Potpourri Vol. 1

Finding a new, wonderful author

This morning at around 4, I finished my third book by Octavia Butler, Kindred. Previous books of hers I have completed are Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Currently, I am reading her book, Lilith's Brood and I am enjoying the experience.

Butler is an important author for several reasons. First, she is a good story teller; she develops an interesting plot and characters one can care about, characters one may love or hate or both. Second, Butler has chosen to create a strong female character around whom fantastic things happen. The character must test herself and overcome some real, often harsh obstacles. There are, in my opinion, too few strong, believable female leads in today's fiction.

Finally, and most importantly, Butler makes her readers think about issues. Even though the plot centers about different times from ours, or even unlikely situations, the problems encountered by the characters are relevant to us, honest, and the resolutions to the characters' problems are believable, not perfect, but satisfactory.

I highly recommend any who have not been introduced to Butler's works waste little time in finding one of her books and getting acquainted with her writing. I recommend starting with her novel, Kindred.

Archie R. Whitehill
Mercenary Writer
Have Words Will Write