3 Minutes with Karen, editor of New Worlds, Old Ways: Speculative Tales from the Caribbean
Original Photo by James Wheeler from Pexels
Award-winning author Karen Lord takes a turn as editor in New Worlds, Old Ways to lovely effect. She also closes out the 3 Minutes series for the Afrofuturism and the Black Fantastic storybundle which ends in just a couple of days (July 2nd).
Describe this work in 3 words.
Ancient, modern, futuristic.
Editors, what’s your general approach to choosing works for an anthology?
First I select for quality. Second, I select stories that contribute to an overarching narrative or theme.
The world is awash in terms right now: Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism, Black Speculative Fiction, the Black Fantastic, Astroblackness, etc. Do they matter? If so, do they do justice to the diaspora? If not, how might we as authors and editors lead a change? Feel free to offer any new terms you think would expand and/or deepen the concept.
Caribbean speculative fiction is the most accurate term for describing this anthology, as it contains works by writers of African, Indian and/or European heritage who participate in and identify with the culture of the Caribbean. That culture is a blend of cultures: Indigenous, African, European, Indian, Chinese and more.
What are you working on now?
I am collaborating with Tobias Buckell on an anthology of original stories/poems and reprints on the theme of Caribbean futures.
What compels you to keep writing/editing?
The literature we create and curate today will speak to this generation and the generations to come.
