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Rating: 
Summary: Butler is one of the best!
Review: Butler is one of the very few who can really imagine another life form and how it would relate and interrelate with humans. Her "bloodchild" really is so intriguing you have to read it over and over. As a physician I find the story about the double Xs so intriguing that I have been looking for it for years, since I read it in Omni magazine. A collection you will dip into again and again, the only problem is that you want many more. The story about the bus is incredible.
Rating:
Summary: A small book with a big impact.
Review: Contains 5 short stories, each a gem. Both the title story "Blood Child",and "Speech Sounds" deservedly won Hugos. A 3rd "The Evening, the Morning,and the Sun" is equally moving and thought-provoking. Two shorter stories, "Near of Kin" and "Crossover" are closer to main-stream fiction, and give us still another look into Butler's heart and mind. There are also two essays on writing, which are wonderful for any beginning writer, but also provide still another window into Butler's soul, since she is above all else a Writer with a capial W. Octavia Butler is slowly creating the most distinguished body of science fiction of anyone of her generation. Though she's been honored with the Hugo twice, her work is still under-appreciated because it deals with issues more complex than science fiction readers are yet comfortable with, especially male science fiction readers. But, speaking as a male S/F reader, I recommend her to all.
Rating:
Summary: A top-rate but tiny collection
Review: In the introduction to this small collection, Octavia Butler tells us why it is so short: she doesn't like writing short stories and her ideas are too big for the short story format. I understand completely. The five short stories she does share (two of which are not science fiction in nature) are excellent and demonstrate the high level and intense emotional content we expect from Butler. Two of these, "Bloodchild" and "Speech Sounds" I read in sci fi magazines years ago and they are what made me search for more of her work. The two essays also included are good insights to Butler's philosophy and experiences as a writer. She may not be a "short story writer" but I am glad that she has shared these five pieces with us.
Rating:
Summary: A top-rate but tiny collection
Review: In the introduction to this small collection, Octavia Butler tells us why it is so short: she doesn't like writing short stories and her ideas are too big for the short story format. I understand completely. The five short stories she does share (two of which are not science fiction in nature) are excellent and demonstrate the high level and intense emotional content we expect from Butler. Two of these, "Bloodchild" and "Speech Sounds" I read in sci fi magazines years ago and they are what made me search for more of her work. The two essays also included are good insights to Butler's philosophy and experiences as a writer. She may not be a "short story writer" but I am glad that she has shared these five pieces with us.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Freshest Voices in [Science] Fiction
Review: Octavia Butler is one of the most talented, creative contemporary writers. "Bloodchild" is a collection of eight short stories, which essentially span from futuristic dystopias, to parasitic alien races, to strange diseases. 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. Butler is still a relatively new voice in the world of writing. 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. 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. 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. In this story, an alien race is symbiotically related to humans: They provide comfort, warmth, and assistance. 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. 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. She tackles each story, however seemingly tired the concept may be, with a refreshing tone. She is able to deftly craft a story with as few brush strokes as possible, but still leave a dazzling landscape. Bloodchild is definitely one of the most marvelous, beautiful workds of fiction that I have read in recent times. It is science fiction without ever being scientific, fiction without ever being imagined. Butler is talanted and creative, and undoubtedly one of the best contemporary writers I have encountered.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Freshest Voices in [Science] Fiction
Review: Octavia Butler is one of the most talented, creative contemporary writers. "Bloodchild" is a collection of eight short stories, which essentially span from futuristic dystopias, to parasitic alien races, to strange diseases. 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. Butler is still a relatively new voice in the world of writing. 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. 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. 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. In this story, an alien race is symbiotically related to humans: They provide comfort, warmth, and assistance. 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. 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. She tackles each story, however seemingly tired the concept may be, with a refreshing tone. She is able to deftly craft a story with as few brush strokes as possible, but still leave a dazzling landscape. Bloodchild is definitely one of the most marvelous, beautiful workds of fiction that I have read in recent times. It is science fiction without ever being scientific, fiction without ever being imagined. Butler is talanted and creative, and undoubtedly one of the best contemporary writers I have encountered.
Rating:
Summary: A great Short Story Collection
Review: Octavia Butler is probably the most under rated science fiction writer. In this short story collection consisting of 5 short stories and two essays, Butler offers some solid reading. Each story is followed by a thoughtful afterword that provides analysis on her ideas. The two essays are on the craft of writing. The one essay titled 'Positive Obsession' is a small window into Butler's childhood, and the difficulties she had getting published. It clearly conveys the fears she had of never getting published. With the help of her mother she managed to persist in a most impressive way. My favorite story was 'Speech Sounds' involving a woman in a post-apocalyptic America. The world is ravaged with a new disease that takes away speech for some survivors, and reading & writing skills for others. After losing her three children and husband a woman years later rediscovers love. What happens afterwards is devastating, yet she manages to move on and find a reason for living. 'Bloodchild' is the most popular of these stories, since it won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. This story involves an alien species that learns to co-exist with humans by using men to carry their newborn. Another strong effort is 'The Evening and the Morning and the Night'. This is a very emotionally involving story. A young woman has lost both of her parents to a disease that she herself harbors. This hereditary illness doesn't reveal itself until middle age. Having to live with knowing that she will self-mutilate as she ages is almost too much for her to handle. Fortunately for her she meets someone who is also a carrier, and together they decide to visit his mom in a hospital. The only downside to this collection is that I could not help wishing there were more stories to read, but what is there is of high enough quality to compensate.
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Summary: A Quick tour of a tour-de-force author
Review: Octavia Butler owned most of my literary bandwidth in early 1999, an addiction that started with _Bloodchild_. Science Fiction "just don't get much respect," but only from critics who are unfamiliar with Butler's ability to use this genre to believably manipulate the themes of xenophobia, attraction, corruption, trust, human independence, group madness, hope, and persistence. The title story won and deserved the Hugo, and captures in a microcosm the themes above and more. From here, you will certainly want to read _Kindred_ and the "Parable of the Talents" trilogy for the most human-centered experience of the great unknowns you are likely to encounter at the hands of a living writer.
Rating:
Summary: One of the great voices in contemporary science fiction
Review: There are good science fiction writers. There are great science fiction writers. And then there are those extraordinary science fiction writers whose work both transcends and ennobles the genre. Such a writer is Octavia E. Butler, and "Bloodchild and Other Stories" is a stunning testament of her talent and vision. The pieces in this book have garnered two Hugo Awards and one Nebula (very distinguished honors in the SF world). "Bloodchild" contains 5 stories (2 of them on the longer side) as well as two illuminating essays. In addition, Butler provides an afterword for each piece. The best of these stories are true masterpieces. "Bloodchild" is about the strange symbiotic relationship between a colony of humans and a very different alien species. In "The Evening and the Morning and the Night" the author creates a haunting portrait of a human subculture that has evolved as the result of a terrifying new disease. Also outstanding is "Speech Sounds," about what happens after a mysterious force impairs humanity's ability to communicate with written and spoken language. Butler's essay "Positive Obsession" is an illuminating exploration of her distinctive life as a African-American woman who is also a successful SF writer. Butler's writing style has a stark, painful clarity to it. She writes scenes of horror and despair, but also includes moments of tenderness and hope. Through it all, her stories are rich with insights into the universal human condition. If you are interested in science fiction, in African-American literature, in women's writing, or in the art of the short story, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful short stories
Review: This contains most of Octavia Butler's published short work, and it's a small book. But that does not mean that you should pass it up. 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. The situation is horrifying, yet believable, and, within context, entirely rational. 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. 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. 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. You really can't do much better than this in SF. * "Near of Kin" -- Not SF, and not a fantasy, yet not horror either. The subject matter is taboo in most fiction, so maybe that's how it ended up in an SF anthology. Well done. Enjoyable. * "Speech Sounds" -- Really good story about a plague that affects the speech centers of the brain. Fast, but compelling, with an economy of plot--just enough to present the worse and the best of the situation. * "Crossover" -- Boring, although not bad for a first published story. You can see how her background infused her stories early on. * "Positive Obsession" and "Furor Scribendi" -- Reprinted essays on writing that should provide quite inspiring for burgeoning writers. Economical and smart.
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