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sweetdinnerroll's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
4.5
outcolder's review
5.0
These stories cover more or less the same kinds of themes as the novels, but the flavor is more intense, like the stew has boiled down a bit and gotten concentrated. Each story has a short afterword and it is very interesting to get Butler’s own opinion or context of her work. There are two essays here, too. One is a short biographical piece that inadvertently offers a lot to mull over. The last story was a bit disappointing but the rest of it more than makes up for it.
destiniev's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gboye's review
5.0
I was fascinated by every story and Butler’s brief afterwords. Haunting and eerie - I’m SO into it! I feel like I just became a sci-if fan.
averirachel's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
majabwds's review
4.0
Honestly, I was iffy, because I don't think I like sci-fi written in the last century but this collection of stories (especially those with sci-fi elements) were really good! The author does a fantastic job setting up each short story and filling it with interesting concepts and ideas. The afterwords were also very illuminating. My favorite stories are: Bloodchild, The Evening and the Morning and the Night and Amnesty.
muffykins's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krisheiney's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have been wanting to enjoy Butler’s writing more than I have—having previously read Kindred and Parable of the Sower—and this book was the one to get me there. Butler is an oddity all her own, a self-taught writer with a startling imagination and a strange view of the world, molded in part by her hermit tendencies and in part by her standing in society as a black American. With these stories, essays, and the accompanying commentary, I have an image of her that makes me see my concerns with her other books in a new light, and I also have a handful of new favorite stories. Bloodchild, the title story, in particular is astonishing, brutal, and beautiful. Other favorites are Amnesty and The Evening and the Morning and the Night, which left me shuddering and with many thoughts. With many of these stories Butler creates power dynamics that are uncomfortable in their reach and shine a light on our own human relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Body horror
Moderate: Racism and Incest
ivethevo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0