Speculative fiction innately asks readers, What if? By incorporating elements that question reality and blur the lines of conventional narratives, this subgenre of fiction ceaselessly looks to the future, even as it may unfold in the past. What if a woman consumes memories at a price? What if a book is not written but is instead doing the writing? What if a snapshot could influence fate? What if the end of humanity is not the end of our planet? These two powerful and stunning novels display the full force of how fiction can change our brains and our hearts.

Presenters: Nnedi Okorafor, Karen Russell

Moderator: Kate McCune