Michael's Ramblings

Michael's Ramblings

Last night I learned of the passing of Octavia Butler this past weekend. My breath was taken away as I have been a fan of hers for many years. As fate would have it I was at a little coffee shop writing when I took a break and logged unto the internet to check out one or two of my favorite web sites.
Ms. Butler’s works speak for themselves and anything I might add will just be stating the obvious in that she was a brilliant writer. Being a black female science fiction was a rarity in and of itself. Yet she was such a brilliant observer of society and could weave her observations into wonderful, moving thrilling slices of literary greatness. I dare anyone to read her, to me, her two best novels, “Parable of the Sower” and “The Kindred” and not be moved both emotionally and intellectually. Read her short story “Speech Sounds” and fight to keep the tears inside.
She had been ill for the past few years which cut down on her writing productivity yet the work that she left us is, upon several rereading, still fresh and exciting as ever.
When current and future generations speak of her, and they will, what they will say is
“Octavia Butler was a great writer, and we are all the better for her talent blessing us.”
Peace and eternal joy to you dear lady.