Published by Tor in 2015, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps is a debut fantasy novella by American author Kai Ashante Wilson. Akin to the previous short stories, the tale takes place in the same fictional universe created by Wilson.
The story follows two demigods, Sorcerer Demane and Captain Isa, who possess unique supernatural abilities. Apart from being brothers in arms, Demane and Isa share a deep love and romantic connection with each other. However, they hide the truth about their abilities and romance from the crew they are accompanying. A merchant convoy has hired the two to protect and guard the men as they make their way through the treacherous Wildeeps. They are heading to the Kingdom of Olorum to sell the salt they extract from their home in the northern oasis. Their journey is riddled with dangerous encounters including tigers that Demane and Isa have to kill using their powers. The narrative explores the concept of masculinity and deconstructs the common notions of manhood through the main characters.
The novella is praised for its ability to subvert the sword and sorcery genre by incorporating African-American culture and dialect. Strange Horizons wrote: “Wilson isn't the first Black writer to demonstrate the possibilities of mixing traditional fantasy tropes with African-American culture, of course, but few have concentrated so brilliantly on the linguistic implications of doing so.” It was shortlisted for several awards, and it won the Crawford Award in 2016.
