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A review by iam
Unexpected Stories by Octavia E. Butler
5.0
Two stunning, speculative short stories by Octavia E. Butler.
Content warnings include: crippling, violence, caste system, racism.
I’m not someone who reads a lot of short stories or speculative fiction, and as such I love how accessible Octavia Butler’s stories are. Unexpected Stories is a treat both for people unfamiliar with her work and for fans.
I particularly loved A Necessary Being. The world-building was fascinating, the conflict gripping with gruesome implications followed by a conclusion that was thrillingly satisfying. I would have loved to read a whole novel about these characters and their storiy.
Childfinder was much shorter, but no less impactful. While having some fantastical elements through psi, which mainly seems to be telepathy, it very much plays in the world as we know it - full of prejudices and bigotry. Much of it's punch was packed into the short interludes in beginning and end that read like passages from a textbook or documentary, and talk about the impact the psy ability could have had - but didn't.
I also would have liked to read much more about the characters of Childfinder, except it, despite its hopeful nuances, ultimately felt rather bleak.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Content warnings include: crippling, violence, caste system, racism.
I’m not someone who reads a lot of short stories or speculative fiction, and as such I love how accessible Octavia Butler’s stories are. Unexpected Stories is a treat both for people unfamiliar with her work and for fans.
I particularly loved A Necessary Being. The world-building was fascinating, the conflict gripping with gruesome implications followed by a conclusion that was thrillingly satisfying. I would have loved to read a whole novel about these characters and their storiy.
Childfinder was much shorter, but no less impactful. While having some fantastical elements through psi, which mainly seems to be telepathy, it very much plays in the world as we know it - full of prejudices and bigotry. Much of it's punch was packed into the short interludes in beginning and end that read like passages from a textbook or documentary, and talk about the impact the psy ability could have had - but didn't.
I also would have liked to read much more about the characters of Childfinder, except it, despite its hopeful nuances, ultimately felt rather bleak.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.