Review: Bloodchild and Other Stories
Gaby Meares
Reading this collection of Octavia Butler’s short stories is like taking a masterclass with a genius! Each story is so well rendered and leaves you wanting to know more - however, still feeling complete.
In all Butler’s stories, she uses an alternative world to explore the human condition. By using an alien landscape, she is able to probe and reveal our collective needs, fears and desires. Some of these urges are not pretty, however Butler can see through the ugliness, to the hopefulness at the other side.
“Bloodchild”, which won the Hugo Award, is the opening story, and is easily one of the most disturbing stories I have read. It’s difficult to say any more without giving too much away - let’s just say you won’t forget it in a hurry.
“The evening and the morning and the night” explores personal responsibility and how much of who we are is made up by our DNA and genes. Can we chose to overcome these building blocks or are we destined from the outset to follow a certain path?
“Near of Kin” has so much heart - again, I cannot say too much without giving it away. This story is not speculative fiction.
“Speech Sounds” won the Nebula Award. Set in a world that has been blighted by a virus that kills the majority of the population, then randomly steals away the survivors’ ability to communicate: for many, it’s the ability to speak; for others, the ability to read. This world has become a living hell. But still Butler shows that there is hope.
There are more stories and short articles exploring Butler’s writing process, and how she struggled to have her work published which are fascinating and should be read by any budding author.
This collection would be a fabulous resource for HSC students who are writing a short story for Advanced English.