P. Djèlí Clark's Blog, page 6
September 21, 2018
Histories and Worldbuilding in The Black Gods Drums
In which we peek behind the curtain to dive into some of the historical and cultural influences in my novella The Black God’s Drums. I’ll try to make it brief. Also, it’s not at all brief. Hey, I said I … Continue reading →
August 21, 2018
Happy Book Birthday to ME
“What’s today?” cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes. “Today?” replied the boy. “Why, it’s Book Release Day sir!” Guess what everybody? Nah. Not really. I can’t possibly back that claim … Continue reading →
August 14, 2018
I Wrote a Book
I wrote a book. An actual book. Well, it’s a novella–that no man’s land between full fledged novel and short story. It’s called The Black God’s Drums. And it debuts in one week. I thought it might be important … Continue reading →
August 9, 2018
The Paladin of Golota
My latest published story The Paladin of Golota is out this month in Issue 37 of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. It’s about a young boy who must decide whether to help a warrior fulfill her dying wish. Also, worms. Giant, man-eating, … Continue reading →
July 7, 2018
A Tale of Woe
A few thoughts on my latest published short fantasy story “A Tale of Woe”–featuring a magic-wielding heroine gifted with a peculiar second sight, an insatiable goddess who feeds on the misery of mortals, and a city on the brink of … Continue reading →
April 30, 2018
Returning to the Infinity War
Marvel’s Infinity War has finally arrived. And the superhero cinematic universe will never be the same. Bring your shocked faces. Because I gots spoilers. Kinda. “He’s really going to do it.”–Mephisto. Infinity Gauntlet #1 (1991) It was the summer of … Continue reading →
March 8, 2018
Invisible Cars and Florida Man: The Surreal Magic of Atlanta
Ruminating on Donald Glover’s brand of southern, urban surrealism in a place called Atlanta. It starts out innocuously enough. A young black man, a teen or in his early 20s, walks through an apartment complex in the morning. Inside, he … Continue reading →
March 3, 2018
Making Time to Write SFF: An Essay
Making time to write ain’t easy. I’m stumbling through it like everyone else. But I think, at last, I may have found a way. Desperately searching for time to write. We all suffer from the lack of it. We all … Continue reading →
February 27, 2018
On Slavery, Magic, and the Negro Teeth of George Washington
My short fantasy story “The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington” appeared this month in Fireside Fiction magazine. A bit below on the history, and speculation, that inspired it. The illustration for the story (above) is … Continue reading →
February 20, 2018
Wakanda Forever
After all our waiting and hope, Black Panther delivers. SPOILERS! SPOILERS SPOILERS! THE SIZE OF GIANT WELL-TRAINED BATTLE RHINOS AHEAD! YOU BEEN WARNED! So unless you’ve been trapped under a rock in Latveria, you know that a movie about Wakanda’s … Continue reading →
