A Great One Departs for an Eternal Home-Goodbye Octavia Butler
I am sad, grief stricken really. As many of you that read my blog posts know, I am African American, a science fiction/fantasy writer and big time fan of Octavia Butler. It is with the upmost grief and sadness that I can't even find words for, that her death has left in its wake.
Octavia Butler was my idol, my inspiration and my belief that I can do this whole sf writing thing, despite my being African American and a woman. She opened doors, windows, and ripped off ceilings for others in her wake, others whose names are listed in my African American SF writer blog for Black History Month.
She won many awards, namely a Hugo and several others. My favorite books were the Xenogensis series and Kindred.
I was fortunate to meet her about two years ago, in Seattle at the Black to the Future conference. There I gave her a copy of my book, Browne Candidate, and asked her sign my copy of Dark Matter and other books I own that she'd written. She did so with kindness, grace and intelligence that seemed unwordly and amazing all at once.
As the conference plugged along, I watched her interact with people. Ms. Butler gave and gave and gave. She seemed pleased that so many African Americans were interested in science fiction and even wrote it.
She spoke there as keynote speaker and it was as if God had stepped down from the heavens to whisper the secrets of life into our ears. A pin could drop and it would've exploded in sound. I remembered the packed room, people leaning in to hear her every word. Tape recorders set to lap up each diamond jewel of advice, history, and trial she discussed.
Now that she's returned to her mountain top, there is a gaping hole in science fiction yet-to-be-told stories, where Ms. Butler used to be ready to deliever another amazing tale. I have no doubts that now, many of those who loved her will stretch that hole ever wider and fill it with the greatness which she weld.
I am going to do my best to make her proud and to give science fiction that is not only readable, but stories she would also have liked. As a disciple, I will give nothing short of 120% as she did.
Goodbye Ms. Butler, may your many bravery, courage and outright talent survive until the end of time.
