Octavia Butler imagines a world without racism

Octavia Butler imagines a world without racis...

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'Odyssey' translator Emily Wilson on her book of essays 'Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea'

Emily Wilson is a classicist whose translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey are popular and controversial. Recently, she was at the center of the discourse surrounding Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey. Her new book of essays reflects on translation and the role ...  Show more

Marlon James' novel 'The Disappearers' chronicles the aftermath of a violent attack

In 1988, a group of gay men gathered in Kingston, Jamaica to put on a play. At the time, homophobia in the country was rampant and sex between men was outlawed. Marlon James’ new novel The Disappearers is about a hateful mob attack at one of the group’s rehearsals. In an intervie ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

Octavia Butler: Visionary Fiction‬
Short Wave

Today we are wrapping up Science Fiction Week with a very special episode from our friends at NPR's history podcast Throughline. As a part of their Imagining New Worlds series, they dive into the life of visionary science fiction writer Octavia Butler. Octavia crafted cautionary ...  Show more

Octavia E. Butler: Visionary black sci-fi writer
Witness History

In 1995, Octavia E Butler became the first author to receive a MacArthur “genius” award for science fiction writing. From a young age she dreamed of writing books, but faced many challenges, including poverty, sexism and racism in the publishing industry. She died aged 58 in 2006 ...  Show more

Episode 4: THE PASSAGE OF OCTAVIA BUTLER
The Passage

In this visionary and introspective episode of The Passage, the Ferryman, voiced by Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, The Walking Dead), welcomes a soul whose pen crafted worlds and whose imagination reshaped the boundaries of science fiction. Octavia Butler vo ...  Show more

Black reality in a world of fantasy
Code Switch

Why build a fantasy world that still has racism? B.A. Parker moderates a discussion on Black science fiction and fantasy with authors Tochi Onyebuchi and Leslye Penelope at the National Book Festival.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal dat ...  Show more