#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.

[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. :-)

[rm.livejournal.com]

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

[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.