as well as being a resounding indictment of American racism. Never a simple or a light read, it is a novel that challenges assumptions.

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes edited by Arnold Rampersad — The Harlem Renaissance was a deeply fecund and inspiring period of art, and one of the great voices from that period was Langston Hughes. I would argue, happily, that he is also one of the great poets of the last century. Hughes used rhythm and imagery almost as his jazz musicians contemporaries used rhythm and improvisation. Decades after they were first published, his poems remain poignant and powerful. This is my favourite collection of his work. (As an aside, I recommend pairing some Langston Hughes poetry and some Cab Calloway as a follow up to Pimp My Airship.)

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky By Kwame Mbalia — This is an excellent Young Adult novel for fans of Percy Jackson and books that blend mythology with urban fantasy! With nail-biting action, an incredible cast of characters, and a fascinating mythic realm, it really is everything I want in a mythology inspired fantasy. Mr Mbalia has a gift for writing authentic young folks and crafting a story that never feels dismissive of the youthful experience whilst still creating a story that is a great read at all ages.

Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia Butler — I adore Octavia Butler’s writing and I am so delighted that her novels have been receiving more attention and widespread readership in recent years, but I really fell in love with her work through her short stories. She had an economy of writing that honed every detail and element in a story. Her work is both lyrical and gripping. A master of nuance and hard truths, she distilled her greatest writing strengths into these short story gems. There are stories here that have lingered with me for more than a decade.

Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance by Zora Neale Hurston — Often neglected or simply overlooked by the American literary world, Hurston is still one of the greats of 20th Century American literature. Another pivotal figure from the Harlem Renaissance, she is often thought of as a novelist only, but Hurston created such an interesting, varied body of work that to pigeonhole her as a novelist is to do a disservice. That said, she had a keen eye for human nature and powerful details, all of which she employed brilliantly in her short stories. This collection is an excellent starting point for her work.

Black Panther Tales of Wakanda edited by Jesse J. Holland — In truth, whilst I am a huge fan of the Black Panther movies and Chadwick Boseman’s brilliant performance, I have never read the comic books, but this is absolutely my cuppa! A stunning array of brilliant authors penned short stories for this collection, including my dear friend Linda Addison, so I may be a bit biased but I think there is something for everyone in this collection!

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis — Whilst this might appear to be a standard historical romance from the sunny, frothy cover, Marquis has actually crafted an engrossing epic in the great tradition of historical fiction like Outlander, minus the time travel and gratuitous violence. The story focuses on the travails, loves, and adventures of 4 young friends in the heart of high society. With romantic elements and hints at future happiness, at its heart, the novel is really about these young women finding themselves, navigating friendship and familial demands, and facing the hard realities of their world.


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For more book suggestions, please visit my bookshop.org shop.  I’ve put together a full list of books  to celebrate Black History monththatI recommend at any time of year but particularly right now.  As a bookshop.org affiliate, I receive a small commission on all books purchased through links in this post.