Octavia Butler - Writers, Facts and Personal Life
Octavia Butler's Personal Details
Octavia butler was an acclaimed American science-fiction writer
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 22, 1947 |
| Died on | February 24, 2006 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African American Authors, Writers, Novelists, Science Fiction Writers |
| Nick names | Junie, Genius Grant |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Pasadena |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Laurice Butler |
| Mother | Octavia M. Butler |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Pasadena |
| Famous as | Science Fiction Writer |
| Died at Age | 58 |
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Octavia Butler's photo
Who is Octavia Butler?
One of the first African-American woman writers to receive critical-acclaim as a major writer in the genre of science-fiction, Octavia Butler is popularly called the ‘Grand Dame Of Science Fiction’. She is also the first science-fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Fellowship and is also the recipient of the prestigious Hugo and Nebula awards. She was born into a humble family and lost her father while still an infant. Her mother worked as a maid to support the family financially. As a child, she was rather shy but developed a love for reading and writing science fiction. Most of her books contain a blend of both science fiction and elements of African-American spirituality. Her first published novel, ‘Patternmaster’ resulted in a volume of novels called, ‘Patternist series’. Some of her other acclaimed books include, 'Parable of the Sower', 'Kindred', 'Parable of the Talents', the ‘Lilith's Brood' science fiction trilogy and the award winning short story collection, 'Bloodchild and Other Stories'. She attended the Screenwriter's Guild Open Door Program and the Clarion Science Fiction Writers' Workshop.
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Childhood & Early Life
Octavia Estelle Butler was born on June 22, 1947 in Pasadena, California, U.S. She lost her father Laurice, when she was an infant and was raised by her mother, Octavia M. Butler and grandmother.
Her mother worked as a maid to support the family. She was raised in a racially mixed neighbourhood, which was not very easy for her to deal as she was a rather shy child.
She loved to read as a child and developed a liking for science fiction classics. From the age of ten she began writing stories.
In 1968, she graduated from the Pasadena City College with an associate's degree. She initially enrolled at the California State University, Los Angeles, but left to take writing classes through the University of California, Los Angeles extension.
In 1969, she attended The Open Door Workshop organised by the ‘Screenwriters’ Guild of America’, West. Here she met the acclaimed science fiction writer, Harlan Ellison.
In 1970, she attended the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop, which was recommended to her by Harlan Ellison. Here she met another prominent writer, Samuel R. Delany.
Career
In 1971, she earned her first publication with the story, ‘Crossover', which was printed in the Clarion Workshop anthology. While writing stories, she also did many jobs to make ends meet.
In 1976, she published her first science fiction novel, ‘Patternmaster', which eventually became the first book of her 'Patternist series'. The book revolves around networked telepaths.
In 1977 and the following year, she came out with the 'Patternist series' of novels, titled ‘Mind of My Mind' and 'Survivor'.The science fiction series was well received.
In 1979, her novel titled, ‘Kindred' was published. The plot revolved around the life of an African-American woman named, ‘Edana Dana Franklin', who resides in Altadena, California.
In 1980, she came out with her fourth novel in the 'Patternist series' titled, ‘Wild Seed’. The novel received good reviews and was praised by New York Times reviewer Gerald Jonas.
In 1984, she came out with the 'Patternist series' novel titled, ‘Clay's Ark’. In the novel, the character, ‘Asa Elias Doyle’ comes to know of a dangerous alien form that could prove fatal to mankind.
From 1987, she published her ‘Lilith's Brood' science fiction trilogy. The collection included three volume 'Dawn', 'Adulthood Rites' and 'Imago', respectively, in the order of publication.
In 1993, she came out with the book titled, ‘Parable of the Sower’, which was the first book of the two-book volume of the ‘Parable Series'. The book was nominated for the Nebula Award for ‘Best Novel’.
In 1995, her collection of science fiction and horror short stories titled ‘Bloodchild and Other Stories’ was published. Each of the stories featured an afterword by the author.
In 1998, her second volume of the ‘Parable Series', ‘Parable of the Talents' was published. Even though she planned to write a third book, she could not finish it due to writers’ block.
In 2005, her science-fiction-vampire novel titled, ‘Fledgling’ was published by the Seven Stories Press. The plot revolves around an eleven year old girl, who is actually a vampire.
Major Works
Her award winning short story collection. ‘Bloodchild and Other Stories’ was declared as a New York Times ‘Notable Book’. With this book she established herself as one of the strongest voices in contemporary literature.
Awards & Achievements
In 1984, she received the Hugo Award for Best Short Story for ‘Speech Sounds'.
In 1984, she received the Nebula Award for Best Novelette for 'Bloodchild'.
In 1985, she was awarded the Science Fiction Chronicle Award for 'Best Novelette' for 'Bloodchild'.
In 1985, she was awarded the Locus Award for ‘Best Novelette’ for 'Bloodchild'.
In 1985, she was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for 'Bloodchild'.
In 1995, she was awarded the MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' Grant.
In 1999, she received the Nebula Award for 'Best Novel' for 'Parable of the Talents'.
In 2000, the PEN American Center conferred her lifetime achievement award in writing.
Personal Life & Legacy
She suffered from dyslexia.
She died on February 24, 2006 at the age of 58 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, outside her house. The cause of her death is unknown.
In her honour and memory 'The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship' was founded in 2006 by the Carl Brandon Society. This facilitates African-American writers to attend the Clarion Writers' Workshop, which she first attended. In 2011, it was put on hold.
Trivia
The author of the famous ‘Patternist series’, she was the first African-American woman to gain popularity and critical acclaim as a major science-fiction writer.
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Octavia Butler's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Hugo Award for Best Novelette | |
| 0 | Nebula Award for Best Novelette | |
| 0 | MacArthur Fellowship | |
| 0 | Nebula Award for Best Novel | |
| 0 | Hugo Award for Best Short Story | |
Octavia Butler biography timelines
- // 22nd Jun 1947Octavia Estelle Butler was born on June 22, 1947 in Pasadena, California, U.S. She lost her father Laurice, when she was an infant and was raised by her mother, Octavia M. Butler and grandmother.
- // 1968In 1968, she graduated from the Pasadena City College with an associate's degree. She initially enrolled at the California State University, Los Angeles, but left to take writing classes through the University of California, Los Angeles extension.
- // 1969In 1969, she attended The Open Door Workshop organised by the ‘Screenwriters’ Guild of America’, West. Here she met the acclaimed science fiction writer, Harlan Ellison.
- // 1970In 1970, she attended the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop, which was recommended to her by Harlan Ellison. Here she met another prominent writer, Samuel R. Delany.
- // 1971In 1971, she earned her first publication with the story, ‘Crossover', which was printed in the Clarion Workshop anthology. While writing stories, she also did many jobs to make ends meet.
- // 1976In 1976, she published her first science fiction novel, ‘Patternmaster', which eventually became the first book of her 'Patternist series'. The book revolves around networked telepaths.
- // 1977In 1977 and the following year, she came out with the 'Patternist series' of novels, titled ‘Mind of My Mind' and 'Survivor'.The science fiction series was well received.
- // 1979In 1979, her novel titled, ‘Kindred' was published. The plot revolved around the life of an African-American woman named, ‘Edana Dana Franklin', who resides in Altadena, California.
- // 1980In 1980, she came out with her fourth novel in the 'Patternist series' titled, ‘Wild Seed’. The novel received good reviews and was praised by New York Times reviewer Gerald Jonas.
- // 1984In 1984, she came out with the 'Patternist series' novel titled, ‘Clay's Ark’. In the novel, the character, ‘Asa Elias Doyle’ comes to know of a dangerous alien form that could prove fatal to mankind.
- // 1984In 1984, she received the Hugo Award for Best Short Story for ‘Speech Sounds'.
- // 1984In 1984, she received the Nebula Award for Best Novelette for 'Bloodchild'.
- // 1985In 1985, she was awarded the Science Fiction Chronicle Award for 'Best Novelette' for 'Bloodchild'.
- // 1985In 1985, she was awarded the Locus Award for ‘Best Novelette’ for 'Bloodchild'.
- // 1985In 1985, she was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for 'Bloodchild'.
- // 1987From 1987, she published her ‘Lilith's Brood' science fiction trilogy. The collection included three volume 'Dawn', 'Adulthood Rites' and 'Imago', respectively, in the order of publication.
- // 1993In 1993, she came out with the book titled, ‘Parable of the Sower’, which was the first book of the two-book volume of the ‘Parable Series'. The book was nominated for the Nebula Award for ‘Best Novel’.
- // 1995In 1995, her collection of science fiction and horror short stories titled ‘Bloodchild and Other Stories’ was published. Each of the stories featured an afterword by the author.
- // 1995In 1995, she was awarded the MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' Grant.
- // 1998In 1998, her second volume of the ‘Parable Series', ‘Parable of the Talents' was published. Even though she planned to write a third book, she could not finish it due to writers’ block.
- // 1999In 1999, she received the Nebula Award for 'Best Novel' for 'Parable of the Talents'.
- // 2000In 2000, the PEN American Center conferred her lifetime achievement award in writing.
- // 2005In 2005, her science-fiction-vampire novel titled, ‘Fledgling’ was published by the Seven Stories Press. The plot revolves around an eleven year old girl, who is actually a vampire.
- // 2006 To 2011In her honour and memory 'The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship' was founded in 2006 by the Carl Brandon Society. This facilitates African-American writers to attend the Clarion Writers' Workshop, which she first attended. In 2011, it was put on hold.
- // 24th Feb 2006She died on February 24, 2006 at the age of 58 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, outside her house. The cause of her death is unknown.
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Octavia Butler's FAQ
What is Octavia Butler birthday?
Octavia Butler was born at 1947-06-22
When was Octavia Butler died?
Octavia Butler was died at 2006-02-24
Where was Octavia Butler died?
Octavia Butler was died in Seattle
Which age was Octavia Butler died?
Octavia Butler was died at age 58
Where is Octavia Butler's birth place?
Octavia Butler was born in Pasadena
What is Octavia Butler nationalities?
Octavia Butler's nationalities is American
What is Octavia Butler nick names?
Octavia Butler's nickNames is Junie, Genius Grant
What was Octavia Butler universities?
Octavia Butler studied at California State University, Los Angeles, Pasadena City College University of California, Los Angeles, John Muir High School
Who is Octavia Butler's father?
Octavia Butler's father is Laurice Butler
Who is Octavia Butler's mother?
Octavia Butler's mother is Octavia M. Butler
What is Octavia Butler's sun sign?
Octavia Butler is Cancer
How famous is Octavia Butler?
Octavia Butler is famouse as Science Fiction Writer