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George Allen Blacken
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Vicenary: A Collection of Black and African Culture Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories Kindle Edition

by George Allen Blacken (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 37 ratings
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What is your story? In the Variances of the Cosmos, there are infinite possibilities. One decision can change everything. The actions of a single person truly make a difference. Heroes come in all forms, races, and cultures. Africans and African Americans are not exceptions to this. This collection of twenty brand new science fiction and fantasy stories presents relatable characters, thought provoking themes, dramatic plots, and heart penetrating words that are both relevant and entertaining for any culture. These stories are crafted for fans of urban, fantasy, supernatural, dystopian, superhero, space opera, and robot fiction. Find your story. Note that a bonus story is also included in this collection.
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  1. Print length
    209 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 18, 2020
  5. File size
    724 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Vicenary could be one of the most compelling books I've read this year. Each story felt fresh, and I was instantly engaged with every one. I found myself thinking about them long after I'd had to put the book down to attend to other things (or sleep), ready and waiting for when I could get back to it." - Reedsy Discovery

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NVF1PCV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Apostolic Pentecostal Alliance Books LLC (November 18, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 18, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 724 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 209 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

About the author

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George Allen Blacken

George Allen Blacken

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George Blacken has written and published multiple science fiction and inspirational books. His latest book, Vicenary: A Collection of Black and African Culture Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories, is an anthology of twenty science fiction and fantasy stories. He is a big fan of classic sci-fi cartoons, comics, and books, seeking to combine the wonder of fictional science with the illustriousness of the supernatural, using relatable people in extraordinary situations. George Blacken previously graduated Summa Cum Laude at Florida A&M University and Old Dominion University for his undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees. George Blacken and his wife of over fourteen years, Melissa Blacken, have four wonderful children.

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5
37 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Floyd
5.0 out of 5 stars This is highly recommended for those wanting something new!
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2022
I really did not see the problems mentioned in some of the reviews. What was seen were fresh, accessible stories featuring unforgettable characters. I am so glad that I went with my gut on this one.

The Disciples bonus story did have a different format and some of the dialogue could be harder to follow. In spite of the bonus story's unique format, I still enjoyed it. It was an exciting story on a family being persecuted and hunted down just because they did not believe in the other gods some people have transformed themselves into through science and sorcery.

Getting back to the main twenty stories, there is quite a variety. Every story stands on its own but left me wanting a complete novel or series for each. I have never read stories like these before. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was actually reading something new!
2 people found this helpful
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BScopatz
1.0 out of 5 stars Could not finish. Poorly edited. Like a 12-year-old wrote it. No sense of narrative at all.
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
This stuff is just bad. I was intrigued by the description and really was hoping for African stories and another wonderful black perspective on science fiction and fantasy. Instead, there are flat characters with nonsense moral messages inserted about suicide or whatnot, vague religiosity that’s mostly just a bad presentation of some form of Christianity or other, and dumber-than-dumb dialog. I feel cheated by the Amazon “recommended for you” and by the “black and African culture” description. The stories invoke African locales and do nothing with it. Just use the place names! Might as well be set in Sheboygan for all the setting matters. Same with the people. They just act and speak enigmatically. And they are “kids” so I guess maybe this is supposed to qualify as YA? Who the heck knows. Nobody actually really interacts or talks except in wooden little scene changes and truncated “battles” that are like badly described anime. I must admit I gave up in disgust after about the sixth story. But there didn’t seem to be any point in continuing.

Cannot recommend.
One person found this helpful
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Karen Siddall
3.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and fresh stories, but they need to be fleshed out and edited for better reading
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
"Vicenary" could be one of the most compelling books I’ve read this year. Each story felt fresh, and I was instantly engaged with every one. I found myself thinking about them long after I’d had to put the book down to attend to other things (or sleep), ready and waiting for when I could get back to it.

The stories are presented as a “tour” with the storyteller, Griot, as our guide. After each story is told, a moment of wrap-up is given, which points out how elements presented in the story relate to the reader, which I particularly enjoyed. Griot’s presence as the storyteller, although explicitly discussed in the prologue, is never mentioned again, so as the stories go on, you tend to forget that the wrap-up is coming from him and the stories tend to be disjointed rather than tied together.

In addition, the stories tend to feel like a summary of events with a lot of telling the reader what happened rather than the reader experiencing the action as it unfolds. A storyteller is telling the tale, so perhaps they would work better read aloud. Additionally, there are grammar, word usage, and story structure issues that hurt the delivery. For example, often, I had to re-read paragraphs to figure out which character was speaking; two people would be talking on the same line of text which made things confusing.

Having said that, I still feel the stories are engaging, and science fiction and fantasy readers looking for something new and fresh might want to give this book a chance. I hope the author will expand the stories at some time in the future to provide us with a more in-depth experience because many, if not all, are novel-length-worthy tales. Some would make great introductory novels for series, notably, "The Forbidden Forest," the story of an emerging champion in the final war for New Africa, and "First Day of Summer," an apocalyptic tale of a family taking a trip in an RV.

I recommend "Vicenary" for science fiction and fantasy readers looking for something new and fresh and who are willing to go with the flow and not let structure and grammar get in the way of a great set of stories. Some of the topics are tough ones, so this may be more appropriate for young adult and adult readers rather than younger ones.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.
3 people found this helpful
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Jilly of the Valley
1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
I thought this would be a different and interesting collection of stories. Sadly, I was mistaken. A 12 year old could have written better tales. I have no doubt that 12 year olds are writing better ones today. I would advise this writer to stick to his day job.
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Liz
4.0 out of 5 stars This is a quality science fiction anthology with a variety of fresh stories and ideas.
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2021
I enjoyed reading this quality set of science fiction and fantasy stories that I could actually share with my grandchildren but still have the depth and nuances that I would appreciate as an adult. It touched me that my grandchildren also read many of the stories and were excited about the characters and action featured in them. Having characters truly representative of what they understand and go through, hooked them in the stories. I liked how the stories had meaning behind them. No book is perfect, but there was nothing presented in this collection that diluted the intended messages or made any of the stories hard to enjoy. This collection is so unusual because it is a rare modern case where there are things people of multiple cultures, age groups, religious beliefs, and political views can actually come together and enjoy. This book is highly recommended. Try for yourself and form your own opinion.
One person found this helpful
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Tracy R
2.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Idea, Poorly Executed
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2022
Like other reviewers, I really wanted to like this book and couldn't wait to read it. Reality, however, didn't match my expectations. The writing is dull and the stories beyond shallow. Moreover, the constant jumping between past and present tenses was an annoying distraction. The writing style screamed middle school book report. Nonetheless, the concept remains fascinating, and I'd love to see it tackled with more skill, depth, and finesse.
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