In this alternate Albion, Nought slavery only ended 50 years ago; their education and career prospects remain stunted; and they’re still the subject of crude prejudices (“They smell funny, and eat peculiar foods”). Through the star-crossed love of privileged Cross Sephy – daughter of a powerful politician – and impoverished Nought Callum, Blackman’s book invited readers to look at racism, past and present, from an entirely different perspective.
Now, nearly two decades on, it’s been turned into a BBC One series – with an initial six-episode run – by Mammoth Screen, makers of The City & The City and The War Of The Worlds. For executive producer Preethi Mavahalli, who optioned the rights eight years back, it’s clearly been a labour of love.
“I was a fan – I read it when it came out,” she tells SFX. “As an Indian woman, second generation, it connected with me so much, because I’d never read anything where people have had the same experience as me. It was quite moving. They’re beautifully written characters, but you’re able to tackle big issues from that.”
Mavahalli picks out a memorable passage where Callum has a plaster on his face: designed with the Cross majority in mind, it’s brown, standing out against his pale skin. It’s a moment that can make white readers consider how often whiteness is considered the default – and not just them.
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Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av SFX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Making Alien - Jaws in Space - Forty-five years on from its original release, Alien continues to terrify. We dissect what arguably remains the most chilling instalment in the saga
The seven-strong crew of the commercial mining spacecraft the Nostromo seal their fate after reluctantly responding to a mysterious distress signal on a hostile planet. Here, a face-hugging alien from a derelict ship impregnates and later kills executive officer Kane (John Hurt) after its offspring is birthed onboard. After being unleashed, the fearsome newborn with acid for blood proceeds to dispatch the remainder of the crew.Ridley Scott's much more convoluted prequels have yet to reveal how the knowledge that led to this initial interception was acquired. However, the premise of the original Alien is perfect in its uncomplicated purity.
PURE AND SIMPLE
IN THE FINAL PART OF OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, SHOWRUNNER RUSSELL T DAVIES TALKS RELAUNCHING DOCTOR WHO
TO CAP IT ALL OFF
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE BBC SERIES THE TRIPODS
FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE WALKING DEAD SPIN-OFF SHOWRUNNER DAVID ZABEL ON BEING GIVEN THE TOUGH TASK OF REUNITING DARYL AND CAROL IN FRANCE
SILENT KILLERS
THE DIRECTOR OF HOLLYWOOD'S SPEAK NO EVIL REMAKE ON HORROR, COMEDY AND JAMES MCAVOY
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
THE GHOST WITH THE MOST RETURNS FINALLY - IN BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
TEENAGE DREAM
JOE LOCKE HITS THE ROAD RUNNING
MOB RULE THE PENGUIN
GOTHAM'S UP FOR GRABS IN BRUISING NEW CRIME SAGA BUT WHERE IS THE BATMAN?
SEASON OF THE WITCH
AS MARVEL TELEVISION CARVES OUT A NEW PATH FOR ITSELF, WE SPEAK TO CREATOR JAC SCHAEFFER, PLUS A CAST OF STARS LED BY KATHRYN HAHN AND JOE LOCKE, ABOUT THE MAGIC OF WANDAVISION'S SPIN-OFF AGATHA ALL ALONG
Ghouls Allowed
Even silence can't save you at this year's Halloween Horror Nights