Her father, who worked as a shoe shiner, died when she was seven and Butler was raised by her mother who worked as a maid and her grandmother. Octavia Estelle Butler was born in Pasadena, California in 1947. She grew up poor in a city that, while not segregated legally, was segregated in fact. Her books are now taught in schools and universities across the U.S. As one of the first African American and female science fiction writers, Butler wrote novels that concerned themes of injustice towards African Americans, global warming, women’s rights, and political disparity. Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.Octavia Butler was a pioneering writer of science fiction. Amazon Studios is developing a series based on Butler’s Wild Seed, with novelist Nnedi Okorafor co-writing, as well as a show based on the novel Dawn, with Ava DuVernay serving as the executive producer. Two other projects based on Butler’s books are also in the works. Earlier this month, FX revealed that Janicza Bravo is set to direct that series’ pilot episode, with Mallori Johnson starring as protagonist Dana. The two projects follow the March announcement of an FX television series based on Butler’s classic novel Kindred. Butler’s book tells the story of a teenage girl who founds a new religion in the wake of civilization’s collapse.

Paul Mezey ( Beasts of the Southern Wild) is set to produce the film for A24. In addition, Butler’s 1993 novel Parable of the Sowerwill form the basis of a film to be directed by Garrett Bradley ( Time). In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the novel “a finely crafted character study, a parable about race and an exciting family saga.

Kidd, the writers of the popular series Lovecraft Country, will pen the pilot script.įledgling follows a young girl who wakes up to find that she’s become a vampire. HBO is developing a series adaptation of Butler’s 2005 novel Fledgling, Variety reports, with Issa Rae and J.J. Two new projects based on books by the legendary science fiction author are in the works.

Dawn book octavia butler