{"title":"OCTAVIA BUTLER","description":"\u003cp\u003eOCTAVIA E. BUTLER, often referred to as the “grand dame of science fiction,” was the author of several award-winning novels including \u003cem\u003eParable of the Sower\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003ci\u003eParable of the Talents,\u003c\/i\u003e winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel. Recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant and numerous literary awards, she has been acclaimed for her lean prose, strong protagonists, and social observations in stories that range from the distant past to the far future. She passed away on February 24, 2006.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kindred-anniversary","title":"Kindred (Anniversary)","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne of the 100 best novels ever published in English (\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e), most consequential novels of the past 100 years (\u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e), most essential books published in the U.S. since 1776 (\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eExperience the novel that redefined American literature by the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eParable of the Sower, \u003c\/i\u003eMacArthur \"Genius,\" and Nebula and Hugo award winner \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDana's 26th birthday celebration ends when she's ripped from 1976 California and thrust onto a Maryland slave plantation in 1815. Her mission: keep alive the white boy who will grow up to assault her ancestor--because without him, she'll never be born. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEvery trip back grows more dangerous. Dana feels the lash, wears the chains, endures the daily terror that defined millions of lives. She can't just read about slavery's horrors--she lives them, bleeds from them, nearly breaks under them. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eButler doesn't let you observe from a safe distance. You're trapped in Dana's skin as she navigates impossible choices: submit to survive, or resist and risk everything. You'll feel her desperation as she fights to preserve her humanity while the plantation's brutality threatens to consume her. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis isn't historical fiction--it's time travel that cuts straight to the bone of American racism. Butler pioneered the neo-slavery narrative that inspired Colson Whitehead's \u003ci\u003eUnderground Railroad\u003c\/i\u003e and Ta-Nehisi Coates's \u003ci\u003eWater Dancer\u003c\/i\u003e. But \u003ci\u003eKindred\u003c\/i\u003e remains unmatched in its raw power to make slavery's legacy feel immediate, personal, and inescapable. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eYou'll finish this book changed. Dana's story will lodge itself in your chest and refuse to leave. You'll understand, in ways textbooks never taught you, how the past lives in our present--and why that matters more than ever.\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Where stories about American slavery are often gratuitous, reducing its horror to explicit violence and brutality, \u003ci\u003eKindred\u003c\/i\u003e is controlled and precise\" (\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e). \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Reading Octavia Butler taught me to dream big, and I think it's absolutely necessary that everybody have that freedom and that willingness to dream.\" \u003cbr\u003e--N. K. Jemisin \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis book has been published with two different covers. Customers will be shipped the cover available.","brand":"Beacon Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53544047804782,"sku":"9780807083697","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_6dbbcf81-44e6-47d5-850b-daf4ba0407eb.jpg?v=1774465316"},{"product_id":"a-few-rules-for-predicting-the-future-an-essay","title":"A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe wise words of science fiction icon Octavia E. Butler live on in this beautiful and giftable little volume.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"There's no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There's no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers--at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Originally published in \u003ci\u003eEssence\u003c\/i\u003e magazine in the year 2000, Octavia E. Butler's essay \"A Few Rules for Predicting the Future\" offers an honest look into the inspiration behind her science fiction novels and the importance of studying history and taking responsibility for our actions if we are to move forward. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Organized into four main rules, this short essay reminds readers to learn from the past, respect the law of consequences, be aware of their perspectives, and count on the surprises. Citing the warning signs of fascism, the illusive effects of fear and wishful thinking, and the unpredictable nature of what is yet to come, Butler shares realistic but hopeful suggestions to shape our future into something good. An inspiring and motivational gift for students and recent graduates, fans of Butler's work, and anyone seeking a brighter day tomorrow, this exquisite gift book includes stunning Afrofuturist artwork by Manzel Bowman alongside the full text of the original essay. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLITERARY ICON: Octavia E. Butler was a pioneering science fiction writer whose novels, written decades ago, remain eerily relevant, reflecting on themes of racial injustice, women's rights, environmental collapse, and political corruption. In 1995, she became the first science fiction author to win a MacArthur Genius grant, and her books are taught in over 200 colleges and universities nationwide. This book shares Butler's timely but lesser-known essay and is a must-read for fans of her classic sci-fi works. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e CELEBRATE BLACK CREATORS: This book spotlights one of the greatest authors of Afrofuturism, a genre and philosophy that explores and reimagines Black culture, creativity, and liberation through fiction, art, music, film, and other media. Octavia E. Butler's forward-thinking essay is paired with contemporary illustrations by Manzel Bowman, whose evocative images are also inspired by Afrofuturist visions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e INSPIRING GIFT: A unique gift for students, recent graduates, and anyone celebrating life milestones or looking forward in life, this beautifully designed hardcover book is sure to inspire. Octavia E. Butler's essay is also an important, evergreen reminder for writers, creatives, dreamers, and activists who want to envision and work toward a brighter future. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePerfect for: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Fans of Octavia Butler and her novels, including \u003ci\u003eKindred\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eParable of the Sower\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e People interested in nonfiction and essays by Black women writers \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Afrofuturism lovers and social justice-minded sci-fi readers \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Literary bibliophiles looking for a stunning new addition to their bookshelf \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Gift-giving to graduating high school and college students \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Activists and community leaders \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Inspirational essay readers \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Fans of Manzel Bowman and Afrofuturist art \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Chronicle Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53558912188782,"sku":"9781797229058","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_5733f7c3-99a3-49b6-867b-4bda77f296ae.jpg?v=1774624269"},{"product_id":"parable-of-the-sower","title":"Parable of the Sower","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom a celebrated, award-winning author, a modern classic about a young girl fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, perfect for fans of N.K. Jemisin and Margaret Atwood.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy--a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny. \u003cp\u003e Includes a foreword by LeVar Burton and an afterword by N. K. Jemisin \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLauren's story continues in \u003ci\u003eThe Parable of the Talents. \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time, Octavia Butler's 'Parable' books may be unmatched.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53560409817454,"sku":"9781538732182","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_72f905b3-1975-437d-8507-7a4313b483be.jpg?v=1774663108"},{"product_id":"parable-of-the-talents","title":"Parable of the Talents","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom a celebrated author, the thrilling sequel to \u003ci\u003eThe Parable of the Sower\u003c\/i\u003e--a cautionary novel ahead of its time, perfect for fans of The Broken Earth trilogy.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In 2032, Lauren Olamina has survived the destruction and ruin of everything she knew. Her peaceful community based on her newly founded faith, Earthseed, provides refuge for outcasts facing persecution after the election of an ultra-conservative president. Under his rule, Lauren's colony--a minority religious faction led by a young Black woman--becomes a target for the president's reign of terror and oppression. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Years later, Asha Vere reads the journals of a mother she never knew. As she searches for answers, she struggles to reconcile with the legacy of a mother caught between her duty to her chosen family and her calling to lead humankind into a better future. \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time, Octavia Butler's 'Parable' books may be unmatched.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53560410734958,"sku":"9781538732199","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_d72c4efd-9e83-441e-b1ed-e5927bb91f1a.jpg?v=1774663125"},{"product_id":"dawn","title":"Dawn","description":"\u003cb\u003eOne woman is called upon to rebuild the future of humankind after a nuclear war, in this revelatory post-apocalyptic tale from the award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eParable of the Sower. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen Lilith lyapo wakes from a centuries-long sleep, she finds herself aboard the vast spaceship of the Oankali. She discovers that the Oankali--a seemingly benevolent alien race--intervened in the fate of the humanity hundreds of years ago, saving everyone who survived a nuclear war from a dying, ruined Earth and then putting them into a deep sleep. After learning all they could about Earth and its beings, the Oankali healed the planet, cured cancer, increased human strength, and they now want Lilith to lead her people back to Earth--but salvation comes at a price. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHopeful and thought-provoking, this post-apocalyptic narrative deftly explores gender and race through the eyes of characters struggling to adapt during a pivotal time of crisis and change.","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53560412176750,"sku":"9781538753712","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_cc9c954b-69d8-4e09-8933-48c89ccee695.jpg?v=1774663159"},{"product_id":"fledgling","title":"Fledgling","description":"Octavia E. Butler's final novel is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted--and still wants--to destroy her and those she cares for, and how she can save herself. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A master storyteller, Butler casts an unflinching eye on racism, sexism, poverty, and ignorance and lets the reader see the terror and beauty of human nature.\" --\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53639868186990,"sku":"9781538724583","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_e19d794b-cc2e-46c7-b39f-201a8d76beca.jpg?v=1776609563"},{"product_id":"survivor","title":"Survivor","description":"\u003cb\u003eReturning to print after nearly 50 years, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSurvivor \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ecompletes Octavia E. Butler's thrilling Patternist series, including a short story from the Patternist saga and new historical essays from a major Butler scholar.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e This deluxe edition includes: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e An incredible new cover and package \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Premium French flaps and newly designed, full color interior covers \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e High-quality paper with elegant deckled-edges\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e The Patternist books (\u003ci\u003eWild Seed\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMind of My Mind\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eClay's Ark\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ePatternmaster\u003c\/i\u003e) comprise Butler's longest, most complex series, stretching from late 17th century Africa to outer space in the far future, as rival factions of humanity develop incredible powers--only to use them to subjugate others. For nearly half a century, the fourth volume, \u003ci\u003eSurvivor\u003c\/i\u003e, has been out of print at Octavia E. Butler's request. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e It tells the story of Alanna, a colonist fleeing a plague-scarred Earth. But the planet she lands on is inhabited by the alien Kohn, whose battling tribes soon trap Alanna in their war. She must make alliances--while plotting betrayals. She must protect her heart--while putting it at risk. And she must decide if the best way to retain her humanity ... is to leave it behind. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Now, \u003ci\u003eSurvivor\u003c\/i\u003e is put into its proper historical context thanks to contributions from scholar and Octavia E. Butler Fellow Alyssa Collins. This long-awaited volume also contains \"A Necessary Being,\" the only short fiction set in the Patternist universe, to finally, fully bring together and complete the Patternist series for readers everywhere.","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54264397660526,"sku":"9781538766170","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_f14d3a8b-8473-4e1d-a020-7632871b53c1.jpg?v=1783178549"},{"product_id":"bloodchild-and-other-stories","title":"Bloodchild and Other Stories","description":"\u003cb\u003eWith a new introduction by Jesmyn Ward\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eA perfect introduction for new readers and a must-have for avid fans, \u003ci\u003eBloodchild\u003c\/i\u003e is the first collection of short stories written by \u003ci\u003eKindred \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eParable of the Sower\u003c\/i\u003e author Octavia E. Butler. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Notable Book includes \"Bloodchild,\" winner of both the Hugo and the Nebula awards and \"Speech Sounds,\" winner of the Hugo Award. Appearing in print for the first time, \"Amnesty\" is a story of a woman named Noah who works to negotiate the tense and co-dependent relationship between humans and a species of invaders. Also new to this collection is \"The Book of Martha\" which asks: What would you do if God granted you the ability--and responsibility--to save humanity from itself? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLike all of Octavia Butler's best writing, these works of the imagination are parables of the contemporary world. She proves constant in her vigil, an unblinking pessimist hoping to be proven wrong, and one of contemporary literature's strongest voices.","brand":"Seven Stories Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54342521127278,"sku":"9781644212479","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_7c3124a8-a2f3-4c89-b78c-e339051311ec.jpg?v=1784232059"},{"product_id":"positive-obsession","title":"Positive Obsession","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA magnificent cultural biography that charts the life of one of our greatest writers, situating her alongside the key historical and social moments that shaped her work. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs the first Black woman to consistently write and publish in the field of science fiction, Octavia Butler was a trailblazer. With her deft pen, she created stories speculating the devolution of the American empire, using it as an apt metaphor for the best and worst of humanity--our innovation and ingenuity, our naked greed and ambition, our propensity for violence and hierarchy. Her fiction charts the rise and fall of the American project--the nation's transformation from a provincial backwater to a capitalist juggernaut--made possible by chattel slavery--to a bloated imperialist superpower on the verge of implosion. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this outstanding work, Susana M. Morris places Butler's story firmly within the cultural, social, and historical context that shaped her life: the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power, women's liberation, queer rights, Reaganomics. Morris reveals how these influences profoundly impacted Butler's personal and intellectual trajectory and shaped the ideas central to her writing. Her cautionary tales warn us about succumbing to fascism, gender-based violence, and climate chaos while offering alternate paradigms to religion, family, and understanding our relationships to ourselves. Butler envisioned futures with Black women at the center, raising our awareness of how those who are often dismissed have the knowledge to shift the landscape of our world. But her characters are no magical martyrs, they are tough, flawed, intelligent, and complicated, a reflection of Butler's stories. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMorris explains what drove Butler: She wrote because she felt she must. \"Who was I anyway? Why should anyone pay attention to what I had to say? Did I have anything to say? I was writing science fiction and fantasy, for God's sake. At that time nearly all professional science-fiction writers were white men. As much as I loved science fiction and fantasy, what was I doing? Well, whatever it was, I couldn't stop. Positive obsession is about not being able to stop just because you're afraid and full of doubts. Positive obsession is dangerous. It's about not being able to stop at all.\" \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Amistad Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54352781869422,"sku":"9780063211834","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_34247ff3-29c9-4d32-8aa4-ca25d242cb9e.jpg?v=1784559805"},{"product_id":"wild-seed","title":"Wild Seed","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom the acclaimed author of the Earthseed series, two immortals chase each other across continents and centuries, binding their fates together and changing the destiny of the human race.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis deluxe edition includes: \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e A new cover and package \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Premium French flaps and newly designed, full-color interior covers \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e High-quality paper with elegant deckled-edges \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Doro knows no higher authority than himself. An ancient spirit with boundless powers, he possesses humans, killing without remorse as he jumps from body to body to sustain his own life. With a lonely eternity ahead of him, Doro breeds supernaturally gifted humans into empires that obey his every desire. He fears no one--until he meets Anyanwu. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Anyanwu is an entity like Doro and yet different. She can heal with a bite and transform her own body, mending injuries and reversing aging. She uses her powers to cure her neighbors and birth entire tribes, surrounding herself with kindred who both fear and respect her. No one poses a true threat to Anyanwu--until she meets Doro. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The moment Doro meets Anyanwu, he covets her; and from the villages of 17th-century Nigeria to 19th-century United States, their courtship becomes a power struggle that echoes through generations, irrevocably changing what it means to be human.","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54379459182958,"sku":"9781538784235","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/files\/imageloader_6ef0e6df-6907-4f44-b08f-e5ab42b84a81.jpg?v=1784845715"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/1007\/0382\/collections\/imrs.webp?v=1784847535","url":"https:\/\/tenderbuttonsbooks.com\/collections\/octavia-butler.oembed","provider":"Tender Buttons Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}