A newly expanded edition of Octavia E. Butler's only collection of short stories. |Butler graces new mansions of thought with her eloquent, distinguished and poignant prose. Although this book is little in size, its ideas are splendidly large.| - Booklist |The title story is justly famous. Splendid pieces, set forth in calm, lucid prose with never a word wasted.| - Kirkus Reviews
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Fledgling: A Novel
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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By purplepadma
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
Not sure where Amazon got the book description, but it appears to refer to a completely different item (presumably "Bloodchild", since it makes reference to a short story collection). "Fledgling" is a novel, Butler's first for some time. It opens with the narrator, who appears to be a child, lying seriously injured in a cave, unable to remember who she is and what has happened to her. She sets out to rediscover her past and finds that she is one of the Ina, an ancient vampire race. Things become more complicated when it begins to seem as if her life is risk from unknown attackers. In order to keep herself safe, Shori has to relearn who she is and what it means to be Ina.
As so often the case is Butler's work, Shori's story encompasses themes of race and gender. Is someone trying to kill Shori because she is Ina? Because she is part human? Or because she is black? The novel raises questions of where the boundaries of humanity lie and its dark parallel America offers plenty of opportunity for reflection on contemporary debates on integration, immigration, and genetic engineering.
As so often the case is Butler's work, Shori's story encompasses themes of race and gender. Is someone trying to kill Shori because she is Ina? Because she is part human? Or because she is black? The novel raises questions of where the boundaries of humanity lie and its dark parallel America offers plenty of opportunity for reflection on contemporary debates on integration, immigration, and genetic engineering.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By S. Dass
Format:Paperback
As gothic tales go this has it all - romance, horror, tension and a contemporary heroine in the form of Shori, a vampire with a missing memory. The story follows her through her discovery of who she actually is and who she has the potential to become. This story can be read on a number of different levels. It has a lot to say about identity formation, race relations, binary gender dynamics and the impact of lost/stolen histories on whole generations of people. But, I don't know. Highly accomplished as this book is, I did wish for Shori to rise up more, let loose, let rip, take over. Perhaps this wasn't the intent of the author, but it felt in parts like the story really needed more deliberate action. That said however, this is an amazingly evocative book and the story stays with you long after reading.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I loved this book. It was my first Octavia E Butler but won't be my last. I can't recommend it highly enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Uncomfortable reading
Fledgling is a little bit disturbing. You start reading it and think...'she's not going to go there is she?' 'Oh no, please don't go there'... She does go there. Read more
Published 6 months ago by N. Maddy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Boring take on the vampire genre
It seems a writer cannot write a vampire book these days without twisting the genre in someway in order to make it their own. What did Butler do? Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Willis
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Clever Take on Vampires, Left Me a Little Cold Though
I have to say Octavia E. Butler's final book `Fledgling' is quite unlike any vampire book that I have read before in lots of ways. Read more
Published on 25 May 2010 by Simon Savidge Reads
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I read this book couple of years ago. It was just brilliant. I feel we would have gotten more (trilogy at least) if Octavia hadn't died unexpectedly. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by Afra
5.0 out of 5 stars
wow, how does she do it?
I am so glad I finished this book - I could not put it down and everything else (work, cooking, sleep) has had to suffer - it's a fantastic book incorporating many of Octavia's... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2009 by Annie UK
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bites to Die For
Ok, so vampire stories have been barbecued, fried, roasted, fricasseed, and otherwise done-to-death. But none have done what Ms. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by Patrick Shepherd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Accessible sci-fi that deserves a wider audience
This book is the New Testament of vampire lore that should be on the reading list of all who have been sucked in by either Buffy or Twilight.
Published on 25 Jun 2009 by T. S. Marsh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fledgling
I discovered Octavia's Fledgling by accident and was stunned that such a book exsisted. The story pulled me in from the beginning anf you felt all the injustices that were heaped... Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2007 by Mrs. S. Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is an interim review
I started reading this yesterday and was just "there" by the end of the first page. I've read about sixty pages and it's a thrill a line almost. That woman was a powerful writer. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2007 by Stephen Williamson
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