Bloodchild and Other Stories

Quite possibly the most genuine and inviting science fiction writer I've ever encountered, Butler's short fiction has raised my expectations of personal intimacy from an author. Her tales are frank and open, eerie and unworldly, yet blue collar and real. It's an enthralling combination. Expecting the titular "Bloodchild" to be the pinnacle of the collection, I passed over most of these tales for months. Boy, was that stupid. "Speech Sounds" and "Amnesty" might be my favorites. A compelling and enthralling collection that does so many things well, but most memorable are her depictions of alienation (metaphorical, but also literal in two ways) in the factory setting.