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gnatie's review against another edition
3.75
I love Bulter’s mind. She’s just got so much going on up there. Her stories sometimes make me uncomfortable and they always have a touch of weird or taboo and I just love that. These short stories and essays are very easily digestible and I love the afterwords she includes after each one. I love getting a look into what an author was thinking as they’re crafting a story. I don’t think I’d read these again, once was enough for them to stick but I enjoyed the ride.
annamarie2019's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
the_eucologist's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this short compendium. Not all of the shorts resonated, but Butler is clearly a careful writer who knows well how to hone a narrative. One of my favorite aspects of the collection is the way each short story is followed by an Afterword where Butler offers her inspirations, motivations, and thoughts on the writing process for a particular tale. On the one hand it allows readers a sneak peak into her writing process (which I find fascinating), but it also provides a unique means of interpreting her work that is rather cleverly a final way in which the author manipulates how each is absorbed. The afterword, then, is something of a Final Word and while I enjoyed the additional context, I'm sure it may prove frustrating for some. Particular favorites of mine here include "Amnesty", "Near of Kin", and "Speech Sounds".
thefriendlyabyss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
allisoon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
doughboyy's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
loungeking's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
sportello's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
thewillowwood's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
5.0
I love Octavia Butler so much, her brilliant writing really shows in these stories. Highly recommend, I sing her praises to anyone who will listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
mymercurialnature's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0