Octavia Butler
Octavia Butler
Octavia Estelle Butlerwas an American science fiction writer. A multiple recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, Butler was one of the best-known women in the field. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Fellowship, nicknamed the "Genius Grant."...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth22 June 1947
CityPasadena, CA
CountryUnited States of America
Octavia Butler quotes about
attention too-short scientist
I would never have been a good scientist - my attention span was too short for that.
writing worry people
Most of us don't have to worry about being shot of we poke our noses outside. So we are comfortable, but the people I'm writing about are definitely not comfortable, and being shot while they're still inside is a good possibility.
savages fierce get-away
I have a huge and savage conscience that won't let me get away with things.
tree parent shadow
A tree Cannot grow In its parents' shadows.
dad vote politician
Dad decided not to vote for Donner after all. He didn't vote for anyone. He said politicians turned his stomach.
complaining
Margaret Weylin complained because she couldn't find anything to complain about.
suicide jesus heaven
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.
fiction way fantasy
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.
writing novel wanted
Well, writing was what I wanted to do, it was always what I wanted to do. I had novels to write so I wrote them.
writing fiction natural
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.
genre-is fantasy horror
But my problem with fantasy, and horror, and related genres, is that sometimes the problems are illogical.
reading writing fiction
I began reading science fiction before I was 12 and started writing science fiction around the same time.
writing trying fancy
I'm trying to speak--to write-the truth. I"m trying to be clear. I'm not interested in being fancy, or even original. Clarity and truth will be plenty, if I can only achieve them.
definitely good noses people poke shot
Most of us don't have to worry about being shot if we poke our noses outside. So we are comfortable, but the people I'm writing about are definitely not comfortable, and being shot while they're still inside is a good possibility.