Octavia Butler

A lot of famous people have died this week—Don Knotts, Darren McGavin and Dennis Weaver--but I was most shocked and saddened to learn of the death of sci-fi/fantasy author Octavia Butler who was only 58. I was a big fan of her work, to say the least.

All of her stories featured black persons—sometimes that fact was essential to the story line; other times it was incidental. For me, her best work was Lilith’s Brood, also known as the ‘Xenogenesis’ series: Dawn, Adulthood Rites and Imago.

Her last work—which I haven’t read yet--is called Fledgling. I can’t wait to read, though I will dread finishing it, knowing that it will be Ms. Butler’s last.

(Thanks to D.C. Thornton)

Comments

[CGHill]

I've read the Xenogenesis books: they're wondrous. Perhaps we can hope that she left a trunkful of manuscripts which will someday find their way to our shelves.

[T-Steel]

Say it ain't so?!?! My oh my. I met Octavia Butler three years ago at a sci-fi writers building in Chicago. She was amazing. Really had us thinking about alot of different issues in very different ways. I've read every book of hers and have fell in love with them all. Damn my day has just gotten darker.

[Dave Munger]

Bloodchild is going to be one of those short stories that stands the test of time. Horrible title though, sounds like a Christian heavy metal band. I never could get into any of her other stuff, maybe because I wanted it to all be like Bloodchild.

[Bill]

Let's not forget the passing of one of the most influential journalist of the 20th Century -- Mr. Otis Chandler

[pst314]

Locus Magazine, the trade journal for science fiction writers, editors, etc, has
lots more.