Tade Thompson

Celebrating the centenary of the birth of the trailblazing African American author, Encounters with James Baldwin is a wide-ranging volume of short essays, reflections, interviews and poetry. This moving collection demonstrates the significant legacy of the writer and activist who spoke truth to power during the era of the fight for Black civil liberties in the US, and after.In this literary anthology, over 30 contributors reveal the influence of Baldwin's thought, speech and writing to their personal journeys and their awareness of the need for social justice.Authors included: Victor Adebowale; Toyin Agbetu; Rosanna Amaka; Michelle Yaa Asantewa; Lindsay Barrett; Eugen Bacon; Gabriella Beckles-Ray; Alan Bell; Selina Brown; Michael Campbell; Fred D’Aguiar; Thomas Glave; Sonia Grant; Zita Holbourne; Rashida Ismaili-AbuBakr; Paterson Joseph; Peter Kalu; Roy McFarlane; Ronnie McGrath; Michael McMillan; Tony Medina; Bill V Mullen; Nducu wa Ngugi; Lola Oh; Ewuare X. Osayande; Nii Ayikwei Parkes; Anton Phillips; Ray Shell; SuAndi; Tade Thompson; Patrick Vernon; Tony Warner.

Sarah Jane doesn't know who she is any more.She's applied for a job as a secretary at a run-of-the-mill office, with just one other co-worker.He’s nice enough. A little strange, a little charming, clearly an innovator. For a snappy dresser, though (Sarah loves the scarf) he’s strangely quiet.That’s because, of course, he’s the Doctor. Working with UNIT to try to restore Sarah’s memories, he’s found himself battling an alien group harvesting the minds of unsuspecting victims.But he’s already on the back foot, and as the alien hive mind draws in its followers, he’s very much in need of a friend.Enter legendary musician Fela Kuti. Another innovator – just as challenging, and just as charming. He might just be the one the save the human race.

What makes a hero?What makes a villain?Forget Marvel and DC, forget the Avengers and the Justice League, this is a story of African superheroes written by African authors who share a deep love of the comic book and longstanding immersion in its culture.As well as co-writing the narrative, Tade Thompson has provided the cover art and nine internal illustrations which appear throughout the text (see below). It should be stressed, however, that this is not a comic book. It is a novella, interspersed with illustrations. A thrilling story that demonstrates the fragile boundary between hero and villain, as two superpowered brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the moral divide; a story that provides stark contrast to the treatment of African superheroes by the big comic book companies even as it entertains.In addition to the novella itself, this volume also includes interviews, articles, and even some of the initial email exchanges between the two authors when first discussing to project; these appear as 'bonus material' at the back of the book.The Last Pantheon is dedicated to the memory of Nick Wood (1961 - 2023).

In this shocking, and at times darkly comic, novel, a psychiatrist hired to write a short piece on Francis Bacon becomes obsessed with the artist, his life, and the characters who surrounded him. As he becomes consumed with the need to understand Bacon, and to create his own art, his grip on reality becomes increasingly tenuous, and he is haunted by disturbing figures.This short, bold piece of fiction, explores how the passion needed to create art can also destroy the artist.

'A wild, darkly comic nightmare set on the borderlines of creativity, imagination and madness.' Guardian 'Thompson's prose, contaminated by Bacon's unflinching view of the human animal, makes for vital, unsettling reading' - Will Maclean, author of The Apparition Phase In this shocking, and at times darkly comic, novel, a psychiatrist hired to write a short piece on Francis Bacon becomes obsessed with the artist, his life, and the characters who surrounded him. As he becomes consumed with the need to understand Bacon, and to create his own art, his grip on reality becomes increasingly tenuous, and he is haunted by disturbing figures. This short, bold piece of fiction, explores how the passion needed to create art can also destroy the artist.

'Gripping and skilfully told, with an economy and freshness of approach that is all Tade Thompson's own. The setting is interstellar, but it feels as real, immediate and lethal as today's headlines' Alastair ReynoldsArthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson makes a triumphant return to science fiction with this unforgettable vision of humanity's future in the chilling emptiness of space.The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having travelled light years from home to bring one thousand sleeping souls to safety among the stars.Some of the sleepers, however, will never wake - and a profound and sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel. Its skeleton crew are forced to make decisions that will have repercussions for all of humanity's settlements - from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet of Bloodroot, to other far flung systems and indeed Earth itself.'A gripping space opera with characters fighting for their lives aboard a dying starship. I enjoyed it so much and can't wait to see what Thompson does next' Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries'Simultaneously brutally grounded and wildly imaginative' Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time'Perfectly balances inspired universe building with both high-octane action and emotional depth' Big Issue'Readers looking for a smart sci-fi mystery should snap this up' Publishers Weekly'First-rate space opera from one of the genre's most exciting voices' Gareth L. Powell'Tade Thompson is a writer of enormous heart and talent. Just brilliant' Dave Hutchinson

"Simultaneously brutally grounded and wildly imaginative." --Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner A tense and thrilling vision of humanity's future in the chilling emptiness of space from rising giant in science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having traveled light-years to bring one thousand sleeping souls to a new home among the stars. But when first mate Michelle Campion rouses, she discovers some of the sleepers will never wake. Answering Campion's distress call, investigator Rasheed Fin is tasked with finding out who is responsible for these deaths. Soon a sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel, one that will have repercussions for the entire system--from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet Bloodroot, to other far-flung systems, and indeed to Earth itself. Praise for Far from the Light of Heaven "Gripping and skillfully told, with an economy and freshness of approach that is all Tade Thompson''s own. The setting is interstellar, but it feels as real, immediate, and lethal as today's headlines." --Alastair Reynolds " I]nventive, exciting and compulsively readable...This book is like the Tardis, larger inside than out, with a range of ideas, characters, and fascinating future settings making it probably the best science fiction novel of the year." --The Guardian For more from Tade Thompson, check out: The Wormwood Trilogy Rosewater Rosewater: Insurrection Rosewater: Redemption

'Shocking and perceptive' Guardian'It was easy to stay up well past lights out to read just one more chapter - and then one more...' James Oswald'Engaging' Sunday TimesLONGLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGERMeet Weston Kogi, a London supermarket store detective. He returns home to his West African home country for his aunt's funeral. He sees his family, his ex-girlfriend Nana, his old school mate Church. Food is good, beer is plentiful, and telling people he works as a homicide detective seems like harmless hyperbole, until he wakes up in hell.He is kidnapped and forced by two separate rebel factions to investigate the murder of a local hero, Papa Busi. The solution may tip a country on the brink into civil war. Making Wolf is the outrageous, frightening, violent and sometimes surreal homecoming experience of a lifetime.Praise for Tade Thompson:'Breathtaking landscapes and intoxicating food and drink . . . endemic corruption, sultry sexuality and casual, slapdash violence . . . A rock-and-roll edge' The Financial Times'Brutal, uncompromising and thought-provoking . . . superb' M. W. Craven'A magnificent tour de force' Adrian Tchaikovsky'Smart. Gripping. Fabulous!' Ann Leckie'Mesmerising' M. R. Carey

In this powerful finale to the award-winning Wormwood trilogy, life in the newly independent city state of Rosewater isn't everything its citizens were expecting . . .

The Rosewater Redemption is the powerful conclusion to the award-winning Wormdwood trilogy, by one of science fiction's most engaging voices. Life in the newly independent city-state of Rosewater isn't everything its citizens were expecting. The Mayor finds that debts incurred during the insurrection are coming back to haunt him. Nigeria isn't willing to let Rosewater go without a fight. And the city's alien inhabitants are threatening mass murder for their own sinister ends... Operating across spacetime, the xenosphere, and international borders, it is up to a small group of hackers and criminals to prevent the extra-terrestrial advance. The fugitive known as Bicycle Girl, Kaaro, and his former handler Femi may be humanity's last line of defense. Innovative and genre-bending, Tade Thompson's ambitious Afrofuturist series is perfect for fans of Jeff Vandermeer, N. K. Jemisin, and Ann Leckie. Praise for The Wormwood Trilogy: "Smart. Gripping. Fabulous " --Ann Leckie, award winning-author of Ancillary Justice "Mesmerising. There are echoes of Neuromancer and Arrival in here, but this astonishing debut is beholden to no one." --M. R. Carey, bestselling author of The Girl with All the Gifts "A magnificent tour de force, skillfully written and full of original and disturbing ideas." --Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Children of Time The Wormwood Trilogy Rosewater The Rosewater Insurrection The Rosewater Redemption

The year is 2067. The city of Rosewater is chaotic, vibrant and full of life - some of it extra-terrestrial.The charismatic mayor, Jack Jacques, has declared Rosewater a free state, independent to Nigeria. But the city's alien dome is dying. Government forces await its demise, ready to destroy Rosewater's independence before it has even begun.And in the city's quiet suburbs, a woman wakes with no memory of who she is - with memories belonging to something much older and much more alien.Praise and accolades for Rosewater:Winner of the inaugural Nommo Award for Best Novel, Africa's first award for speculative fictionShortlisted for the Kitschie Award for Best Novel 2019John W. Campbell Award finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel'A magnificent tour de force' Adrian Tchaikovsky'Smart. Gripping. Fabulous!' Ann Leckie'Mesmerising' M. R. Carey'An astonishing book. I wish I'd written it' Lauren BeukesThe Wormwood Trilogy begins with Rosewater, continues with The Rosewater Insurrection and ends in The Rosewater Redemption.

The Rosewater Insurrection continues the award-winning science fiction trilogy by one of science fiction's most engaging voices. All is quiet in the city of Rosewater as it expands on the back of the gargantuan alien Wormwood. Those who know the truth of the invasion keep the secret. The government agent Aminat, the lover of the retired sensitive Kaaro, is at the forefront of the cold, silent conflict. She must capture a woman who is the key to the survival of the human race. But Aminat is stymied by the machinations of the Mayor of Rosewater and the emergence of an old enemy of Wormwood. Innovative and genre-bending, Tade Thompson's ambitious Afrofuturist series is perfect for fans of Jeff Vandermeer, N. K. Jemisin, and Ann Leckie. Praise for The Wormwood Trilogy: "Smart. Gripping. Fabulous " --Ann Leckie, award winning-author of Ancillary Justice "Mesmerising. There are echoes of Neuromancer and Arrival in here, but this astonishing debut is beholden to no one." --M. R. Carey, bestselling author of The Girl with All the Gifts "A magnificent tour de force, skillfully written and full of original and disturbing ideas." --Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Children of Time The Wormwood Trilogy Rosewater The Rosewater Insurrection The Rosewater Redemption

Rosewater is the start of a vibrant and compellingly told trilogy by one of science fiction's most engaging new voices - perfect for fans of N. K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice and Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach trilogy. Winner of the inaugural Nommo Award for Best Novel, Africa's first award for speculative fiction

Rosewater is the start of an award-winning trilogy set in Nigeria, by one of science fiction's most engaging voices. *Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, winner *Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel, winner Rosewater is a town on the edge. A community formed around the edges of a mysterious alien biodome, its residents comprise the hopeful, the hungry, and the helpless -- people eager for a glimpse inside the dome or a taste of its rumored healing powers. Kaaro is a government agent with a criminal past. He has seen inside the biodome, and doesn't care to again -- but when something begins killing off others like himself, Kaaro must defy his masters to search for an answer, facing his dark history and coming to a realization about a horrifying future. Tade Thompson's innovative, genre-bending, Afrofuturist series, the Wormwood Trilogy, is perfect for fans of Jeff Vandermeer, N. K. Jemisin, and Ann Leckie. Praise for Rosewater: "Smart. Gripping. Fabulous " --Ann Leckie, award winning-author of Ancillary Justice "Mesmerising. There are echoes of Neuromancer and Arrival in here, but this astonishing debut is beholden to no one." --M. R. Carey, bestselling author of The Girl with All the Gifts "A magnificent tour de force, skillfully written and full of original and disturbing ideas." --Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Children of Time The Wormwood Trilogy Rosewater Rosewater Insurrection Rosewater Redemption