Octavia E. Butler, one of the finest, most inventive writers I’ve ever read, has died at the age of 58 of a stoke.
This is unbelieveable. She will be missed.
Update: Butler stories available online:
Scott has now written about what Butler meant to him. What Scott said.
I am so very sad to hear this news, in my opinion one of the finest of writers. Such a tremendous loss. I have just gone to my bookshelf and removed a signed copy of ‘kindred’ which I will read again and again. What a fantastic legacy she has left us all. She will live on in her work and in our hearts.
much sadness
wild seed is one of the handful of books that changed the way I write.
i can’t believe it. i loved her work and admired the commitment she made to writing her own vision, without bowing to the market or any trend. i had the honour of meeting her at the clarke awards a few years ago and she was sincere, passionate, and very humble. i just can’t believe it. this is terrible news.
What you all said. I haven’t felt this horrible about a writer dying since Angela Carter. I spent yesterday re-reading Wild Seed and being amazed all over again.
this is such a loss. she was a great writer, and, from all i’ve heard, a really good person.