Read anything by Octavia E. Butler?

[redwino]

Has anyone read anything Octavia E. Butler? I started reading Parable of the Sower to try to take my mind off the election. Bad idea. It's an apocalyptic series eritten in the 90's that starts in 2024. I pushed through the first book knowing that there would be some light at the end. I just finished and decided to read the preview chapter for the second book. There's an evil presidential candidate running on "make America great again". His supporters are violent bigots. I let out a slight scream when I read it. It seriously freaked me out and I threw my kindle down. I wasn't going to start the second book yet because I needed a break from the dark plot but now I don't know if I'll read it at all.

I'd never heard of the author but was excited when I found out she was a black female sci-fi writer. I feel like I should read more of her books but it's all a bit too real right now.

[salejolie]

I started reading her books in middle school and recently re-read the Xenogenesis series (Lilith's Brood). A lot of people have been sharing the parables recently and I know I'm not ready for that right now. You might find that easier to digest, but in typical sci-fi fashion the social commentary is off the charts. I also re-read the patternmaster series which is also heavy, and so eerie.

I'm glad there's a resurgence in her popularity, she made me accept a lot of my nerdy ways and over 20 years later her writing still had me reading all night long.

[bugandbibs]

Oooh. I've never heard of her, but these are the kind of books my sister likes. I think I'll get her one for Christmas. Which series is best?

[redwino]

maybe I'll try the Lilith Brood series and come back to the Parables later. I've never read much sci-fi but I watch a lot of it with DH. She has made me interested in the genre but I may need a Xanax to get through each book. Lol.

[kicks]

I bet Queen Mamadala might have read stuff by her

[pretzel]

I read and enjoyed Lillith's Brood very much. It has a lot of social justice lessons in it, but it's SO sci-fi I think it won't freak you out. Give it a shot!

[dr.girlfriend]

I read Kindred and really loved it. Hoping to read more.

redwino , that one should be pretty safe to read.  Not that it doesn't have depressing elements, but it shifts in time between the 70's and slavery-era so nothing too prescient hopefully.

[andwhat]

I have never read anything of hers, but I have heard people talking about her books a lot lately with the similarities with this election. I will have to check her out.

[cookiemdough]

You might also like Tanavarive Die for black sci-fi authors

[Black Lavender]

Yes! I loved Parable of the Sower, I heard the second one was even more depressing so I didn't read it. I think I will add Lilith's Brood to my list!
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[redwino]

Dec 5, 2016 13:40:14 GMT -5 Black Lavender said:

Yes! I loved Parable of the Sower, I heard the second one was even more depressing so I didn't read it. I think I will add Lilith's Brood to my list!
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I truly enjoyed it overall but some parts were so heavy. My library didn't have the Lilith Brood books on overdrive so I'll have to track down hard copies.

[sonrisa]

I love her books. You should read Kindred if you haven't. I am going to reread the Parable books because they feel relevant. I found the religion she created in them - Earthseed - really interesting. My library doesn't have any of her work, but audible has a bunch of her books. 

ETA: I know i don't go here but I was searching Octavia Butler :-)

[busybodyk]

I've read a lot of her books. I loved Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Dawn was the last one I read. I couldn't move on to the next in the trilogy because the alien factor was too disturbing. I might pick it up later. I have the Patternist series on my want to read list as well. She's an amazing writer.