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averirachel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
majabwds's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, I was iffy, because I don't think I like sci-fi written in the last century but this collection of stories (especially those with sci-fi elements) were really good! The author does a fantastic job setting up each short story and filling it with interesting concepts and ideas. The afterwords were also very illuminating. My favorite stories are: Bloodchild, The Evening and the Morning and the Night and Amnesty.
muffykins's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krisheiney's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
I have been wanting to enjoy Butler’s writing more than I have—having previously read Kindred and Parable of the Sower—and this book was the one to get me there. Butler is an oddity all her own, a self-taught writer with a startling imagination and a strange view of the world, molded in part by her hermit tendencies and in part by her standing in society as a black American. With these stories, essays, and the accompanying commentary, I have an image of her that makes me see my concerns with her other books in a new light, and I also have a handful of new favorite stories. Bloodchild, the title story, in particular is astonishing, brutal, and beautiful. Other favorites are Amnesty and The Evening and the Morning and the Night, which left me shuddering and with many thoughts. With many of these stories Butler creates power dynamics that are uncomfortable in their reach and shine a light on our own human relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Body horror
Moderate: Racism and Incest
ivethevo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
growintogardens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I've been meaning to read her work and this book fit one of my reading challenges. A great collection of stories. Some were super disturbing at times, but all them were well written and made me think. The second to last one was probably my favorite. So strange, but powerful. She's definitely great at Sci fi and I'm excited to read more of her stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Medical trauma, War, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Incest, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Slavery, Body horror, Confinement, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Drug use, and Racial slurs
I'm probably forgetting stuff- there's a lot of triggers.bluedinerbusboy's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kdawn999's review against another edition
3.0
I like Butler and I liked these stories overall—especially the two having to do with aliens—but I think her best work is in novel form.
knicke's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I think that Bloodchild is perfectly composed. It includes some lovely afterwards and essays that add a nice touch to the storytelling. Particular favourite entries of mine are “The Book of Martha”, “Near of Kin”, and “Bloodchild”. The two essays, “Positive Obsession” and “Furor Scribendi” are also fantastic. In the afterward to “Positive Obsession”, Butler writes that she has “no doubt at all that the best and most interesting part of [her] is [her] fiction” (136). Her writing is interesting full stop — fiction and otherwise. Reading her fiction never gets old; reading her non-fiction is a perfect treat.