Fantasy and Science Fiction

Science Fiction and Fantasy are often lumped together, as they have similar feelings to them. Both take aspects of reality and shape them into something extraordinary. Fantasy tends to focus more on magic, swords, and sorcery, while science fiction tends to focus more on futurism, science, and technology. Both have connections to fairy tales (and often are retellings and adaptations of stories told throughout countless generations) with a focus on inner strength, community, and sense of belonging.


Higuera, Donna Barba. The Last Cuentista. Levine Querido. 336 pages. ISBN 978-1646140893

In The Last Cuentista, Higuera tells the story of twelve year old Petra, who is chosen to be part of a group who leaves a doomed Earth to colonize a new world. After being put in stasis for the trip, Petra awakes to find that the Collective, a group of people who were originally deemed the ones to monitor those in stasis, have commandeered the ship and attempt to erase the memories of those in stasis in order to wipe the memories of the Earth they left behind. The Collective believe they are doing the right thing, attempting to avoid the flaws that caused the problems on Earth. Petra however retains her memories, and goes on a journey to show that there are in fact positive aspects to culture, to history, to humanity. She makes a promise to her grandmother to continue the tradition of being a storyteller, and shows that we cannot escape our past mistakes by just forgetting them.

Smith, Cynthia L. Sisters of the Neversea. Heartdrum. 320 pages. ISBN 978-0062869975

I am a huge fan of Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie ever since I first read the novel. Sisters of the Neversea is a new take on this seminal classic, focusing the story on the Indigenous American Lily and her English stepsister Wendy (Moira Angela Darling). After the white Wendy and her brother join the Lost Boys, Lily instead (taking the place of Tiger Lily of the original story) joins a group that would in the original tale be considered "savage" as she works to rescue her stepsister and friend. This retelling brings attention to some of the negative aspects of the original Peter Pan story, including the racist and classist imagery used, sexist themes, and other products of their time. While I still believe that Peter Pan (specifically Peter and Wendy) remains a classic and worth reading, Sisters of the Neversea shows that classics are still products of their time and should not be seen as infallible. Smith's writing shows the need of addressing past thoughts through a modern lens. By shifting the focus from the "white savior" aspect of the original story, Smith weaves a tale that instead shows the true inner value of humanity.



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