Comments on: Octavia

By: Avedon

Avedon — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:54:45 +0000

That made me cry.

By: Henry Holland

Henry Holland — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:27:51 +0000

Sorry, not a regular here, just followed the link from Eschaton. Great post.

Per #10, I’ve lived in various parts of California all my life. Except for San Francisco, a strip of Los Angeles that basically comprises the Westside, Hollywood and West Hollywood, and a few other places, California can be as reactionary and backwards as any other place in this country. I mean, if I travel 20 minutes east of me (I live near downtown) and go to Monrovia, it’s like stepping in to a time warp back to 1952 in all ways.

If the California Republican party wasn’t so freaking incompotent–the guy they had running against Gray Davis in his last non-recall election was the worst candidate for a major office I’ve ever seen by light years–and ideologically riven–the Russians in the 1920′s and the Chinese in the 60′s have nothing on them–this would be a red state. Bless their rancid little souls that are.

By: teh l4m3

teh l4m3 — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:38:27 +0000

Dang. I work as a librarian in rural NorCal, and I’m shocked that even in this day I have to check and shut down the junior high schoolers who come in and make racist comments. It’s 2006, for f*ck’s sake…

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:46:10 +0000

Nice remembrance. Kindred is a great novel. It showed many in the mainstream that sci-fi is not just pulp. In addition to being a harrowing glimpse into slavery, it’s a great exploration of coming to terms with a national, family and personal history that includes slavery.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 17:49:29 +0000

Lovely remembrance, Ed.

By: Stephen Frug

Stephen Frug — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 16:50:38 +0000

Just two weeks ago I finished teaching Kindred for the second time this (academic) year in a seminar at Cornell. Its always a very good book to start the seminar with, as in addition to being amazingly good (in every sense) it is also utterly irresistible, so it sucks the students into the class. Its one of my favorite books (I love her other books too). I’m just shocked that she died so suddenly, so young. RIP.

By: Aumshantih

Aumshantih — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 15:50:32 +0000

I really loved Butler’s work. Her Patternist series are probably some of my favorite science fiction novels. It is a shame to have her pass on so soon. May she be remembered well.

By: jerry

jerry — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 14:56:11 +0000

I remember Octavia Butler only from the pages of Analog (or was it Amazing?) back during the 70s and 80s when it was rare for a woman to be in those pages.

I looked forward to her stories, more so than most of the authors there, although today, I cannot recall any of her stories by name.

Last night, when I learned of Ms. Butler’s passing I was saddened, for she left far too young, and because it has been far too long since I picked up any SF.

Thank you for your remembrance this morning.

By: David Yaseen

David Yaseen — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 14:21:26 +0000

What a beautiful post. Thank you.

Perhaps I can help you locate your friend: try zabasearch.com. My apologies if you’ve tried it already. It’s quite good.

By: ebw

ebw — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:09:40 +0000

i’m sorry i missed kindred, but by 1979 i’d stopped reading scifi. i’ll look for it.

By: Bari

Bari — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:45:22 +0000

I’m older that Octavia and loved her work. I can’t believe she is gone as her writing was so young and vital. I only wish more had read her.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 08:55:41 +0000

What suburb of Sacramento? My kids are a tad younger than you (my eldest started kindergarten the year you were talking about — 1986).

Sounds like Elk Grove to me. I used to live in Carmichael.