Today on Facebook and Twitter I asked people, as a favour to me, to review their bookshelves and tell me if fewer than 20% of their authors were people of colour (however broadly you want to define that). I was overwhelmed by the response and, setting aside those who were so blind to their own politics they told me they only want to read quality, I realised I had to create a larger list rather than respond to everyone individually. So. Here is my beginners list of non-white authors I’d recommend without a moment’s hesitation. This list isn’t genre specific although I, personally, tend toward magical realism and I’ve focussed a little here on fantasy/sff because a sizeable number of respondents were keen on material in this area.

This is far from exhaustive and I’ve chosen people I’ve read and liked – so nor is it definitive. Each of the authors has done more than I’m showing and, if you like it I’d strongly recommend looking at their other stuff.

There’s no non-fiction in here. That’ll be a separate post as most of my books are currently in boxes and I need to rifle through them to get that done.

So…in no particular order and please excuse me linking only to the ‘Zon, you can, of course by these from all good bookshops: