Octavia Butler Quotes

A collection of quotes by Octavia Butler.

Octavia Butler was an acclaimed American science fiction writer. Born on June 22, 1947, in Pasadena, California, Butler struggled with dyslexia and often found solace in books. Despite facing racism and sexism in her daily life, she developed a deep love for storytelling from an early age.

Butler's writing focused on exploring thought-provoking themes such as race, gender, power dynamics, and the human condition. In her groundbreaking works, she often depicted marginalized characters who confronted oppressive systems and struggled for their survival. Her works blended elements of science fiction, dystopia, and Afrofuturism, earning her a distinctive place in the genre.

Butler's first novel, "Patternmaster," was published in 1976, and marked the beginning of her critically acclaimed Patternist series. Throughout her career, she penned numerous other notable novels, including "Kindred" (1979), "Dawn" (1987), and "Parable of the Sower" (1993), among others. Her writing garnered several prestigious awards, including the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

Regarded as a pioneer for both women and African American writers in science fiction, Octavia Butler's work continues to inspire and challenge readers. She utilized her unique storytelling ability to explore the complexities of human existence and to question societal norms. Despite her untimely death in 2006, her legacy endures, and she remains an important figure in the world of science fiction and literature.

What I'm working on now - I'm back to fantasy, although cons

What I'm working on now - I'm back to fantasy, although considering that it's me, I'm turning it into a kind of science fantasy. It's a vampire story - but my vampires are biological vampires. They didn't become vampires because someone bit them they were born that way.

So fantasy was fine early on, and when I discovered science

So fantasy was fine early on, and when I discovered science fiction, I was very happy with it, because my first interest in science fiction came with an interest in astronomy.

No one was going to stop me from writing and no one had to r

No one was going to stop me from writing and no one had to really guide me towards science fiction. It was natural, really, that I would take that interest.

Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing.

Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.

I was attracted to science fiction because it was so wide op

I was attracted to science fiction because it was so wide open. I was able to do anything and there were no walls to hem you in and there was no human condition that you were stopped from examining.

No, I think the future of humanity will be like the past, we

No, I think the future of humanity will be like the past, we'll do what we've always done and there will still be human beings. Granted, there will always be people doing something different and there are a lot of possibilities.

I recognize we will pay more attention when we have differen

I recognize we will pay more attention when we have different leadership.

Fantasy is totally wide open all you really have to do is fo

Fantasy is totally wide open all you really have to do is follow the rules you've set. But if you're writing about science, you have to first learn what you're writing about.

And by the way, I wanted to point out that Kindred is not sc

And by the way, I wanted to point out that Kindred is not science fiction. You'll note there's no science in it. It's a kind of grim fantasy.

Once you grow past Mommy and Daddy coming running when you'r

Once you grow past Mommy and Daddy coming running when you're hurt, you're really on your own. You're alone, and there's no one to help you.

Science fiction let me do both. It let me look into science

Science fiction let me do both. It let me look into science and stick my nose in everywhere.

I began reading science fiction before I was 12 and started

I began reading science fiction before I was 12 and started writing science fiction around the same time.

The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide op

The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.

Religion kept some of my relatives alive, because it was all

Religion kept some of my relatives alive, because it was all they had. If they hadn't had some hope of heaven, some companionship in Jesus, they probably would have committed suicide, their lives were so hellish.