Rebecca Roanhorse, Author
- Bio: Born in 1971; American speculative fiction writer and lawyer; of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and African American descent; holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale, a master’s degree in theology from Union Theological Seminary, and a juris doctor degree from Stanford Law School; work often features Indigenous characters and mythology; known for her unique blend of fantasy and science fiction
- Other Works: Storm of Locusts (2019); Black Sun (2020); Race to the Sun (2020)
- Awards: Locus Award for Best First Novel (2019); Hugo Award Finalist (2019); Nebula Award Finalist (2019)
CENTRAL THEMES noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
- Trust and Betrayal in Relationships
- Fear of the Other
- Climate Change and Environmental Destruction
- Familial Ties and Obligations
STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Guide, students will:
- Deepen understanding of how literary Indigenous Futurism confronts past and present colonialism, undermines stereotypes, and applies Indigenous cultural knowledge to anticipate, inform, and improve conditions for the future.
- Discuss and analyze textual elements such as symbolism, characterization, and structure and construct essay responses tying these elements to the novel’s themes.
- Through paired texts, explore aspects of Diné culture and history and analyze how they inform Trail of Lightning.
- Research important cultural aspects of the story to determine where Roanhorse is borrowing ideas and to analyze how she transforms them to support themes within the novel.