Popular Pakistani SFF author Usman T Malik discuss his debut collection, 'Midnight Doorways: Fables from Pakistan.'
In this episode, Usman discusses themes of home, belonging and representation in his stories. We discuss the characteristics of South Asian SFF and the tradition of fantastical writing in myths and legends. Usman shares insights about Pakistani publishing industry and comments on the debate about appropriation in fiction.
About the Guest
Usman T. Malik is a Pakistani-American writer and doctor. His fiction has been reprinted in several years’ best anthologies, including the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy series, and has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, the Million Writers Award, and twice for the Nebula. He has won the Bram Stoker and the British Fantasy Awards. He is a co-founder of the Salam Award for Imaginative Fiction, which seeks to nurture science fiction writers of Pakistani origin.
This series is hosted by Yoshita Srivastava, literature collective associate at Belongg. She believes inclusive representation is essential for a better future — empathy being key in dismantling prejudice. She is interested in exploring intersections of gender, sexuality, identity and culture studies, and has previously worked at media and social sector organizations.