This article explores the textual history of The Flying Saucer by Wisdom Dede Kamkondo, first published in Malawi in 1989. Although out-of-print, rare copies of the novella are preserved in archives at Chancellor College in Malawi and Yale University Library. The paper examines how the materiality of the text, through its physical form and surrounding paratexts, influences its meaning and reception. By comparing two copies of the text, the study highlights how the condition of the physical book, its paratextual elements (such as the cover and prefaces), and textual traces in archives shape the novella’s interpretation. The article introduces the concept of “rhetorical accretion,” arguing that the layers of paratexts and material history accumulate meaning over time, transforming how the text is understood. It also sheds light on the silences within Kamkondo’s book and the omissions that have influenced its historical narrative. By focusing on the material aspects of The Flying Saucer, the study offers a new way of reading speculative fiction, examining how genre, paratext, and cultural context interact in the shaping of literary legacies. Ultimately, this research highlights the role of materiality and paratext in African literature and challenges traditional approaches to literary history, offering a deeper understanding of how texts evolve through time.
Gender performativity, queer theory, LGBTI representation, homosexuality, lesbianism, anti-LGBTI cultures.
Sanat Sharma, (2025-02-21 14:07:37.162). The Materiality and Textual History of "The Flying Saucer": Rhetorical Accretion in Speculative Fiction. Abhi International Journal of Humanities and Law, Volume D5VD9CkOo1KV4U0eHzbL, Issue 1.