New Book Spotlight

Xicanxfuturism: Gritos for Tomorrow, Codex I

A mini-interview with editor Scótt Russell Dúncan

Tell us about this new anthology?

Xicanxfuturism: Gritos for Tomorrow, Codex I is an anthology of speculative thought, art, comics, novellas, stories, poetry and essays on the future for Xicanx people. It is intended to be used as ancient codices once were: a mix of images and words presented for discussions, and many are needed for the future of what will be the largest ethnic group in North America. Xicanxfuturism is a call, a vision, and a grito for the worlds we will walk upon.

Contributors include sci-fi veterans, social justice thinkers, influential speculative artists, and new writers: elindiocopyright1985, Osmani Ochoa, Luis Valderas, Pedro Iniguez, Martin Hill Ortiz, Ernesto Ayala, Angela Acosta, Juan Manuel Pérez, Erika Said Izaguirre, E.C.-Dukes, Ronnie Dukes, Patrick Fontes, Ernesto Mireles, Natalia Rivas, Sendy (Sail) Tapia, Juan G. Berumen, Irene Blea, Fabio Chee, R. Ch. Garcia, Scott Russell Duncan, El Henry Madrid, Victoria Bañales, Salvador Ayala, W.O. Torres, Joe Menchaca, Rocio Anica, Frederick Luis Aldama, Ricardo Tavarez, Catrióna Rueda Esquibel, Dante Olivas, Gerardo Aldana, Ernest Hogan, Javier Guajardo, M.M. Olivas, Joel Flores, and Samantha  “Eggsy” J. and Colton “Cuca” Campbell.

What aspect of editing the anthology was the most enjoyable?

For me, Scótt Russell Dúncan, and my fellow editor Jenny Irizary, the most enjoyable aspects of creating this anthology was seeing how much speculative work was already being done, how those newer to the speculative genre reacted to what the future holds for la raza, and ultimately how the different fields of social justice, fiction, poetry, art, and comics spoke to each other. Many fields came together and imagined how the world can be better, Xicanx style.

If there is one emotion or theme that you would hope that the reader connects with throughout the anthology, what would that be?

Centering the future for Raza and reconnecting to an Indigenous history and being.