Diversity in speculative fiction

Seattle writer and literary critic Nisi Shawl has written an interesting article about some new works of speculative fiction that span the compass from the medieval period to the future, with a focus on diversity: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2003973129_scifi28.html

I used my Native American icon because I AM Indian, enough to be on the tribal rolls (with all the dubious benefits adhering thereto) if I could prove my heritage. It's interesting that now I and all my family are eager to be known as Native American, when our great-great-grandparents were at pains to hide it. When some of my family tried to trace our lineage, the trail dried up before we reached its source. We have only our family memories and stories by which to identify ourselves.

That's a sort of non sequitur. Nisi's article is brief, but makes interesting reading. Nisi's one of the driving forces behind the Carl Brandon Society, an organization to promote and support speculative fiction writers of color. http://www.carlbrandon.org/ I'm glad to say that, despite my pale appearance, they let me join. They, at least, took my word for it.