FIVE GENERATIONS HENCE (1)
By:
August 29, 2025

Five Generations Hence is a 1916 afrofuturist novel by Lillian B. Jones. It is considered unique in its pre-Harlem Renaissance, pre-Marcus-Garvey call for a transcontinental dialogue between Africa and America, one that hinges on economic self-sufficiency and most particularly on the high-minded ideas and deeds of intelligent women. HiLoBooks is pleased to serialize Chapter V, k for HILOBROW’s readers.
ALL INSTALLMENTS: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5.
A friend of Miss Gray’s was soon hurrying home in a carriage with her and Miss Noble.
It was a quiet little home on the outskirts of the city. In the front yard were various kinds of flowers growing promiscuously about; principally among them was a bed of sweet peas of many colors. The front window was nearly hidden by honeysuckle, and a large bucket of wandering Jew hung suspended between the ceiling and floor of the front porch. The back yard ended in an abrupt hill broken by numerous grassy terraces till, far below, spread pastures of bright green where grazed numbers of cattle, and in the distance, partially hidden by the trees, meandered the river. A beautiful pastoral scene possessing just the drowsy sweetness of a Sabbath afternoon fitted to bring out of one only that which was best.
Miss Gray’s friend knew of her engagement with Miss Noble, and like the wise woman that she was, had an excuse to go away with her husband and bade Miss Gray to rest. Consequently, the two friends had the afternoon to themselves.
Miss Gray lay upon a lawn bench, a pillow beneath her head; Miss Noble sat near, stroking the hair from her friend’s brow.
“My dear Violet,” began Miss Noble in those soft, tremulous tones that always gave force to her words when she was deeply in earnest, “I hardly feel worthy to address you. I have always had such great desires to do something really worth the while, but as I reflect now as I sit in your presence, I feel that my life has been utterly worthless. With all my lofty desires, in comparison with the service you have rendered our people, what have I done? Even now, I must be true to you as to myself — when I ask myself whether I could make the sacrifices you make, my heart selfishly replies no. There then must be something that I hold dearer than service to my people, and oh, Violet, I feel so hypocritical, so insignificant in my own estimation. Talk with me, encourage me; you always know just what to say.” Her eyes pleadingly sought those of her companion, who met the parted lips with a kiss.
“’Tis not given us all to serve in the same capacity,” Miss Gray quoted in a soft chant as she sat up. “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? No, our gifts differ; we are only exhorted to covet earnestly the best gifts. Who saving God himself has the right to compare our gifts? No, Grace, I know your life has not been spent worthlessly. You are, I feel, destined to accomplish a great work. You possess wonderful ability. Do you remember how Miss Saunders used to commend your compositions; she thought then she taught an embryo author.” Miss Gray smiled at this reminiscence of college days. “Have you ever thought to write, Grace, such a field for service, and such a vast audience?”
RADIUM AGE PROTO-SF: “Radium Age” is Josh Glenn’s name for the nascent sf genre’s c. 1900–1935 era, a period which saw the discovery of radioactivity, i.e., the revelation that matter itself is constantly in movement — a fitting metaphor for the first decades of the 20th century, during which old scientific, religious, political, and social certainties were shattered. More info here.
SERIALIZED BY HILOBOOKS: James Parker’s Cocky the Fox | Annalee Newitz’s “The Great Oxygen Race” | Matthew Battles’s “Imago” | & many more original and reissued novels and stories.