![]() ![]() The subject matter is taboo in most fiction, so maybe that's how it ended up in an SF anthology. You really can't do much better than this in SF.* "Near of Kin" - Not SF, and not a fantasy, yet not horror either. A disease that incites people to unthinkable crimes and the solution to the disease-as well as a close study on the type of people who administer the solution. This is a powerful story, one that wakes up your mind.* "The Evening and the Morning and the Night" - This is the other fabulous story in this collection, another case of believable SF that comes near to horror. Humans on a far away planet are forced to enter into a relationship with the native alien race that is strangely reminiscent of both slavery and concubinage, yet Butler actually was working from insect natural history. The situation is horrifying, yet believable, and, within context, entirely rational. At least two of the stories, I believe, are must-reads for anyone interested in science fiction.* "Bloodchild" - This is likely my favorite SF story. But that does not mean that you should pass it up. This contains most of Octavia Butler's published short work, and it's a small book. Butler is talanted and creative, and undoubtedly one of the best contemporary writers I have encountered. It is science fiction without ever being scientific, fiction without ever being imagined. Bloodchild is definitely one of the most marvelous, beautiful workds of fiction that I have read in recent times. She is able to deftly craft a story with as few brush strokes as possible, but still leave a dazzling landscape. She tackles each story, however seemingly tired the concept may be, with a refreshing tone. Butler tells this short story with first person narrative, imparting a sense of emotion and realism that could never be experienced outside of her authorship.Despite her stylistic flow, Butler still manages to keep what she writes interesting. In exchange, humans house the eggs of these creatures, undergoing a horrendously painful "hatching" prcoess that does not kill them, but leaves them with horrific memories of pain. ![]() In this story, an alien race is symbiotically related to humans: They provide comfort, warmth, and assistance. Her writing is evenly paced, without being drawn out - she does not feed into flashy or gimmicky story lines, but rather baits the reader with beautiful (though not overly wordy) descriptions and portrayals of characters."Bloodchild," the opening story, tells of a young adult who is to undergo a "rite of passage," so to speak. While at their barest what she writes about is science fiction, she inundates her writing with an artistically humane quality: Moreso than just writing about the ooh's and aah's of science, she writes about the complexities and values of humanity. Rightly or wrongly, she is catogorised at science fiction, a genre which tends to tie up the loose literary ends of writers who don't exactly fit into any definite species. Butler is still a relatively new voice in the world of writing. While in theory these concepts may be dated and arguably cliche, she writes so fluidly and in such a skilled manner that, litearlly, every word she pens is unique and original. "Bloodchild" is a collection of eight short stories, which essentially span from futuristic dystopias, to parasitic alien races, to strange diseases. Octavia Butler is one of the most talented, creative contemporary writers. ![]()
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