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Unexpected Stories
- Two Novellas
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 2 hrs and 24 mins
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Publisher's Summary
This exciting collection presents two previously unpublished stories by SF legend Octavia E. Butler.
A Necessary Being precedes the events of Survivor, Butler's third (famously disowned) installment in her Patternist series, and includes characters from it, focusing exclusively on the Kohn, aliens who build their social hierarchies on the blueness of their fur.
In Childfinder, a black woman with the gift of identifying children with latent psychic ability refuses to share her skill with an organization of white telepaths.
Featured Article: The Essential Octavia Butler—A Listening List for Fans and Newcomers Alike
Octavia E. Butler was a renowned Black author who wrote in, and revolutionized, the science fiction genre. Her body of work, including such acclaimed novels as Kindred and Parable of the Sower, is lauded for its trenchant social commentary and continued pertinence. When it comes to sci-fi, there are few authors more impactful than Octavia E. Butler. Here's everything you need to know about the visionary writer.
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What listeners say about Unexpected Stories
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Adé Ngeno
- 06-30-19
Octavia B. is the John Coltrane of Scifi fantasy
This woman.... oh how I wish we had more time with her. For me she is the John Coltrane... the Nina Simone ... the Monk of Scifi fantasy I can read her stories over and over again... it hits me like a favorite jazz song.
16 people found this helpful
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- C.
- 12-06-20
Long Live Octavia Butler's Masterful Storytelling
These stories made me even more grateful for Octavia Butler's resolve to share her gift and make the reader feel through words. They also made me miss her equally.
3 people found this helpful
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- Adiva
- 01-23-20
I'm a huge O . Butler stan. great work!
This shirt work was very enjoyable. O.B. at her finest. I'm hungry for more. Excellent narration
3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- NaLaH
- 07-21-20
Amazing Short Read
I am always amazed at how I easily allow myself to accept the worlds that Butler effortlessly creates. This was my first time reading her shorter works and each one made me want more. She approaches issues of tolerance, peace, power, land stewardship, aging, psychic gifts and more like no other. Dig in!
And I will read ANYTHING that Robin Miles narrates. She's incredible!
2 people found this helpful
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- Michelle McClintock
- 06-10-22
very short audible
must've been a work in progress. second story was not even finished!!! good start
1 person found this helpful
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- DEB
- 01-17-22
Print vs Audio
I like reading print, touching paper, turning the page, and stopping to insert a book mark when I read a book. But, I realize the audio format will help me with words that are difficult to pronounce. So now, I will review with an audio format first then read the paper format, because it is more environmentally friendly for the atmosphere on Earth and digital format is harmful to my eyes.
I do love Octavia E. Butler's stories. I read almost all of her books, but I am saddened that her book, Survivor, is unreachable to people like me that can't afford to purchase a new or used copy. I want to read it, so I ask that Doubleday to reprint it. Business wise more money would be gained due the supply and demand for it. Instead of people making "PDF" copies of it and passing it around.
Peace Out!
1 person found this helpful
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- Julia
- 06-26-21
Disappointing for Butler
I’ve read everything Octavia Butler published and I LOVE HER! These stories are good for another author, but compared to Big let’s other work are really nothing special.
1 person found this helpful
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- JDub
- 06-13-21
Always Interesting
Octavia Butler is one of my favorite authors. She baits you in and takes you on a journey. Nothing is different with these two novellas. She left me wanting to know how the two stories characters will continue in there worlds. I was fully invested and my only let down was there wasn't anymore to read.
1 person found this helpful
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- Virginia Hampton
- 08-27-20
amazing as usual!
I am a Butler fan from way back. These stories are worth a good listen.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 07-04-20
AWESOME!
I'm not surprised that these novellas were soooooo great. I wish she were alive for more!
1 person found this helpful
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- Strayficshion
- 05-02-20
Butler spotlights racism, resistance, compromise
I only recently discovered that Butler died in 2006 which makes these stories, novellas, and novels all the more precious. With the most fertile of imaginations, she develops science, or fantasy, or speculative fiction that needs no reference to whizz bang gizmos, tech talk, or warp drives. These two stories, one much longer than the other, are about people, or more pertinently, peoples where accommodation or adjustment to change, resistance to injustice, and thoughtful right-doing predominate. Racism/tribalism/speciesism figure prominently as in all her books. But don't be afraid she might be preaching, she doesn't, not once, not ever because these characters are so rounded you feel like neighbours by the end. What a shame there will be no more.
1 person found this helpful