The Octavia E. Butler Literary Society

Honoring Octavia E. Butler on the 18th anniversary of her passing.

All that she touched, she changed.



Image Credit: Nikolas Coukouma, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

When an interviewer described her work as "s*xy," Butler responded, " I hope so because one of the signs-I put signs on my walls as a reminder while I'm writing-is "s*xiness," not only s*xiness in the sense of people having s*x, but s*xiness in the sense of want ing to reach readers where they live and wanting to invite them to enjoy themselves."

Happy Valentine's Day!

The interview is "Radio Imagination": Octavia Butler on the Poetics of Narrative Embodiment" with Marilyn Mehaffy and AnaLouise Keating. You can find it in Conversations with Octavia Butler, edited by Conseula Francis.

In three weeks, the new president of the OEB Literary Society will present, "Walking a Mile in Her Shoes: Exploring Octavia E. Butler's Archives."

Sponsored by: The La Pinterosca Branch Library in Pasadena, CA

3PM PT/6 PM ET

Join in person or via Zoom! We hope to see you there!

At the first Octavia E. Butler Literary Conference, Dr. Sandra Y. Govan gave some opening remarks, “Octavia E. Butler and the Power of Positive Thinking: A Writer for Our Fanatic Times," for the opening session held in February 2016 at Spelman College.

"Best to celebrate her legacy now," Govan shared, "because given her prophetic vision, the accuracy of her insights into the egregious mistakes world leaders, political operatives, and ordinary people make, the forecast of our possible future may seem very gloomy or uncomfortable unless we as a society and our civilization can change."

“Octavia E. Butler and the Power of Positive Thinking: A Writer for Our Fanatic Times.” This is a snippet of Dr. Sandra Y. Govan's, “Octavia E. Butler and the Power of Positive Thinking: A Writer for Our Fanatic Times," for the opening session o...

Passing the Torch: The Next Chapter for The Octavia E. Butler Literary Society

Passing the Torch: The Next Chapter for the OEB Literary Society The Octavia E. Butler Literary Society is one of those seeds I wanted to sow, water, w**d and then watch someone else grow to maturity. In 2013, I asked the two most prominent scholars of...

Octavia Butler's Advice on Writing

Octavia Butler’s Advice on Writing “No matter how tired you get, no matter how you feel like you can’t possibly do this, somehow you do.”

Shoreline Area News: City of Lake Forest Park to recognize former resident and award-winning science fiction author Octavia E. Butler:

City of Lake Forest Park to recognize former resident and award-winning science fiction author Octavia E. Butler Octavia Butler being honored in Lake Forest Park Lake Forest Park, Wash. – T he City of Lake Forest Park will recognize the many contributi...

What Octavia E. Butler understood above all: vulnerability

What Octavia E. Butler understood above all: vulnerability Edan Lepucki, author of the dystopian novel 'California,' explains the power of 'Parable of the Sower,' the most popular speculative work on the Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf.

Crowds descend on grand opening of long-awaited Pasadena bookstore, Octavia's Bookshelf

Crowds descend on grand opening of long-awaited Pasadena bookstore, Octavia’s Bookshelf “I read. I’m Black. And it’s my neighborhood,” said one eager patron, among the many who lined up to shop at the new store, named after famed Pasadena author Octavia Butler.

Pasadena's Getting A Bookstore Named For Sci-Fi Author Octavia Butler

Pasadena's Getting A Bookstore Named For Sci-Fi Author Octavia Butler It's set to open by mid-to-late February.

Happy new year, everyone! Best in 2023!

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on Expanding the Universe of Octavia E. Butler's 'Kindred' https://blackgirlnerds.com/branden-jacobs-jenkins-on-expanding-the-universe-of-octavia-e-butlers-kindred/ via .

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on Expanding the Universe of Octavia E. Butler's 'Kindred' FX’s 'Kindred' is a limited series that will premiere exclusively on Hulu Tuesday, December 13th.

The Visions of :
On the 75th anniversary of her birth, the science-fiction writer’s bold imagining of the future has proved startlingly prescient:

The Visions of Octavia Butler As a science fiction writer, Butler forged a new path and envisioned bold possibilities. On the eve of a major revival of her work, this is the story of how she came to see a future that is now our present.

The expanding orbit of Seattle science fiction writer Octavia Butler

The expanding orbit of Seattle science fiction writer Octavia Butler Years after her death in Seattle, Hollywood is catching up with author Octavia Butler, whose pioneering, prescient science fiction was first published in the 1970s.

We are excited to announce that on March 24, 2023 our museum will debut a major, thought-provoking exhibition, “Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures.”

One of the highlights of this new exhibition will be the hero suit worn by the late Chadwick Boseman, pictured here.

This exhibition will investigate Afrofuturist expression through art, music, activism and more, and explore Afrofuturism’s historic and poignant engagement with African American history and pop-culture. From the enslaved looking to the cosmos for freedom, to popular sci-fi stories inspiring Black astronauts, to the musical influence of Sun Ra, OutKast, P-Funk and more —this exhibition covers the broad and impactful spectrum of Afrofuturism.

Through the 4,300-square-foot temporary exhibition, visitors will view a variety of objects from Afrofuturism pioneers, including Octavia Butler’s typewriter, Nichelle Nichols’ Star Trek uniform as the character Lt. Nyota Uhura and Nona Hendryx’s spacesuit-inspired costume worn while performing with LaBelle.

The exhibition will also utilize select objects to elevate stories that speak to Black liberation and social equality, such as Trayvon Martin’s flight suit from Experience Aviation, and his childhood dream of being an astronaut. “Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures” will be on view in the museum’s Bank of America Special Exhibitions Gallery from March 24, 2023, through March 2024.

Learn more: https://s.si.edu/3NT6IVZ

📸 Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Company, © Marvel

Kindred teaser…

Kindred | Official Teaser - Time | FX “Whatever’s happening to you, it’s real.” Based on the best selling novel by Octavia E. Butler comes FX’s Kindred, all episodes streaming 12.13. Only on Hulu...

All Eight Episodes of Kindred Adaptation to Premiere December 13th

All Eight Episodes of 'Kindred' Adaptation to Premiere December 13th During New York Comic Con it was announced that all eight episodes of the Octavia Butler adaptation 'Kindred' will premiere Tuesday, December 13th, exclusively on Hulu.

What if we were already living in Octavia Butler's 'Parable of the Sower'? https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2022-05-18/american-artist-new-exhibition-excavates-the-future-octavia-butler-built-in-her-work

What if we were already living in Octavia Butler's 'Parable of the Sower'? An exhibition at REDCAT is built on Octavia E. Butler's "Parable of the Sower." Its creator, American Artist, talks with Tananarive Due.

What Octavia Butler Gave Us by the fabulous Nisi Shawl: https://theportalist.com/what-octavia-butler-gave-us

What Octavia Butler Gave Us “Use me,” Octavia Butler urged during one of our last conversations. She did not want her gifts to go to waste, & they haven’t. New stories still spring from seeds she left behind.

Pasadena Unified Renames Washington Middle School As Octavia E. Butler Magnet https://www.coloradoboulevard.net/pasadena-unified-renames-washington-middle-school-octavia-e-butler-magnet/

Pasadena Unified Renames Washington Middle School As Octavia E. Butler Magnet | ColoradoBoulevard.net Posted on February 25, 2022 by Guest Author Pasadena Unified Renames Washington Middle School As Octavia E. Butler Magnet 770SHARESShare Dr. Shannon Malone presents the committee’s desire to rename school at Board Meeting (Photo – Screengrab, KLRN) On October 28, 2021, Dr. Shannon Malone, Princi...

February–March 2022

https://www.carnegiehall.org/Events/Highlights/Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism Take a journey to the world of Afrofuturism—an ever-expansive aesthetic and practice—where music, visual arts, science fiction, and technology intersect to imagine alternate realities and a liberated future viewed through the lens of Black cultures.

Black History Month: How Octavia Butler's legacy was born out of a bad science-fiction movie https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/02/23/octavia-butler-why-her-science-fiction-stories-remain-relevant-today/6652253001/

Black History Month: How Octavia Butler's legacy was born out of a bad science-fiction movie Octavia Butler came from humble beginnings, but made her mark in the science-fiction world. Her legacy continues long after her death.

SIstah Scifi Author's Tee @ Museum of Popular culture: https://shop.mopop.org/product/Sistah_Scifi_Authors_Tee_-_Unis*x

MoPOP Shop - Sistah Scifi Authors Tee - Unis*x Sistah Scifi Authors Tee - Unis*x at the MoPOP Shop. With the Sistah Scifi Author List shirt, we wanted to celebrate black female writers who create a future where all of us are included. We wanted to celebrate ourselves as readers would instantly recognize the names on the list and what they mean.....

Based on the genre-bending novel by Octavia E. Butler, Kindred follows a young Black writer who finds herself ripped through time, shunted between modern-day Los Angeles and a nineteenth century plantation that holds her family's secrets. A new series coming to FX.

Happy New Year! Best in 2022!

The Second Coming of Octavia E. Butler https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/12/the-second-coming-of-octavia-e-butler

The Second Coming of Octavia E. Butler Sixteen years after the visionary novelist’s death, Hollywood is bringing a slew of her intense sci-fi novels to the screen.

October's KQED Forum Book Club will discuss Butler's Parable of the Sower: https://www.kqed.org/forum/bookclub

Forum Book Club - KQED Forum Book Club dives deeper into the books we feature on Forum and gives readers a chance to ask questions and talk directly with authors about their work. Each month, we will select a book written by an author with California roots.

'Zola' Director Janicza Bravo Helm 'Kindred' Pilot For FX, Newcomer Mallori Johnson To Star - Shadow and Act Zola director Janicza Bravo will direct the upcoming FX pilot Kindred , based on Octavia E. Butler's novel. According to Deadline , the pilot will also introduce viewers to Mallori Johnson, who will star in the main role of Dana, a writer who gains the ability to time travel back to the 19th century...