Although speculative fiction in all its iterations has historically mostly been the domain of white, Western men it inherently possesses the capacity for theorizing different futures. This thesis...Show moreAlthough speculative fiction in all its iterations has historically mostly been the domain of white, Western men it inherently possesses the capacity for theorizing different futures. This thesis will explore the works of speculative fiction by three female authors of color: N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy, Octavia Butler’s Parable duology and Nnedi Okorafor’s Who Fears Death to examine how these novels imagine alternative futures. The theoretical framework will consist of the integration of posthumanist thought with cyborg theory and postcolonial theory, as these theoretical approaches all share the theorization of challenge to dominant power structures. Ultimately, this thesis will read these works and specifically their main characters as figures who straddle or ascend boundaries and in doing so, offer possibilities for transformation and resistance.Show less
