History of the New World is a speculative short story by Cree/Métis author Adam Garnet Jones, originally published in the 2019 anthology
The concept of the "New World" has been shrouded in mystery and controversy for centuries. From the early European explorers to the present day, the narrative of the New World's discovery and colonization has been widely debated. One individual who has dedicated his work to uncovering the truth behind this narrative is Adam Garnet Jones, a historian and researcher who has written extensively on the topic.
“History of the New World.” | Utopian Literature in English
The narrative follows an interracial queer family: Em, a Two-Spirit nehiyow (Cree); Thorah, a Liberal atheist; and their daughter, Asêciwan. The Choice:
—abandoning a land they were meant to care for to become "transdimensional colonizers" of a new one. The Discovery:
The term "New World" was first coined by European explorers during the Age of Discovery, referring to the Americas, which were previously unknown to the Old World. Over time, the concept has evolved to encompass not only the geographical territories of the Americas but also the complex histories, cultures, and societies that have developed within them. Jones' work seeks to contextualize this evolution, offering a nuanced understanding of the New World's history and its ongoing impact on contemporary society.
A few possibilities:
Usually, reading a historical text felt like walking through a museum of broken glass—careful, distant, painful. But as the first page rendered on his screen, Elias felt a shift. Jones’s prose didn't sound like a lecture. It sounded like a confession shared over a campfire.