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backshelfbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Unexpected Stories includes two recently unearthed short works by Butler, which appear in this collection as their first time ever in print. Not only did I love these two stories, but I actually think it was a great introduction for me into Butler’s oeuvre. Both of the stories had very prominent themes of class and race, and both explored really fascinating (and totally different) worlds.
The first of the two stories, and the longer of the two, is “A Necessary Being.” This novella explores a world much changed by drought and climate, and centers on the leaders of two separate, and possibly competing, tribal groups. The people in this world are divided in different castes by their skin color, which varies widely from dark green to yellow to true blue. It is an obvious and powerful commentary on class and race within our own world, and features a strong female leader who is both older in age and not ashamed of showing her sexuality. It’s beautiful to see, and the story is compelling to read. I could not put this story down.
The second entry in this collection, “Childfinder,” was rather short. It’s a story of class and racism, and also about children with some largely-unexplored psychic abilities. This world is much closer to a near-future dystopian or alternative version of our own world, and packs quite a punch into its almost-too-short 13 pages. I wanted more from the story; I wanted more about the kids and I wanted more about their powers and I wanted world-building. Ultimately, though, this story is mostly successful in that it left me thinking considerably about it and its world.
“A Necessary Being” comes in at 4 stars for me, while “Childfinder” is probably closer to a 3.5. The experience of reading of this collection as a whole, however, including it’s foreword and afterwords, is a solid 4 star reading experience. It’s a lovely collection, and I am glad Subterranean Press is putting these stories in print for the world.
Thanks to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for proving me an eArc of this collection in exchange for an honest review! Check out my blog Back Shelf Books for more reviews and commentary on Sci Fi.
The first of the two stories, and the longer of the two, is “A Necessary Being.” This novella explores a world much changed by drought and climate, and centers on the leaders of two separate, and possibly competing, tribal groups. The people in this world are divided in different castes by their skin color, which varies widely from dark green to yellow to true blue. It is an obvious and powerful commentary on class and race within our own world, and features a strong female leader who is both older in age and not ashamed of showing her sexuality. It’s beautiful to see, and the story is compelling to read. I could not put this story down.
The second entry in this collection, “Childfinder,” was rather short. It’s a story of class and racism, and also about children with some largely-unexplored psychic abilities. This world is much closer to a near-future dystopian or alternative version of our own world, and packs quite a punch into its almost-too-short 13 pages. I wanted more from the story; I wanted more about the kids and I wanted more about their powers and I wanted world-building. Ultimately, though, this story is mostly successful in that it left me thinking considerably about it and its world.
“A Necessary Being” comes in at 4 stars for me, while “Childfinder” is probably closer to a 3.5. The experience of reading of this collection as a whole, however, including it’s foreword and afterwords, is a solid 4 star reading experience. It’s a lovely collection, and I am glad Subterranean Press is putting these stories in print for the world.
Thanks to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for proving me an eArc of this collection in exchange for an honest review! Check out my blog Back Shelf Books for more reviews and commentary on Sci Fi.
asullivan445's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beththeawkward's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
gellyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I wish these were longer stories instead of the mind of my mind series.
moirwyn's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/08/29/unexpected-stories-octavia-butler/
Octavia Butler (1947-2006) is one of my all-time favorite authors. She uses the platform of speculative fiction to deeply explore themes of race and gender, dominance and submission, and the use and abuse of power. She sheds light on the dark side of human nature and shows how exploitation can become entrenched within a people’s way of life.
Unexpected Stories contains two previously unpublished short stories that were never released during Octavia Butler’s lifetime. As usual, I am blown away by her stories and can’t stop thinking about them.
A Necessary Being
The novella A Necessary Being takes place in a tribal society on an alien world. We never know the exact nature of the characters we meet, but we do know that social status is largely dependent upon skin color. Blue pigmentation is extremely rare, and a blue person (called a Hao) occupies the highest status within any given city. Having a Hao boosts the entire city’s status, and because people put such great emphasis on having a Hao, it is common to kidnap one from another city, forcibly crippling the captured Hao to prevent them from returning to their birthplace.
Tahneh is the Hao of her city. Her father was the Hao before her, and she’s still bitter about the fact that he was crippled and forced to rule. Tahneh has had difficulty conceiving, and it’s become obvious to the people that she won’t be able to produce an heir. One day, warriors spot a young Hao exploring the jungle outside the ruins. Tahneh is lonely because she’s the only one of her kind in her city, and she immediately drawn to Diut. She wants to spare him her father’s fate, but doing so would mean compromising the needs of the people whom she governs, and so she’s caught in an ethical conundrum. Do the needs of many outweigh the needs of one person? Is violently subduing Diut morally acceptable? How can Tahneh serve both her people and her conscience?
I loved this story so much. The Hao’s role within the social hierarchy was fascinating, and shows that power isn’t absolute and can be both a blessing and a curse. Because the Hao are so rare and so revered, they become pawns in an ecosystem that’s much bigger than themselves. I felt drawn into the world that Octavia Butler created, and I regret that I can’t learn even more about it.
Childminder
In Childminder, humans with psi abilities have formed an organization. Rather than using their powers for good, the organization is rigid, exclusive, and largely white. When a woman named Barbara starts recruiting young black children in slums who have psi abilities, the organization pushes back. Barbara begins to train her prodigies in secret until one day the organization comes to put an end to her work.
Childminder takes a very pessimistic view of what can happen when people use privilege to promote values of conformity and exclusivity rather than using that power to break down previously existing social barriers. When psi powers began to emerge, people had thought that it would lower the barriers between race, gender, and class because people from all walks of life would be able to understand each other in a way that was never possible before. However, instead of building empathy, people used their power to reinforce those barriers and to eliminate anyone who saw the world differently.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/08/29/unexpected-stories-octavia-butler/
Octavia Butler (1947-2006) is one of my all-time favorite authors. She uses the platform of speculative fiction to deeply explore themes of race and gender, dominance and submission, and the use and abuse of power. She sheds light on the dark side of human nature and shows how exploitation can become entrenched within a people’s way of life.
Unexpected Stories contains two previously unpublished short stories that were never released during Octavia Butler’s lifetime. As usual, I am blown away by her stories and can’t stop thinking about them.
A Necessary Being
The novella A Necessary Being takes place in a tribal society on an alien world. We never know the exact nature of the characters we meet, but we do know that social status is largely dependent upon skin color. Blue pigmentation is extremely rare, and a blue person (called a Hao) occupies the highest status within any given city. Having a Hao boosts the entire city’s status, and because people put such great emphasis on having a Hao, it is common to kidnap one from another city, forcibly crippling the captured Hao to prevent them from returning to their birthplace.
Tahneh is the Hao of her city. Her father was the Hao before her, and she’s still bitter about the fact that he was crippled and forced to rule. Tahneh has had difficulty conceiving, and it’s become obvious to the people that she won’t be able to produce an heir. One day, warriors spot a young Hao exploring the jungle outside the ruins. Tahneh is lonely because she’s the only one of her kind in her city, and she immediately drawn to Diut. She wants to spare him her father’s fate, but doing so would mean compromising the needs of the people whom she governs, and so she’s caught in an ethical conundrum. Do the needs of many outweigh the needs of one person? Is violently subduing Diut morally acceptable? How can Tahneh serve both her people and her conscience?
I loved this story so much. The Hao’s role within the social hierarchy was fascinating, and shows that power isn’t absolute and can be both a blessing and a curse. Because the Hao are so rare and so revered, they become pawns in an ecosystem that’s much bigger than themselves. I felt drawn into the world that Octavia Butler created, and I regret that I can’t learn even more about it.
Childminder
In Childminder, humans with psi abilities have formed an organization. Rather than using their powers for good, the organization is rigid, exclusive, and largely white. When a woman named Barbara starts recruiting young black children in slums who have psi abilities, the organization pushes back. Barbara begins to train her prodigies in secret until one day the organization comes to put an end to her work.
Childminder takes a very pessimistic view of what can happen when people use privilege to promote values of conformity and exclusivity rather than using that power to break down previously existing social barriers. When psi powers began to emerge, people had thought that it would lower the barriers between race, gender, and class because people from all walks of life would be able to understand each other in a way that was never possible before. However, instead of building empathy, people used their power to reinforce those barriers and to eliminate anyone who saw the world differently.
portlandcat's review against another edition
5.0
This woman was a genius - you'll want to have read Survivor and Mind of My Mind to appreciate this one.
meakey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
crystalroses68's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
iowagirl's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0