You've heard of Offred and Katniss Everdeen, but do you know Lauren Olamina? She’s the heroine in Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” and “Parable of the Talents.” Butler’s books call into question the notion held tight by many dystopian novels of today: The future is violent, oppressive and predominantly white. Octavia Butler, whose work earned her a MacArthur Genius Grant, had a different take on science-fiction – one that talks about race and community and a hopeful future. We discuss the recent resurgence and adaptations of her work.
Guests
- Nettrice Gaskins, afrofuturism scholar and the director of Boston Arts Academy’s STEAM lab. @nettieb
- Claire Curtis, member of theOctavia E. Butler Literary Society and professor of political science at the College of Charleston.
- Damian Duffy, co-adapter of Octavia Butler’s “Kindred” from a novel to a graphic novel and adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. @DamianD2Duffy. "Kindred" is available in bookstores and online now.
More about Toshi Reagon's concert performance of Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower":
Learn more and get tickets to "Parable of the Sower" here.
