Octavia Butler's short essay is presented here in a book that's more akin to coffee table art, than a way to present her old words for a new generation.

When I first tried reading Parable of the Sower last year, I had to put it down and ultimately DNF it. The violence and apathy and overall world Butler imagined in that book felt much too close to reality and ultimately I couldn't handle it. After reading this short essay, it's easy to understand how she wrote such a creepily prescient work in the 90s - essentially, she studied history to be able to extrapolate where our future could go, and guess what? She wasn't too far off base. Scarily so.

The artwork in this short book is beautiful, but it feels like it dilutes the message of the essay. The way the paragraphs are broken up by pages of art feels like it takes away from the overall message because it keeps breaking it up and not in a way that feels organic.

Ultimately, this IS a good essay, and I'm glad that there will be a new volume like this to bring it back into light for new readers to discover. It'll certainly make for a beautiful display book for Butler fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read and review this. The book will be available April 16, 2024.

This beautifully illustrated book is so lovely for gifting. Octavia Butler, master of forward-reaching sci-fi gives four areas of hope for looking ahead, perfect for new grads, youth, and anyone who needs some inspiration.
I'm so thankful to have read this and will reach for it again when I'm feeling uncertain about the future.

This is a fantastic essay by Octavia Butler that like everything from her that I have read, has very relevant takeaways for our current time. In this she talks about the idea that predicting the future is a hopeful act, that she researches history and regimes of the past to see how the problems in present day could grow to become worse. This was a wonderful reminder to know and read history as a warning for the present and future.

An intelligent and succinct essay that remains apt for the current times. Butler draws attention to the importance of studying the past while also cautioning against both optimism and pessimism for predicting the future. Overall, the essay retains a message of hope that I really appreciate. I enjoyed the one Octavia Butler novel I've read immensely and this essay made me want to pick up more of her works.

Octavia Butler is one of the authors that brought me to love reading. Her writing style is so approachable, yet developed in a way that you know you will learn something. This reigns true even in this short essay. Butler drops many gems to educate the reader on the power of the thought, her writing and creative process, and the importance of predicting what it is to come, even when it is not as black and white as it seems. The art alongside this essay is stunning and I could easily see this being an amazing conversation starter or coffee table book in my home.

Short book with beautiful illustrations. Text is only on half the pages, and it's straightforward and conversational. A very quick read and although Butler references her previous books, you can appreciate this one without having read them.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.

“There’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead, there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”

Superb as always, Octavia Butler should be required reading in every high school in the country.

I stumbled upon this little gem of wisdom and art through sheer serendipity while scrolling through Netgalley. Visionary science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler is known for disquietingly realistic and plausible glimpses of dystopian near futures as trajectories of our current paths. In this short but eloquent and prescient essay, first published in 2000, the author discusses how the past and present sow the seeds of the future, the importance of looking forward to potential futures to chart a better course. Her observations are insightful and empowering, and timelessly relevant.

"There is no single answer that will solve all of our future problems. There's no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers - at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be."

I'm a great admirer of Octavia E. Butler's work, and I loved this short but brilliant book. It's wise and hopeful, and beautifully illustrated by Manzel Bowman. This would make a perfect gift.

Many thanks to Chronicle Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a free advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Octavia Butler's essay is as observant and wise as I've come to expect of her.

The illustrations look like a beginner's attempt to use photoshop and detract from the essay. Manzel Bowman's collages do not suit this or really any of Butler's works.

Received via NetGalley.

I'm a big Octavia Butler fan, but I'd never heard of her essay. She elaborates on the idea that if we don't pay attention to history, we are doomed to repeat it, while also instilling a sense of hope and purpose into why writing speculative fiction grounded in past patterns matters. The essay is paired with vibrant collage art and makes for a very short but beautiful book for any Octavia Butler completionist.

I am huge Octavia Butler fan. The essay reprinted here is full of Octavia's insight and philosophy. It's a good essay and gives you a lot to think about.

The essay is interspersed with art pieces inspired by the text. The art is good, but I didn't feel it connected enough with the essay. I would have liked to see more interaction between the two.

Octavia Butler's "A Few Rules for Predicting the Future" is a wonderful, accessible volume of knowledge that beautifully expands of her groundbreaking work in "The Parable of the Sower" and "The Parable of the Talents." She describes three rules that helped guide her thinking in development of her work: Learn from the past; Respect the law of consequences; Be aware of your perspective; Count on the surprises. Each are followed by Butler's insight from her personal and political life, and ultimately reminds us of the responsibility we have to do our best to shape our futures into something good and worthy of our future children. The volume is also accompanied by beautiful artwork that flows seamlessly with the beauty of Butler's insights. A beautiful work I highly recommend.

This is a beautiful and compact book that would make a great gift to children or teenagers. I want to buy a hard copy!

Love everything that had to do with Mrs butler. She’s a visionary and should be remembered as such. This is another extension of her art. I loved it.

I have yet to read Octavia Butler, but had a minute to read this essay. I love when she said that tomorrow is the child of today. I respect that she really seems to lay serious groundwork for her stories (though, she probably wouldn't be such a great author if it was otherwise).

This book would be a beautiful gift for the history, sci-fi, or Butler buff. Half of the book was artwork, making this a quick read that would look awesome displayed on any shelf. And, of course, Butler's words of wisdom will ring true at any stage of our human existence.

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The wise words of science fiction icon Octavia E. Butler live on in this beautiful and giftable little volume.

“There’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”

Originally published in Essence magazine in the year 2000, Octavia E. Butler’s essay “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future” offers an honest look into the inspiration behind her science fiction novels and the importance of studying history and taking responsibility for our actions if we are to move forward.

Organized into four main rules, this short essay reminds readers to learn from the past, respect the law of consequences, be aware of their perspectives, and count on the surprises. Citing the warning signs of fascism, the illusive effects of fear and wishful thinking, and the unpredictable nature of what is yet to come, Butler shares realistic but hopeful suggestions to shape our future into something good. An inspiring and motivational gift for students and recent graduates, fans of Butler's work, and anyone seeking a brighter day tomorrow, this exquisite gift book includes stunning Afrofuturist artwork by Manzel Bowman alongside the full text of the original essay.

Review:

If you weren't able to collect this essay when it appeared in Essence, here is your opportunity to keep it to review-complete with beautiful artwork.

Octavia E. Butler's words are accompanied by amazing artwork in this gift book - ready to inspire anyone stepping out into the future. The perfect graduation gift for the young person who understands how problematic the go-to from Dr. Seuss is. Present this to anyone about to embark on an adventure. Butler continues to prod us with insight which holds up decades later. The artwork enhances the words and feeds the imagination. Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the chance to preview this eARC.

A brilliant, pithy essay on the difficulties of predicting the future and why it matters. Buter writes with great clarity and hope using her experience as an author to navigate the perils of prediction. A great essay. Butler can say in a few paragraphs what it takes others to say in a book.

A very short book packed with wisdom in the form of an essay by the legendary sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler. There are beautiful colorful illustrations that I’m sure would look even more stunning in physical format.

I first read Octavia Butler when my science fiction book club read Kindred a few years ago (we loved it but felt it was fantasy and not science fiction). I read her collection Bloodchild and Other Stories when I got it in a nebula award winning humble numbed and really enjoyed it. After that I would buy kindle editions of all of her series when the collected editions went on sale and I read and loved the Xenogenesis trilogy. But her other books stayed on my TBR shelf, getting passed over for newer things, until I recently read Octavia E. Butler: The Last Interview and Other Conversations which reminded me how much I loved her. I’ve recently read Wild Seed and Parable of the Sower. So I was excited when I saw this book on NetGalley and I got a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was hoping for an essay collection. Instead this book is one essay. It is a reprint of a magazine article with some disappointing and distracting illustrations. It’s a good essay! I enjoyed it! But I wouldn’t pay what the publisher is charging to own this.