Sistah Scifi: Redefining The Sci‑Fi Genre Through Representation

By Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant

Isis is a part of the Silver Lining global community thanks to support from Wells Fargo.

(small.news) —Sistah Scifi is a pioneering online bookstore founded in 2019 by Isis Asare, dedicated to spotlighting science fiction and fantasy by Black, Indigenous, and other underrepresented authors.

It’s officially recognized as the first Black‑owned bookstore in the United States focused on these genres by the American Booksellers Association.

Rooted in Community and Culture

What began as a small book club grew into a vibrant literary hub with a mission to double the number of Black and Indigenous speculative fiction authors on The New York Times Best Sellers List by 2030. The bookstore’s curated selections have resonated with tens of thousands of readers nationwide and built an active online community.

Isis Asare blends academic achievement, tech experience, and cultural entrepreneurship into her leadership of Sistah Scifi. She holds degrees from Stanford, Harvard, and Columbia Business School, has worked in the tech sector, and previously founded a platform supporting films by queer women of color.

Isis Asare’s vision goes beyond retail. She has described Afrofuturism and speculative fiction as tools of empowerment that help readers, especially from marginalized communities, reimagine themselves and their futures through expansive, imaginative stories.

Her efforts have expanded into influential roles beyond the bookstore, including leadership positions in literary advocacy organizations, reflecting her commitment to community, representation, and storytelling on multiple fronts.

The Vending Machine Project

To make speculative fiction more accessible, Sistah Scifi launched book vending machines stocked with works by Black and Indigenous authors in community‑oriented spaces like cafés and museums. These machines, first installed in cities like Oakland and Seattle, aim to introduce Afrofuturist literature in everyday environments, a literal experience of discovery “as easy as buying a candy bar.”

A Cultural and Literary Movement

Sistah Scifi isn’t just a store, it’s a cultural movement that connects readers to stories that have historically been overlooked, supports authors from marginalized backgrounds, and reimagines how literature meets community. Its blend of digital reach, curated discovery, and real‑world access points illustrates a new model for inclusive literary engagement in the 21st century.

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