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A review by teachinsci
Unexpected Stories by Octavia E. Butler
4.0
This short work features two stories by an author whose work I love.
The first is a novella (A Necessary Being) about a group whose highly stratified social structure determines how high an individual can rise by how blue they are. It is a story about frustration, but also about learning where you fit in and how to help others see who you really are. I enjoyed it but there was nothing that seemed ground-breaking.
The second (Childminder) is a short story that begs for a full novel or even a trilogy. The characters are psychic and the main protagonist is a woman who can find new psi-talented children. To me, she is reminiscent of Anyanwu from the Patternist series. A strong woman fighting back against a system she doesn't like and willing to sacrifice everything for her children.
If you have ever enjoyed works by Butler before, you will enjoy this short book as well.
The first is a novella (A Necessary Being) about a group whose highly stratified social structure determines how high an individual can rise by how blue they are. It is a story about frustration, but also about learning where you fit in and how to help others see who you really are. I enjoyed it but there was nothing that seemed ground-breaking.
The second (Childminder) is a short story that begs for a full novel or even a trilogy. The characters are psychic and the main protagonist is a woman who can find new psi-talented children. To me, she is reminiscent of Anyanwu from the Patternist series. A strong woman fighting back against a system she doesn't like and willing to sacrifice everything for her children.
If you have ever enjoyed works by Butler before, you will enjoy this short book as well.