About the book
2018 PEN America Literary Award Winner–Los Angeles
Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded and the hopeful, in which men and women burdened with unwieldy and undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle and startling ways.
Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, and love are lifted, decorated, and exposed to scrutiny and awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn’s characters stumble along currents of language both thoughtful and hilarious.
Editions of Black Jesus and Other Superheroes
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781496201867
- EBook
- ISBN 9781496203991
- EBook
- ISBN 9781496204004
- EBook
- ISBN 9781496203984
Read an Excerpt
2018 PEN America Literary Award Winner–Los Angeles
Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded and the hopeful, in which men and women burdened with unwieldy and undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle and startling ways.
Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, and love are lifted, decorated, and exposed to scrutiny and awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn’s characters stumble along currents of language both thoughtful and hilarious.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Jesus and Other Superheroes about?
2018 PEN America Literary Award Winner–Los Angeles
Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded and the hopeful, in which men and women burdened with unwieldy and undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle and startling ways.
Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, and love are lifted, decorated, and exposed to scrutiny and awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn’s characters stumble along currents of language both thoughtful and hilarious.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Black Jesus and Other Superheroes?
Fiction > Fiction / Literature / Comics / Graphic novels: special features > Short stories
Where can I read a sample of Black Jesus and Other Superheroes?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781496201867
Is Black Jesus and Other Superheroes part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Black Jesus and Other Superheroes?
Venita Blackburn
Who is the Publisher of the book Black Jesus and Other Superheroes?
Nebraska
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Black Jesus and Other Superheroes is available as paperback(ISBN 9781496201867) and ebook(ISBN 9781496203991) and ebook(ISBN 9781496204004) and ebook(ISBN 9781496203984)
Where can I buy Black Jesus and Other Superheroes online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Black Jesus and Other Superheroes from below
Where can I buy Black Jesus and Other Superheroes?