Edel Rodriguez is best known for his ubiquitous Trump illustrations as posters and magazine covers. However, there is another side to Rodriquez’s powerful art: his book covers for authors Yoss (José Miguel Sánchez Gómez) and Agustín de Rojas (1949–2011), the patron saint of Cuban science fiction.
The Washington Post notes that Cuban sci-fi authors are reminiscent of the “satire of Rabelais and Swift.” With that in mind, I asked Rodriguez to reflect on sci-fi as a tool of dissent.
What exactly does this niche of fiction mean?
Some of these stories reflect on what is happening in Cuban culture and politics under the cover of science fiction. It gives writers a way to be social critics in an indirect manner. They can tell stories about corruption, migration, shortages and other social ills in a dystopian setting that is not directly tied to Cuba.
Are the books produced in Cuba for Cuban readers?
The books are written in Cuba by Cuban writers but have mostly been published in Spain. Some of them have been published in Cuba; it just depends on the nature of the writing. The books by the author Yoss are not printed on the island, though they do make their way back to readers there.
Are the writers dissidents?
I don’t think they are dissidents per se, but some have been looked at in a negative light by the establishment. This is why some of their books are often published overseas. I believe that the writer Agustín de Rojas was embraced by Cuban institutions while the writer Yoss was not.
What do you feel is a smart sci-fi scenario? And is there a Cuban narrative?
My favorite thing about these stories is seeing the references to Cuban culture, the conversation style and scenarios which mirror what is happening in the Cuban society. A Cuban narrative is when all goes to hell and the characters are desperately trying to right the ship, whether it be a boat, a country or a spaceship.
How many covers have you designed, and do you expect any more to come your way?
I’ve created seven book covers over the years so there may be more in the works. My latest for Restless Books is a cover for the The Third Temple, a dystopian novel based in a futuristic Jerusalem by author Yishai Sarid.
