Kindred

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I don’t think it’s possible to overhype this book. I can’t believe it took me so many years to finally read it.

From a very simple idea (a woman travels back in time to her ancestor to protect him from danger) this story grows and takes on incredible significance. The woman is African-American; the ancestor is white, Southern, and born into a slave-holding family. The mechanism for her travel through time isn’t explained, but it’s also the least important detail of this novel. What quickly takes center stage is the dependency that develops between Dana and Rufus. Dana needs him to stay alive long enough to allow her family line to originate; Rufus needs her to guide him and protect him from his poor judgment. Nothing is neatly or easily solved. Heartbreaking loss makes itself known over and over. And the unbelievable pain of slavery comes to life through a multitude of characters who are vivid and well-drawn.

This is science fiction that’s character-driven, and all the richer for it. The people and ideas on these pages will be with me for a long time.



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