Octavia E. Butler: The Last Interview

and Other Conversations

Introduction by Samuel R. Delany
Edited by Melville House
Look inside
A New York Times 6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week
A Los Angeles Daily News 25 Must Read Best Books of 2023
A Ms Magazine September 2023 Reads For The Rest of Us

"The impression left by The Last Interview is of an indomitable woman who made her way through persistence and diligence." -- Dave Luhrssen of the The Shepherd Express

“I write about people who do extraordinary things. It just turned out that it was called science fiction.” - Octavia E. Butler


Octavia E. Butler's work broke innumerable barriers and helped open the field of science fiction to writers and readers it had never had before. As the first Black writer to win the coveted Nebula and Hugo Awards, her courage and vision left a peerless legacy for fans not just of science fiction, but of American literature. In this collection of 10 interviews, 3 of them never published, Butler speaks with candor and openness about her work, her imaginative mission, and the barriers she faced as a Black woman working in a genre dominated by white men. The book features an original introduction by science fiction legend Samuel R. Delany, in which he discusses his personal relation with Butler, providing unparalleled insight into her work and life.
A New York Times 6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week
A Los Angeles Daily News 25 Must Read Books of 2023
A Ms Magazine September 2023 Reads For The Rest of Us
A The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 41 New Books for Holiday Gifts 2023
A Book Riot 8 New SFF Books Out In September To Add To Your TBR Right Now
Alta Online 16 New Books for September

"giftable series" - Los Angeles Daily News

"The latest captivating volume" - Ms Magazine

"The impression left by The Last Interview is of an indomitable woman who made her way through persistence and diligence." -- Dave Luhrssen of the The Shepherd Express

About

A New York Times 6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week
A Los Angeles Daily News 25 Must Read Best Books of 2023
A Ms Magazine September 2023 Reads For The Rest of Us

"The impression left by The Last Interview is of an indomitable woman who made her way through persistence and diligence." -- Dave Luhrssen of the The Shepherd Express

“I write about people who do extraordinary things. It just turned out that it was called science fiction.” - Octavia E. Butler


Octavia E. Butler's work broke innumerable barriers and helped open the field of science fiction to writers and readers it had never had before. As the first Black writer to win the coveted Nebula and Hugo Awards, her courage and vision left a peerless legacy for fans not just of science fiction, but of American literature. In this collection of 10 interviews, 3 of them never published, Butler speaks with candor and openness about her work, her imaginative mission, and the barriers she faced as a Black woman working in a genre dominated by white men. The book features an original introduction by science fiction legend Samuel R. Delany, in which he discusses his personal relation with Butler, providing unparalleled insight into her work and life.

Praise

A New York Times 6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week
A Los Angeles Daily News 25 Must Read Books of 2023
A Ms Magazine September 2023 Reads For The Rest of Us
A The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 41 New Books for Holiday Gifts 2023
A Book Riot 8 New SFF Books Out In September To Add To Your TBR Right Now
Alta Online 16 New Books for September

"giftable series" - Los Angeles Daily News

"The latest captivating volume" - Ms Magazine

"The impression left by The Last Interview is of an indomitable woman who made her way through persistence and diligence." -- Dave Luhrssen of the The Shepherd Express

Books for Native American Heritage Month

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month this November, Penguin Random House Education is highlighting books that detail the history of Native Americans, and stories that explore Native American culture and experiences. Browse our collections here: Native American Creators Native American History & Culture

Read more

2024 Middle and High School Collections

The Penguin Random House Education Middle School and High School Digital Collections feature outstanding fiction and nonfiction from the children’s, adult, DK, and Grupo Editorial divisions, as well as publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Peruse online or download these valuable resources to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: English Language Arts,

Read more

PRH Education High School Collections

All reading communities should contain protected time for the sake of reading. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product. The school culture (teachers, administration, etc.) should affirm this daily practice time as inherently important instructional time for all readers. (NCTE, 2019)   The Penguin Random House High

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more