Next week I’m heading to the Current Research in Speculative Fiction 2026 conference to talk about change-the-world literary criticism.
I got the idea of “change-the-world” criticism from an open letter Nisi Shawl wrote to Octavia E. Butler. The letter was written on the occasion of the publication of Shawl’s novel Everfair, several years after Butler’s death. In her letter to Octavia, Shawl writes:
we’re going to have to write change-the-world fiction, like you. We’re also going to have to bake change-the-world cookies and ride change-the-world horses and vote in change-the-world elections. We’re going to have to change the world. We’re going to have to do everything we can to maintain life on this planet.”
When I read this, I thought, well I don’t write fiction, but I do write criticism. So, I think I’m going to have to write change-the-world criticism. My next thought, of course, was, how do I do that? And that’s what I’ll be talking about in my presentation at the conference.
I’m very grateful that I was invited to propose this paper by Dr. Mary-Antoinette Smith. Dr. Smith is currently concluding a two-year project ‘To Be or Not To Be Octavias – That is the Question!’ and is the architect of our panel for the conference. The panel, titled ‘Change-the-world fiction,’ explores Butler’s legacy and current practitioners inspired by her work including Shawl and adrienne maree brown. The third panellist, apart from myself and Dr. Smith, is Dr. Soondus Aslam, a medical doctor and published author, who will speak on pain and empathy.
The conference runs from Thursday 16th – Friday 17th July 2026 and it is free to attend in person or online. All details and booking links here.
For my review of last year’s conference, see here.
