Charles R. Saunders ft. Jon Tattrie

Charles R. Saunders was the founder of the “sword and soul” literary genre with his Imaro novels, a Halifax journalist, and a Black Canadian literary icon. When he died in obscurity in 2020, journalist Jon Tattrie joined fans worldwide to uncover where he was buried, commemorate his life, and bring him the prominence he deserved. For Black History Month, we’re joined by Jon to tell us about Charles’ remarkable career and his new biography, To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy.

Show Notes:

• • To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy by Jon Tattrie

• • Write Now with Jon Tattrie

• • The New Moon’s Arms by Nalo Hopkinson

• • The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin

• • The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

• • Interview With the Vampire (2022-)

• • Blade

• • Star Man’s Son by Andre Norton

• • Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

• • Annaka by Andre Fenton

• • Dark Fantasy zine

• • Jaycen Wise URAEUS

• • Mshindo I. Kuumba

• • Charles in the CSFFA hall of fame

Charles R. Saunders’ select biography: Imaro

1. 1. Imaro (1981) Second Edition (2006) Third Edition (2014)

1. 1. The Quest for Cush (1984) Second Edition (2008)

1. 1. The Trail of Bohu (1985) Second Edition (2009)

1. 1. The Naama War (2009)

1. 1. Nyumbani Tales (2017)

Dossouye

1. 1. Dossouye (2008)

1. 1. Dossouye: The Dancers of Mulukau (2012)

Other novels

• • Damballa (2011)

• • Abengoni: First Calling (2014), fantasy novel

Non-fiction

• • Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace (1990)

• • Spirit of Africville (1992)

• • Share & Care: The Story of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children (1994)

• • Black & Bluenose: The Contemporary History of a Community (2002)