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{{Short description|Canadian novelist and politician (born 1969)}}
{{Infobox writer
| name             = Malcolm Azania
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| pseudonym        = Minister Faust
| birth_date       = {{Birth year and age|1969}}
| birth_place      = [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]]
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| genre            = [[Science fiction]]
| years_active     = 1986-Present
| module           = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| party            = [[New Democratic Party]]
}}
}}

'''Malcolm Azania''' (born 1969), is a Kenyan-Canadian novelist, teacher, writer, and journalist. He is primarily known by his pen name, '''Minister Faust'''. In addition to writing science fiction, he is a playwright, journalist, teacher, and poet. He has also written video games.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx |title=WiRProfile - English and Film Studies - University of Alberta |accessdate=2015-02-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005320/http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx |archivedate=2015-02-25 }}, ualberta.ca, retrieved on 18.02.15</ref> He was writer in residence at the University of Alberta, 2014-2015.

== Personal life ==
Born in [[Edmonton]], Alberta, Malcolm Azania is the son of a Kenyan and a Canadian.<!-- What about his parents? Bios typically talk about family --> He attended local schools and started writing from an early age, showing an interest in science fiction.

== Career ==
Azania's first published work was his science fiction play, ''The Undiscovered Country'' (1986), for Montreal's Creations Etc.<ref name="alberta"/>

He was the writer in residence at the [[University of Alberta]]. Writing in the science fiction and fantasy genres, he refers to his subgenre of writing as imhotep-hop. Imhotep-hop is an Africentric subgenre that draws inspiration from numerous ancient African civilizations and focuses on a future in which people struggle for justice.<ref name="alberta">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005320/http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx#SCIENCE%20FICTION%20AND%20FANTASY:%20IMHOTEP-HOP Minister Faust: SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY: IMHOTEP-HOP] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005320/http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx#SCIENCE%20FICTION%20AND%20FANTASY:%20IMHOTEP-HOP |date=2015-02-25 }}, ualberta.ca, retrieved on 18.02.15</ref>

Most of his works deal with political themes in some way, with the most notable works being the ongoing War & Mir series.

=== Novels ===
==== ''The Coyote Kings'' ====
{{Main|The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad}}

Azania's debut novel, ''The Coyote Kings, Book One: Space Age Bachelor Pad'' (2004), was a finalist for the Philip K. Dick award, The Locus Best First Novel Award, and The Compton-Cook Award. The novel follows Sherem, an Ethiopian savant, and Hamza and Yehat through a story filled with action, pop culture and Africentric themes.<ref>[https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0345466357, Amazon.ca, retrieved on 17.02.15]</ref>

==== ''From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain'' ====
{{Main|From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain}}

His second book, ''From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain'' (2007), was the winner of the Carl Brandon Society Kindred Award and the runner-up for the Philip K. Dick Prize. The story explores around six fictional super heroes in therapy and their revelations of the difficulties of being a celebrity.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150225022513/http://www.amazon.ca/Shrinking-Heroes-Minister-Faust-ebook/dp/B0056370P4 Amazon.ca, retrieved on 17.02.15]</ref>

==== ''The Alchemists of Kush'' ====
''The Alchemists of Kush'' (2011) follows the paths of two Sudanese boys as they attempt to change the world.<ref>[http://www.amazon.comdp/B0055PQRG6{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Amazon.ca, retrieved on 17.02.15]{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

	''The Alchemists of Kush'' is a Science Fiction Afrofuturist novel written under Malcom Azania’s pen name: Minister Faust. This novel is broken up into four sections each containing its own collection of chapters. The chapters in this novel switch back and forth from “The Book of Then” and “The Book of Now.” There is a third book called “The Book of the Golden Falcon,” which can be found at the end of the novel before the Falconic Glossary and map of Ancient and Modern Kush. In “The Book of Then,” ''The Alchemists of Kush''’s setting is in the Savage Lands and the Blacklands of Africa. “The Book of Now” takes place in Canada. ''The Alchemists of Kush'' was published in July 2011. Each one of the three books contains 10 chapters.

	In the Author’s Note, Minister Faust gives some suggestions on how to read his work. Minister Faust writes “certainly, feel free to read the novel in the path that it’s printed… But you could also read all the “Then’’s as a group, followed by “Now’’s together, ending with “The Book of the Golden Falcon”... or read the first chapters of every “Falcon,” “Then,” and “Now,” all the way through to each one’s tenth chapter.”

	Minister Faust incorporates the ancient practice of Alchemy, and Egyptian hieroglyphics, numerology, and mythology within ''The Alchemists of Kush''. Minister Faust puts a heavy emphasis on past lives and reincarnation as well as following those karmic patterns within each spirit. In his own words, Minister Faust, in a YouTube interview, introduces the Alchemical system as “a mystical system; a knowledge system.” Faust fused “Ancient Egyptian history” and “modern African realities” together to create ''The Alchemists of Kush'', an Africentric novel.

	The setting for ''The Alchemists of Kush'' “The Book of Now” is in Kush located in E-Town (Edmonton), Canada. In his YouTube book trailer, Minister Faust describes E-Town as a “Somali, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Sudanese district.” “The Book of Then” takes place in Africa, in the Savage lands and the Blacklands over seven thoughts and years before “The Book of Now” (modern day time) takes place. 
	For the 2017 published version of ''The Alchemists of Kush'', the summary on the back of the novel reads “two Sudanese “Lost  Boys.” Both fathers murdered during civil war. Both mothers forced into exile through lands where the only law was violence. To survive, they became ruthless loners and child soldiers. Before finding mystic mentors who transformed them to achieve their destinies. Separated by seven thousand years, and connected by immortal truth... One, known to the streets as Supreme Raptor: the other, known to the Greeks as Horus, son of Osiris. Both born in fire. Both baptized with blood. Both brutalized by the wicked. Both sworn to transform the world and themselves by the power... of Alchemy.”

	ISBN No. 978-1737227748

<ref>{{cite web |title=Minister Faust The Alchemists of Kush |url=https://ministerfaust.com/minister_faust_the_alchemists_of_kush |website=Minister Faust |access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=The Alchemists of Kush |url=https://andromedaspaceways.com/review/the-alchemists-of-kush/ |website=Andromeda Spaceways Magazine |date=15 January 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=Imagining Future Histories: Black Speculative Fiction |url=https://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/c.php?g=901430&p=6486555 |website=Iowa university libraries |access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>

==== War & Mir ====
His War and Mir series consists of two novels, ''War & Mir, Volume I: Ascension'' (2012), and ''War & Mir, Volume II: The Darkold'' (2014), with a third novel currently being written. The story centers on Taharqa Douglass, a man with a unique trait that marks him as a prime target for drafting into an interstellar war.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150225023257/http://www.amazon.ca/War-Mir-Volume-I-Ascension-ebook/dp/B008F4NPJG Amazon.ca, retrieved on 17.02.15]</ref>

=== Video games ===
==== ''Mass Effect 2 DLC'' ====
{{Main|Mass Effect 2: Kasumi – Stolen Memory}}

Azania co-wrote Mass Effect 2's Kasumi DLC (Downloadable Content). It was initially released on April 6, 2010, for the PC and Xbox, and released on January 18 for the PS3. The DLC introduces a new character and several new outfits, as well as an original quest line.

==== ''Gift of the Yeti'' ====
Azania wrote BioWare's ''Gift of the Yeti'', an app for Facebook which was released in 2009, with the intent of raising $10,000 for Childs Play, a charity that funds hospitals for children.<ref>[http://blog.bioware.com/2009/12/04/bioware-childs-play-and-the-gift-of-the-yeti/], Bioware.com, retrieved on 18.02.15</ref> In the game, the player controls a [[yeti]] who must take Santa's place for one year, and deliver presents to everyone while evading the police.<ref>[http://ca.ign.com/articles/2009/12/04/facebook-games-gift-of-the-yeti, ign.com, retrieved on 18.02.15]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==== ''Darkspore'' ====
{{Main|Darkspore}}

Azania wrote maxis' ''Darkspore'', which was released on April 26, 2011. The game involves creating an avatar and fighting across various worlds in an attempt to save the galaxy.

=== Stage writing and sketch comedy ===
Azania's stage writing career began at 17 when he wrote the science fiction play ''The Undiscovered Country'' for Montreal's Creations Etc. His play ''The Wonderful World of Wangari'' is about the Kenyan Nobel Peace laureate Dr. [[Wangari Maathi]]. Azania also has written sketches for local television shows, the ''11:02 Show'' and ''Gordon’s Big Bald Head''.<ref name="Archived copy"/>

=== Print journalism ===
Azania's short stories and poems appear in a multitude of collections, and his articles have been included in numerous publications such as i09,<ref>http://io9.com/minister-faust-explains-the-meaning-of-george-clintons-487712241, io9.com, retrieved on 18.02.15</ref> and Adventure Rocketship: Let's all Go To the Science Fiction Disco.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS5Z9YybTME#t=32, Minister Faust, retrieved on 19.02.15</ref>

=== Radio and television ===
==== Africentric radio ====
<!-- Need secondary sources, not his own press -->
Azania founded ''Africentric Radio'' in 1991, and continued with it until 2012. It was also called ''The Terrodome: Black Radio In the Hour Of Chaos'' and later ''The Terrordome: The Afrika All World News Service''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ministerfaust.com/AfricentricRadioMain.html |title=Africentric Radio |accessdate=2015-02-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219010746/http://ministerfaust.com/AfricentricRadioMain.html |archivedate=2015-02-19 }}, Ministerfaust.com, retrieved 19.02.15</ref> During its time on the air, Africentric Radio featured many prominent political and artistic figures, including Americans [[Noam Chomsky]] and [[Ice-T]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africentricslive.com/the-terrordome-african-writers-on-the-misrepresentation-of-africans/ |title=THE TERRORDOME: African Writers on the Misrepresentation of Africans - AfricentricsLIVE &#124; AfricentricsLIVE |accessdate=2015-02-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225010952/http://www.africentricslive.com/the-terrordome-african-writers-on-the-misrepresentation-of-africans/ |archivedate=2015-02-25 }}, Africentrics Live, retrieved on 19.02.15</ref>

==== HelpTV ====
During the years 2007-2008, Azania was the host and associate producer for ''HelpTV'', a Canadian national daily program.<ref name="efs.ualberta.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx |title=WiRProfile - English and Film Studies - University of Alberta |accessdate=2015-02-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005320/http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx |archivedate=2015-02-25 }}, ualberta.ca, retrieved 19.02.15</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euQLbbh1vwA, Minister Faust, retrieved 19.02.15</ref>

==== Book TV's 3 Day Novel Contest ====
Azania was the celebrity Judge on Book TV's 3 Day Novel Contest for two seasons.<ref name="efs.ualberta.ca"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.booktelevision.com/3Day.aspx?pg=hostJudges |title=BookTelevision - 3 Day Novel Contest |accessdate=2015-02-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225011013/http://www.booktelevision.com/3Day.aspx?pg=hostJudges |archivedate=2015-02-25 }}, booktelevision.com, retrieved 19.02.15</ref>

==Politics==
Azania was a candidate in the [[2004 Canadian federal election]], representing the [[New Democratic Party]] in [[Edmonton Strathcona (federal electoral district)|Edmonton Strathcona]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://albertaviews.ca/diary-of-a-doorknocker/ |title=Diary of a Doorknocker |last=Azania |first=Malcolm |date=2005-03-01 |access-date=2023-05-11}}</ref> He placed third, but increased the NDP's support in the riding by over 3,000 votes.

== Bibliography ==
=== Books ===
* ''[[The Coyote Kings of the Space Age Bachelor Pad]]'' (2004) Novel
* ''[[From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain]]'' (2007) Novel
* ''The Alchemists of Kush'' (2011) Novel
* ''War & Mir, Volume I: Ascension'' (2011) Novel
* ''Journey To Mecha'' (2011) Collection
* ''A Bad Beat Was Brewing'' (2013) Collection
* ''E-Force'' (2013) Collection
* ''War & Mir, Volume II: The Darkold'' (2014) Novel

==Video games==
* ''Gift Of the Yeti'' (2009)
* ''[[Mass Effect 2: Kasumi – Stolen Memory]]'' (2010) Downloadable Content
* ''[[Darkspore]]'' (2011) Video Game

=== Stage writing ===
* ''The Wonderful World of Wangari''
* ''The Undiscovered Country''

==Electoral record==
{{CANelec/top|CA|2004|Edmonton Strathcona|Edmonton—Strathcona|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[Rahim Jaffer]]|19,089|39.40|−2.60|$67,449}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Debby Carlson]]|14,057|29.01|−2.88|$67,910}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|'''Malcolm Azania'''|11,535|23.80|+9.02|$46,100}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Cameron Wakefield|3,146|6.49|&ndash;|$2,353}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marijuana|Dave Dowling|519|1.07|−0.38| }}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Kevan Hunter|103|0.21|−0.08|$26}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|48,449|100.00}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|150|0.31}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|48,599|65.66}}
{{end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote|Malcolm Azania|Minister Faust}}
* [http://www.ministerfaust.com/ "Minister Faust"], official website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005320/http://www.efs.ualberta.ca/en/Writer-in-Residence/WiRProfile.aspx "Minister Faust"], Writer in Residence, University of Alberta
* [https://smalltalkbigresults.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/better-small-talk-tips-from-minister-faust/ Minister Faust, "How to Engage in Better Small Talk" (TED talk)], Small Talk Blog
* {{ISFDB name|id=Minister_Faust|name=Minister Faust}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faust, Minister}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Kenyan descent]]
[[Category:Black Canadian novelists]]
[[Category:Canadian science fiction writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Writers from Edmonton]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Alberta]]
[[Category:Afrofuturist writers]]
[[Category:Canadian male novelists]]
[[Category:Black Canadian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Novelists from Alberta]]