A review by obsidian_blue
A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay by Octavia E. Butler

5.0

Wow. This was so well done. I loved the text and the illustrations. Butler talks about how easy it is to predict what is going to come based on the past and how she used that to inspire her writing.

This is organized around full main rules that I loved:

1. Learn from the Past
2. Respect the Laws of Consequence
3. Be Aware of Your Perspective
4. Count on the Surprises

And I loved how it ended:

So why try to predict the future at all if it's so difficult, so nearly impossible?
Because making predictions is one way to give warning when we see ourselves drifting in dangerous directions. Because prediction is a useful way of pointing out safer, wiser, courses. Because, most of all, our tomorrow is the child of our today. Through thought and deed, we exert a great deal of influence over this child, even though we can't control it absolutely. Best to think about it, though. Best to try to shape it into something good. Best do to that for any child.