#16, 50 PoC Book Reviews

[brigdh]

16. Octavia Butler, Bloodchild

This is a book of short stories and essays. I'd never read anything by Butler before, though I know she's very popular, and a book of short stories seemed a good place to start (well, and also the book was sitting right there on the shelf looking at me when I was checking out at the library). The stories are science-fiction, though they range from very similar to the real world (a drug for cancer causes a disease in the children of the people who took it) to very, very different (humans live in a few encampments on a world controlled by giant centipede-like aliens). Unexpectedly, I discovered that I'd actually read two of the stories before, though I have no idea where I would have come across them, since I don't read short stories often. Regardless, they were both excellent, and I was glad to rediscover them. The essays are mostly advice for writers, with one about Butler's own experiences as a science-fiction fan and trying to become a published author.

I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading more of Butler in the future. A lot of people have described her as depressing, but I didn't find these stories to be. Dark, yes, involving people in very bad places, yes, but there always seemed to be a certain... belief in humanity? Or at least in its potential? Not quite sure how to describe what I mean, but these stories didn't come off as depressing to me.

Crossposted to 50books_poc

Comments

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

I adore this book -- especially the title story, which I had read in a sci-fi anthology and which prompted me to buy the whole book. I've read it at least four times, and every time I go back to it I find something new. Butler is just fantastic.

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

Also, a completely appalling reenactment done with fruit. Spoilers, obviously. Also, four minutes of your life you will never get back.

[pukingtoreador.livejournal.com]

That was four minutes well spent!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

HA! Oh, man, that is kind of awesome.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Okay, I totally don't even know what to say about that. O.O

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that definitely sounds like something I'd enjoy - thanks for the review! I've added the book to my list so I don't lose track of it. :-)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

It's really great! I do recommend it!

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know that I FINALLY got a copy of this through inter-library loan and I've just finished reading the second story, and these are really GOOD. So thank you very much for the recommendation. :-D

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

[rm.livejournal.com]

You have to read Xenogensis or Lilith's Brood (it's the same three book series, published under two different names).

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I actually have Lilith's Brood (and so do you, making it another one of those books are household has multiple copies of), but just haven't gotten around to reading it yet. A lot of people on the community have been reviewing Kindred recently too, and that one also looks awesome (black woman is sent back in time to protect her ancestor from getting killed thus meaning she would never have been born, but the twist is that her ancestor is an idiot white asshole slave-owner).

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

If Octavia Butler wrote it, I can pretty much recommend it. One of THE 20th century U.S. writers. If she hadn't written that Sci Fi stuff, she'd be famous!

[pukingtoreador.livejournal.com]

I fucking love Bloodchild.
My favorite was the humane chestbursters. Yes!

I didn't care for the one piece of longer fiction I read from her, Mind of My Mind. I found it funny that she mentioned she didn't like writing short fiction, because everything in Bloodchild is so, so good.