How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
By Charles Yu (book, 2011)

Just released in June, this novel stars protagonist Charles Yu, who isn’t necessarily the same Charles Yu who wrote it. If that’s not meta enough for you, the story takes place in a sci-fi universe that someone began writing about but never finished. Yu, a "time travel repairman," deals with customers who can’t let go of their pasts, parents lost in their own histories, and his own self-conflict (self-conflict in that he traveled to the future and shot himself, and is waiting for the inevitable day when his past self comes and shoots him).
 

Pumzi
Written & directed by Wanuri Kahiu (film, 2010)

Based in a post-apocalyptic Kenya, "Pumzi"–which debuted at Sundance 2010–speaks of a world depleted of water to the point that life above ground has become extinct. A scientist–part of a human society that, among other survival tactics, must take "dream suppressant" pills–discovers a germinating seed and embarks on a quest to rediscover planetary life. Think "Wall-E," except way hotter.

Of Bees & Mist
By Erick Setiawan (book, 2009)

Juxtaposing modern experiences with Indonesian folktales told by the women of his family, Setiawan pens "Of Bees and Mist," a tale that follows the classic format of a quiet and lonely girl who finds love, only to be faced with an evil stepmother. Taking its setting in a world filled with ghosts, psychics, and mysticism, some might argue that this falls more into the fantasy category. But in the tradition of sci-fi, Setiawan uses the surreal as a bridge to our most basic and elusive contemporary issues–love, family, and human loneliness. 

Robot Stories
Written and directed by Greg Pak (film, 2005)

I watched "Robot Stories" when it first came out in 2005, and what captivated me about it was how many ethnicities were represented, yet how race managed to remain as a backdrop rather than a focus. Told in three short stories (each involving robots, duh) I enjoy the fact that characters involve Hapa androids, interracial virtual couples, and an overall accurate depiction of how techno-future life would be in our increasingly multi-ethnic world.

Kolachi
Production company: Bodhicitta Works (film, in production)

Touted as one of Pakistan’s first sci-fi films, "Kolachi" juxtaposes the genre with Muslim culture–something that is surprisingly rare considering the vastness of Islam. "Kolachi" takes place in the near future where nuclear warfare and anti-terrorism reach a high point when suddenly… METEORS!!! Imagine the explosions! This will make "Armageddon" look like a story about a cherry bomb.

Bedlam in Goliath
Recorded by The Mars Volta (record, 2008)

One of my favorite bands, The Mars Volta tends to narrate their albums through psychedelic and surreal narratives. While traveling in Jerusalem, frontman Omar Rodriguez-López purchased a Ouija board which became the focus of the band’s post-show activities and eventually the inspiration for the album (some song tracks were named through playing with the Ouija). Recorded in the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Quarters, "Bedlam in Goliath" blends The Mars Volta’s usual Latin rock influences with lyrical and musical inspirations from the likes of Afro-Caribbean religion and Muslim gender dynamics.

Deltron 3030
Recorded by Del the Funky Homosapien & Dan the Automator (record, 2000)

One of my absolute favorite albums when I began listening to hip-hop, "Deltron3030" captures the weirdness and intellectual complexity of Bay Area artistry. With Hieroglyphics legend Del the Funky Homosapien as the emcee, Dan "The Automator" Nakamura as the producer, and Kid Koala as a guest scratcher, "Deltron 3030" follows Del in a distant future where he personifies cyber-viruses, warns of mutant rats, and travels the universe to compete in intergalactic rap battles. While rumors of a sequel have teased us for almost a decade, this album remains a classic and a precursor to hip-hop’s current obsession with sci-fi.

Metropolis: Suites I, II & III
Recorded by Janelle Monáe (record, 2008 & 2010)

Inspired by the likes of funked-out legends Outkast and Parliament-Funkadelic, Janelle Monáe has become a media darling with her "Metropolis" albums depicting an android on the run from a society that has deemed her a criminal for falling in love with a human. Like any great sci-fi storyteller, Monáe stays in character even during her interviews, ushering an irresistible blend of imagination, mystique, and social commentary.

Shadows in the Cave
By Caleb Fox (book, 2010)

Much like "Of Bees and Mist," "Shadows in the Cave" draws from folklore to tell a tale of magic and alternate universes. Aku is a young man torn between his chief and father’s ban of magic, and his recently-discovered shape-shifting abilities passed down by his mother. Through this story, author Caleb Fox illustrates a lucid struggle between tradition and modernity.

Afro-Future Females
Various authors (book, 2008)

Planting a flag in Afro-Futurism as a true genre, this collection of writing showcases sci-fi tales from a plethora of African American women writers, including Octavia E. Butler (okay, I couldn’t resist). A great read in its own right, "Afro-Future Females" breaks ground by establishing African and African American perspectives and feminism as key staples in the genre of science fiction.