Nebula Conference 2018

The history of western colonialism is integrated into the foundational texts of the genre. From Verne to Tolkein, empire has been at the forefront of our visions of the future and of fantastical worlds. But change is here. The recent success of Black Panther provides a vision of an afrofuturistic society untouched by colonial powers. How, then, do we tell stories that build on these beginnings that gesture towards alternative paths forward? How can we envision futures that celebrate cultural difference while acknowledging violent histories and the realities of our shared present?