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Imaro cover: Image courtesy of Charles R.Saunders
Back in the seventies Marvel was enjoying great success with Robert E.Howard's "Conan" series. However, one man questioned the lack of fantasy heroes that reflected his image and history. That man was Charles R. Saunders. His answer was "Imaro." Charles explains the basis of his creation. "I saw that black characters were either absent or stereotyped in the fantasy fiction I was fond of reading, and an alternative was needed. Also I was bold (or crazy) enough to believe I could provide that alternative."
Charles didn't stop at "Imaro," he went on to create an answer to Howard's female heroine "Red Sonja." The Amazonian "Dossouye's" exploits were also recorded as Charles details their chronology."The first Imaro story was published in 1974, in a small-press magazine. Dossouye appeared in 1979, in a DAW Books anthology about Amazons. Imaro first appeared in book form in 1981 (revised in 2006), and Dossouye’s first book came out last year."
When asked about the type of response his work was met with, Charles had this to say. "I got a good reception in the small press. In the conventional mainstream press, the response was good at first, then not so much – mainly because sales were not robust."
Charles was asked about being the founder of the "Sword and Soul" movement in fantasy literature. "I have to consider myself the founder of “Sword and Soul,” which is a branch of the “Sword and Sorcery” genre created by Robert E. Howard, because I was the first – and for a long time the only – writer to publish positive African-oriented fantasy fiction. I’ve got great company now, in excellent authors like Milton Davis and Carole McDonnell, with others stepping up as well."
Charles had this response about acceptance, and if it mattered in the mainstream of fantasy literature. "Who knows? I’ve been writing for nearly 40 years. Perhaps persistence will pay. I’ve done what I set out to do, and that’s enough for me. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake."
Charles goes on to explain the uniqueness of his characters, beyond their ethnicity. "It’s the settings of their stories – alternative versions of the Africa of our world, in which history unfolds in different ways, and the myths and legends of the world we know are real, and the stereotypes of our world are absent."
Charles goes on to explain his ultimate goals as an author. "To do the best work I can in the time I’ve got, and open people’s eyes to the fact that there’s more to Africa than Tarzan or the negative news that makes headlines today."
Charles had this advice for future "Sword and Soul" authors. "Immerse yourself in African history, mythology, folklore and culture. Let that knowledge become the launching pad from which your imagination soars. Don’t imitate or duplicate – originate."
The first three Imaro novels, and the Dossouye book, are all available at Amazon.com. More novels featuring both characters are forthcoming. For more information about future projects,please visit his website.
For more information:www.charlessaundersauthor.com
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