7 Octavia Butler Books That'll Transport You to a New World
7 Octavia Butler Books That'll Transport You to a New World
If we're talking must-read authors like Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison, the one-and-only Octavia Butler needs be a part of the conversation. The groundbreaking sci-fi and speculative fiction author was a master of spinning imaginative tales that introduced you to both the possibilities—and dangers—of the human race, all while offering lessons on tribalism, race, gender, and sexuality.
In a literary genre dominated by white men, Butler published 15 novels and short story collections in her lifetime, received a MacArthur genius grant, and earned two Nebula and two Hugo awards, both esteemed recognitions in publishing. And despite dying unexpectedly of a stroke at age 58 in 2006, her legacy still lives on. In 2019, the Los Angeles Public Library named its studio space the Octavia Lab in her honor.
“First forget inspiration," she wrote in her short story collection, Bloodchild and Other Stories. "Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.”
Below we have the essential Octavia Butler books to introduce you to the acclaimed author.
In a literary genre dominated by white men, Butler made her own space.
