Review of Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology
Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology, edited by Wole Talabi (Android Press, forthcoming), is a collection of science-fantasy, shared-world/universe stories set in a universe created by African and African diaspora writers reflecting a combination of worldviews from throughout the African continent. The setting is also described as “Black Panther meets Wild Cards with all the rich spacefaring worldbuilding of Dune.” This first collection introduces readers to the world and its history through narrative, myth, and stories of the people living in this world.
Many of the stories I found most compelling were the ones dealing with the fallout of the destruction of Mahwé. Some of my favorites of these included “Xhava” by Adelhin Ijasan, which involved the AI that took over the moon Pinaa after the destruction of Mahwé, in the form of a letter from a parenting automaton to their child. Another was “The Grove’s Lament” by Tobias S. Buckell, in which a refugee from Mahwé makes a decision that impacts the planet of Wiimb-o, leaving the main character in this story to deal with the aftermath of that decision. Finally, I really loved Cheryl S. Ntumy’s “The Way of Baa’gh,” in which crab-like creatures who live on Mahwé before its destruction play an important role in that world’s fate. In addition to these, I also loved “Undulation” by Stephen Embleton, showing the ways in which history and the stories that come out of it and the truth are not always the same thing.
The collection ranges through quite long and some rather short stories, and while not all of them will be to everyone’s taste, I found the vast majority of them interesting and entertaining. I look forward to more stories set in the Sauútiverse!
The BackerKit funding for Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology runs through Friday, November 3, and has reached its funding goal, so if you’d like to check out this collection, hurry over and put in your pledge! You can also read more about the shared world and the contributing authors!
A contributing author provided me with an advanced copy of this anthology for review consideration.
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