Taking a break from work to tell you about a portal fantasy I think should be nominated for a Hugo Award.
It's the story of a young Black man living in 1880s America. He's faced some hardships in his life, but he's skilled at riding a horse and liberating money from banks.
It's the story of a young Black man living in 1880s America. He's faced some hardships in his life, but he's skilled at riding a horse and liberating money from banks.
He and his buddy, a older white man, have just liberated said money from said banks and escaped the local marshal on *very* fast horses. They stop in a town the young man has been through before -- one where they don't take too kindly to the dark-skinned.
His partner, though his lens of privilege, thinks they'll be okay since "You're with me, now."
Guess what? It's not okay.
The locals chase them off with bullets. The young Black man escapes by diving into an old, abandoned mine... and is magically transported through time.
Guess what? It's not okay.
The locals chase them off with bullets. The young Black man escapes by diving into an old, abandoned mine... and is magically transported through time.
He ends up in Los Angeles, CA, 2019.
Now, our young man is smart, resourceful, and knows how to take care of himself. Instead of flipping the f out, he decides to explore a bit.
The people of LA are.... rather confused by him. But luckily, he's landed in a Black neighborhood.
Now, our young man is smart, resourceful, and knows how to take care of himself. Instead of flipping the f out, he decides to explore a bit.
The people of LA are.... rather confused by him. But luckily, he's landed in a Black neighborhood.
The young man gets acclimated quickly, & soon finds a way to make some quick money: drag racing. Somehow, despite his only having a horse and his rivals having cars, he wins each time.
(It's magic. The answer is magic.)
He makes enough to get some period-appropriate clothes.
(It's magic. The answer is magic.)
He makes enough to get some period-appropriate clothes.
Plot twist! He discovers that his friend from 1889, the older white man, is also here in 2019! He fell into the same portal and he still has the money! Which is now worth a LOT more as collectors items. Of course, the old man blew it all on a nice car because, well, white men.
That's okay, b/c the two of them have a plan to make more: becoming a cross-genre musical duo. Rap + country is hot now, so they head to the local Old Town Hall BINGO night for their debut. The audience is skeptical at first, but soon are out there line dancing their butts off.
The young Black man makes a ton of money, meets a nice granny who adores him and agrees to become his live-in assistant. He writes a song that is a sensation and wins a Grammy Award. He sometimes wonders whatever happened to those people in 1889, but he's not going back.
Great story, yeah? Fantasy, portals, racial commentary, music - it has it all! And that's why I think folks should nominate @LilNasX's Old Town Road movie for the Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) Hugo Award.
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