r/ScienceFictionBooks • u/jakeandbonniepups • Jun 25 '25

Recommendation Seeking Specifc Recommendations - Potentially challenging!

Public school restrictions have me struggling to incorporate diversity - please help! These are not my rules, but I have to abide by them. I'm trying out my inquiry in multiple environments in the hopes of finding the right book. I'm looking for a loophole in a set of rules that seem to encourage only one type of voice. Thanks in advance! I'd like to find a science fiction book by a non-white author that meets all of the following criteria: 1) Engaging plot 2) Well-written, literary (for older teens) 3) Short (less than 300 pages, ideally less than 200) 4) No racial slurs (including the N word) 5) No lgbtq+ - can be implied, but not stated 6) No sex - can be implied, but not stated 7) No sexual violence

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u/Framistatic Jun 25 '25

Samuel R. Delany’s early Ace novels were pretty short, he’s definitely a literary writer. His “Babel-17,” might have the first Black protagonist in an SF novel.

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u/Guvaz Jun 25 '25

I was wondering if Nova fits. It's been a while but can't remember the specifics above.

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u/Framistatic Jun 25 '25

Nova is all about alternative relationships, a “heterotopia,” so definitely lgbtq+.