OCTAVIA E. BUTLER: Parable of the Sower, Fledgling, Bloodchild & Other Stories

[@LeafbyLeaf]

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway has been selected.

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

Oh gosh, what beautiful covers! I've so far only read Kindred and her Lileth's Brood series (which were both wonderful), and have been meaning to get to Parable. I also somehow didn't realize she had short stories. What an incredible woman she was, and what a loss.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

A great loss indeed. And, yes, these are probably the most beautiful covers in my whole library!

[@haroldniver]

Butler’s work has been such a great gift to literature, and it’s really great to see you covering her work. Fledgling was the first I read, and it really opened my eyes. Those editions of the Parables are striking.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Seven Stories really knocked it put of the park on these editions. Fledgling was such a different experience from Parable of the Sower. It was, yes, a vampire tale-but it went unexpectedly deep.

[@azianguitarplaya]

I’ve been curious about Octavia E. Butler’s work and your video has made me all the more eager to learn not just the literature, but of the woman herself. Your description of her dedication as a writer (especially one given her race and gender in a male-oriented space) is nothing short of inspiring (as you have said earlier. Thank you for your in-depth videos - I always look forward to them!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

So thrilled to hear you've been inspired but Butler, too! And thanks for your kind compliments. Happy reading!

[@Ematched]

Man, it’s so great to see you dive into Octavia Butler. Her science fiction is so wonderfully diverse. For the Parable series, she had started the third novel, and she planned for there to be six in the series.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Oh, wow, thanks for that insight.

[@markmorrison7785]

Love that you did Octavia E. Butler.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

🙌

[@janievalgunn]

Kindred will always be my favourite as it was my first book I read of hers. Love that you’re exploring my favourite genre! ☺️ Fantastic review!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I am really looking forward to reading _Kindred_ !

[@xgryphenx]

To fill in your gaps of sci-fi knowledge would highly recommend reading some of (Butler’s one time teacher) Samuel Delany’s lit crit on the subject-The Jewel Hinged Jaw or Starboard Wine are great places to start. His fiction, especially his later sci-fi from Dhalgren onward is also mind bending.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hey-thanks so much for this!

[@CruelSpirit]

Glad to see you are finally covering Octavia E Butler on this channel. I've only read Kindred and Parable of the Sower but enjoyed both. I particularly enjoyed Kindred, it was my favorite novel I read the year I read it. Such a great discussion of Black ancestry, slavery, and the power dynamics between slaves and slave owners. I look forward to reading more of her books, especially those with a more hard sci fi setting.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I really look forward to reading _Kindred_ !

[@astro368]

Thanks for introducing me to a new writer Chris!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Always a pleasure to do so!

[@MaximTendu]

Indeed when it comes to talking about good if not great literature, genre fiction and satire tend to be overlooked, and it's a pity. Last year i finally got to know the works of LeGuin, while now I'm reading Solaris. Thank you for introducing me to O.E. Butler. It has taken me a score of years to realize that, after all, there was nothing wrong with all those horror and sci-fi paperbacks i used to read avidly in my teen years. Reading and re-reading them know is making me appreciate details that probably went over my head back then.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Certainly, there is treasure everywhere if one takes time to seek it out!

[@ryliejohnson580]

Read Parable of the Sower when I bought a copy during a trip to Washington. Reading that changed my perspective and showed me the vast potential speculative fiction can have. Another black science fiction that might pique your interest is Samuel R. Delany who has a vast bibliography to his name. Thanks again and love your video.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I love the complement of travel and reading. I can look at books on my shelves and recall trips I took 18+ years ago! I've had _Dhalgren_ on my list forever! I think I heard that he was, at one time, a teacher of Butler's.

[@sebastianerbe]

Always such a treat to watch your videos, Chris!!! All the best, my friend.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Very kind of you--thank you!

[@RedzaMusic]

A new Leaf by Leaf upload means it's going to be a great day.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

:)

[@squishyam]

everything i've heard about Octavia Butler makes me excited to read her. Love these kinds of books that bridge the gap between literary fiction and sci-fi.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I highly recommend the _Bookworm_ (with Michael Silverblatt) episodes with Butler. They definitely show the high literary value of her work.

[@paulaemilialafon3779]

Good stuff! Loving your channel, you make me wanna read! (Obviously commenting for the sweepstakes, greetings from Mexico!)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Muchos gracias !

[@valpergalit]

Having only read “Bloodchild” and Kindred, which I loved and mildly enjoyed, respectively, I have mixed feelings about Butler’s work, but you’re absolutely right about her charm and charisma. While reading Kindred, I listened to most of her interviews available on KZbin, and her elegance and kindness made me really admire her.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Elegance -- exactly.

[@michaelrhodes4712]

“One of the most famous recent arguments in the free will and determinism debate is Peter van Inwagen’s consequence argument, which aims to show that compatibilism is false. Compatibilism is the view that all our actions could be fully determined by the laws of physics and yet at the same time we could have free will in the sense necessary for moral responsibility. Van Inwagen introduces the essence of this argument near the beginning of his book on free will and then goes on to give three detailed technical versions of the argument. Included here is the simple version and the first technical formalization (which aims to show that under determinism we could never act in any way other than the way in which we do act). Van Inwagen writes: If determinism is true, then our acts are consequences of the laws of nature and events in the remote past. But it is not up to us what went on before we were born, and neither is it up to us what the laws of nature are. Therefore, the consequences of these things (including our present acts) are not up to us. Van Inwagen later writes: Consider any act that (logically) someone might have performed. If it should turn out that this act was incompatible with the state of the world before that person’s birth taken together with the laws of nature, then it follows that that person could not have performed that act. Moreover, if determinism is true, then just any deviation from the actual course of events would be incompatible with any past state of the world taken together with the laws of nature. Therefore, if determinism is true, it never has been within my power to deviate from the actual course of events that has constituted my history. P = Premise, C = Conclusion: P1. If determinism is true, then our acts are consequences of the laws of nature and events in the remote past. P2. The laws of nature and events in the remote past are not up to us. P3. If something is not up to us, then its consequences are not up to us. C1. If the laws of nature and events in the remote past are not up to us, then their consequences are not up to us (substitution, P2, P3). C2. Consequences of the laws of nature and events in the remote past are not up to us (modus ponens, P2, C1). C3. If determinism is true, then our acts are not up to us (in our control, within our ability) (substitution, C2, P1). P4. If our acts are not up to us, then we’re not responsible for them. C4. If determinism is true, we’re not responsible for any of our acts (hypothetical syllogism, C3, P4). Van Inwagen’s First Formalization: Definitions: Let ‘U’ be a complete description of the state of the universe right now. Let ‘U-1’ be a complete description of the state of the universe the day before some person ‘X’ was born. Let ‘A’ be some action that X did not perform. Let ‘L’ be the laws of nature. P1. X cannot change U-1 (no one can change the past state of the universe at a time before she was even born). P2. X cannot change L (no one can change the laws of nature). P3. If determinism is true, then {(U-1 plus L), entails U} (follows from the concept of determinism). P4. If X had done A, then ‘not-U’ (A is an action that didn’t occur, so if it had occurred, the universe wouldn’t be exactly the same as it is now). C1. If X could have done A, X could have made U false (follows semantically from P4). C2. If X could have made U false, then X could have made (U-1 plus L) false (transposition, P3). C3. If X could have made (U-1 plus L) false, then X could have made L false (De Morgan’s, C2, P1, and disjunctive syllogism). C4. X could not have made L false (P2). C5. X could not do A (modus tollens, C3, C4, and a series of implicit hypothetical syllogisms).” -Grant Sterling P.S. If I win the give-away, I choose to have the books sent to Rick Harsch, because in the past he won a book, but he did not receive it. Although, if the above argument is true, then if Rick receives the books, it is not due to my free-will. Rather, it is due to the laws of nature, and events in the remote past. 🙂

[@QDyerHawes]

Really love your videos! I'd never heard of seven stories press, but now I've definitely got to check out what they've got!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks! I'm thrilled I could put them on your radar!

[@booksbyleynes]

Omg! Those editions are gorgeous! I read Kindred by her and she has become one of my all-time favorite writers! Would love to enter the giveaway! :)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

You’re in! I really look forward to _Kindred_ .

[@GypsyRoSesx]

So happy to see some of my favourite genre on your channel! 😊 I’ve only read Bloodchild by Ocatavia E. Butler, but I have both “Kindred” and “Parable of the Sower” on my must-read list. (My science fiction must read list is currently 6 pages long..) Edit: ooh those are pretty editions I will look them up

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Six pages long--whoa! I do highly, highly recommend these gorgeous editions from Seven Stories. I want to read _Kindred_ next of OEB's work.

[@jackwalter5970]

So glad to see you've explored Butler's work. She was unique in her insights into human nature. One of the sci- fi greats. I recommend The Female Man by Joanna Russ and Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr., whose real name was Alice Sheldon.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for the recommendations! I've heard of _The Female Man_ and long been interested.

[@tealorturquoise]

I've wanted to read Octavia Butler for years. One day, one day.

[@delgadojeremy]

Love the reviews as always! Interesting to hear you talk about genre fiction.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much!

[@danteanantonio]

Those editions are absolutely beautiful! Don’t have too much to say about Butler (haven’t ready any but have Kindred on the shelf and hope to read soon). So instead I’ll put here a sentence from what I’m currently reading: “Tenía la misma languidez y la misma mirada clarividente que había de tener años más tarde frente al pelotón de fusilamiento.”

[@LeafbyLeaf]

A Google search reveals that you must be reading _Cien Años de Soledad_ de Gabriel García Márquez. I wish I could read that one in the original language.

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

Cool. Always wondered about her writing. Swear I had read one, but looked em over and suppose not. Video is prompt and much appreciated as always.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure, James!

[@cristinaa3186]

Never heard of that publisher but definitely won me with those covers!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

They may possibly be the most beautiful covers in my whole library.

[@alejandroga666]

This book is next up in my TBR. Currently finishing White Noise by Don DeLillo. So excited to get into the Parable of the Sower. Thank you, as always amazing content

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure. Thanks so much!

[@Chris-ug1hr]

As a fellow Virginian and Chris, I'd love to be able to read these and add these to my shelf. Your work has been incredibly inspiring and informative for checking out books I may have not come across otherwise 😁

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Greetings, fellow Virginian Chris! Where in VA are you? (Feel free to decline an answer.) It's my pleasure to spread the word on good books that people should read!

[@Chris-ug1hr]

@@LeafbyLeaf I'm in the Hampton Roads area currently. You certainly do a great job of spreading the word. Like yourself, I've read a lot of horror when I was in my teens and twenties. Your channel, coupled with my own innate curiosity has led me to other awesome works. Thanks to you, I discovered a deeper appreciation for classic literature. Also authors like William Gaddis, Adam Levin, and Roberto Bolano and one of my favorite areas now "books about books". Keep up the awesome and insightful work, friend 🙂

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ahhhhh, this is such a joy to hear. Happy reading, my friend!

[@ann-marieodonnell6102]

Hey Chris, Sounds like a great prize. Late to the party, but still busy with your previous recommendations. Currently half way through Selonoid after recently finishing Blinding. Unreal.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I just turned page 400 of _Solenoid_ earlier today! I’m already in a sort of despair thinking about how in the world I’ll convey this reading experience to people.

[@ann-marieodonnell6102]

I look forward to it! Maybe I will have learned the title by then 🫣🤣

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hahaha-I didn’t even catch that!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

@ann-marieodonnell6102 - Congratulations! You are the winner of this giveaway! Please send me an email (on my About page) so I can get a shipping address.

[@ann-marieodonnell6102]

This is wonderful. I never win anything. What a lovely start to the week. Just sent my info by email. Thanks again.

[@loamchomsky6692]

Finished reading Blinding vol. 1 last month and loved it! Oh, how I wish vols. 2 & 3 were available in English. I found that the translator of Cărtărescu’s “Nostalgia” teaches just up the road from me at UNCSA in Winston-Salem (I’m in Greensboro)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I, too, yearn for translations of the "right wing" and the "body" of Cărtărescu’s autobiographical butterfly! Wow, I didn't realize the _Nostalgia_ translator was at UNCSA--that's about 17 miles from me (I'm in High Point).

[@alexhorn311]

I just finished Kindred and loved it. I remember Parable of the Sower as being excellent, but it's been 20 years since I read it. Time for a reread!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I can't wait to get to _Kindred_ !

[@JohnNobody_]

Butler says she has three loyal audiences: black readers, science-fiction fans, and feminists. I think the list definitely needs some serious updates. Say: leaf by leaf readers 😉

[@tobsi2256]

I got used to you reading a ton of books, but now am in awe of your right hand. How many takes did it take until you managed to hold Ernaux's complete works in one hand? :P

[@LeafbyLeaf]

LOL! I have freakishly large hands.

[@JulioVirrueta]

I really appreciate this review, definitely going to check out Butler's work, but I also like the highlight of seven stories press, I would love a video dedicated to small publishers.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I've really been enjoying books from Seven Stories, The Song Cave, and Station Hill Press recently. I like your video idea, and I've added it to my list!

[@TLQWERTY]

I like the direction you are taking your channel Chris. Very good stuff. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on Gene Wolfe, despite writing SciFi/Fantasy which can sometimes lack literary value imo, Wolfe is one of the most dense writers I've come across. His books have been quite a challenge for me to dissect, though the last I read Wolfe was in my early 20's. I think you would appreciate his writing. Have a great day Chris!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! --As far as Wolfe goes, I have had his work recommended so frequently here that I finally bought a nice Tor hardcover of _The Fifth Head of Cerebus_ . Not sure when I'll get to it, but I feel compelled to read and talk about it hear just from the sheer volume of requests. So--thanks for the nudge!

[@Librarypencils]

Yet another new author for me to read! Wonderful review

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Pleased to introduce the two of you! :)

[@Librarypencils]

@@LeafbyLeaf 🤝

[@hugurso3566]

Super curious now about her vampire novel and the short stories. Can I ask how you find the time to be such a prolific reader with an intense full time job that you seem to have? And what lit magazines etc would you recommend to keep up with the good critique / promotion of good books (besides n+1 / NYRB / Paris Review)?

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I get this question a lot. The short answer is that I set my priorities as follows: (1) family, (2) work, (3) reading. All else is inconsequential to me. Of course, things come up--c'est la vie--but those are the exceptions. In general, I've got a pretty muted social life, but I've always been the type to have a few close friends only. I don't watch TV and I'm not into sports. I don't do any extracurriculars like bowling, golfing, etc., though I do exercise regularly. A typical day has me up bright and early to read, then work, then reading on lunch break, then work, then family time, then reading, then bed. All in all, it averages to 3 solid reading hours per day. But, again, it's at the expense of a lot of other things I could be doing with my time. And this lifestyle requires the ability to hypercompartmentalize such that you can switch between contexts and roles fairly smoothly. That is the hardest part. It takes a long time to develop such that you can be fully present with family, at work, and with a book. The only journals to which I currently subscribe are _The New Yorker_ (but only for its articles/non-fiction), _n+1_ , _Harper's_ , and _NYRB_ . I let several other subscriptions expire a while back, including _Paris Review_ . But I actually read most of these for their articles, their journalism and reportage, and, yes, their book reviews. My main source of keeping up with the publishing world is actually email newsletters direct from publishers. Subscribe to the mailing lists of all the big publishers and all the small ones. And LitHub is a great resource, too. Aside from that, I learn about most books (new and old) from reading collections of essays, books about books, lit crit, and literary histories. I can't say there's really one good source that will keep you up on what's going on in the publishing world today--well, LitHub is a pretty good aggregator. Hope this helps!

[@hugurso3566]

@@LeafbyLeaf thank you for such considerate answer. This definitely inspires me to pursue a more self disciplined lifestyle where reading can take a bigger more relevant role - I've been a mediocre reader for a long time, meaning I go through pages of text and find myself uninterested and not soaking in much, and we're talking about all sorts of literature. I can really enjoy the more pungent ones, like Houellebecq's and some short stories like di Benedetto's, but that's it for quality reading time. I'm a bit sad I may be literary-insensitive, and still I force myself to read and to write. Learning about your habits (is it all about being present and teaching your brain to be uniquely focused on one task at the time?) did something for me, and I appreciate that. Love all your videos and seeing your dedication, thank you for that as well.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Glad I could help! It takes a good while to train yourself to switch gears and be present with each compartment. It’s an attitude of surrendering to the moment. I’ll have to think about how to articulate this.

[@whatchachattin]

Bloodchild is amazing, I've been planning to read more Butler for ages since reading that short story. If you are planning on reading more science fiction, I would recommend Ursula Le Guin.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for the recommendation! I had someone recommend _The Found and the Lost_ as a good starting point. What say you?

[@mensshirt6678]

I started collecting old horror paperbacks around when the pandemic started. I'm not really into it anymore either, but have you read any kathe koja?

[@LeafbyLeaf]

That's cool hobby. No, I've never even heard of Koja (that I remember)!

[@GarethRosslee]

Really insightful thank you.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure!

[@isaiahbasaldua924]

I have been meaning to read Octavia Butler but haven't gotten around too it

[@SeanBroussard-dz5zg]

Hi Leaf by Leaf - not sure if you'll see this though you did reply to my comment a while ago when you had the conversation with Better than Food. I'm currently reading Nick Joaquin - The Woman Who Had Two Navels and other tales of the Tropical Gothic and would love to hear your thoughts on it (Joaquin is a Filipino writer). I find it incredible - it's a sort of postcolonial gothic soup that is a rip-roaring ride - and so layered. Thanks for all your well-thought through videos.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hey there! Thanks so much! I've got that book firmly on my radar!

[@viktorpapa6582]

(the ‘non fictional cruelty against afro-american people’ expectations from that “blood child” I had until I watched this video, makes me sick about myself and my restricted ways of thinking!! 🤨 I could never have imagined a sci-fi story!! ) Awesome! I’m going to devour these videos to start mapping out the order in which to read all of the mandatory books in my last American literature’s exam’s program: “Representing Childhood in Modern and Contemporary American Literature”. Thanks for the first of many interesting findings along my journey! 👌🏼🤷🏻‍♂️

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure!

[@PotatoCandyDarling]

Love her stuff, she’s so underrated as is Ursula K Leguinn

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Of Le Guin, I've only read her collection of her essays called _No Time to Spare_ , which I greatly enjoyed. Is there a particular piece of her fiction you recommend?

[@PotatoCandyDarling]

@@LeafbyLeaf I think you might actually like a lesser-known novel of hers called Paradises Lost. It is about a ship sent out to colonize a planet that will take 200 years to get there. The novel follows the voyage that takes 3-4 generations of people to finish, and how politics on the ship VASTLY change over the course of two centuries in an isolated ship. It's my favorite by hers, personally, and doesn't get AS MUCH love as her Earthsea Cycle so I recommend it whenever I can.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I love the title alone! 😁

[@Mompellion]

Love for you to review Marcel Schwob if you haven't already. I just read The Book of Monelle and The King in the Golden Mask.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

J'adore Schwob ! I've been really wanting to get around to highlighting Wakefield Press in general. Just bought a Nerval from them last night. Thanks for the nudge!

[@Patrick.__]

Great video.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks! 🙏

[@Tatosaurus]

I've never read any Butler, hoping to change that one day

[@LeafbyLeaf]

You’ll know when the time is right.

[@fabiancalderon6729]

Waiting for the Against the Day review

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Who knows what could happen around here... :)

[@fmartinez18]

Butler!!!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

The one and only!

[@tussie]

thanks LxL

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure!

[@reef6826]

Soon we can expect a 24 hour special on the King James Bible.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

You never know... :)

[@kellybowers6099]

I found you through Better than Food. I would be interested in entering your give-away. I have never read Butler

[@LeafbyLeaf]

A great guy, that Cliff. You're officially among the candidates!

[@kellybowers6099]

Thank you

[@rickharsch8797]

I won a book from Noah but they didn't let me have it

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Who is _they_ ?

[@Focaminante]

Well, if I keep waiting until I have time to (try and) write something relevant or interesting I'm going to be left out of the giveaway. So here I am. (I did watch the whole video and enjoyed it very much!)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

😂

[@janievalgunn]

I would love to see what you think of the Foundation series (maybe at least the original trilogy) by Issac Asimov

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I've been wanting to get around to that series for a great while. Thanks for the nudge!

[@JohnPatt]

Insert winning comment here!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

:)

[@somadood]

gm

[@LeafbyLeaf]

☕️

[@EmoGirlfriendHaver]

Honestly, it's just not very good content. I always make sure my stuff is polished and complete. Check up on that for the next one champ, i'm sure you'll get better

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@EmoGirlfriendHaver]

@@LeafbyLeaf I was kidding my friend, your stuff is great. Respect for not being touchy about it

[@LeafbyLeaf]

😁😁😁