Sample

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Kindred

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Kim Staunton
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The first science-fiction written by a Black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of African-American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity.

Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning White boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life.

During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she's been given: to protect this young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother.

Author Octavia E. Butler skilfully juxtaposes the serious issues of slavery, human rights, and racial prejudice with an exciting science-fiction, romance, and historical adventure. Kim Staunton's narrative talent magically transforms the listener's earphones into an audio time machine.

©2000 Octavia Butler (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"[Kindred] is a shattering work of art with much to say about love, hate, slavery and racial dilemmas, then and now." (Los Angeles Herald Examiner)

"Truly terrifying." (Essence)

"Butler's literary craftsmanship is superb." (The Washington Post Book World)

Featured Article: 175+ of the Best Quotes from Black Authors, Activists, Entrepreneurs, and Artists to Celebrate Black History Month


Black History is American History. Whether writers, poets, activists, entertainers, scientists, entrepreneurs, or some combination thereof, Black people have frequently offered exactly the right words when they were needed most. This sweeping collection of wise, stirring, and thought-provoking words from Black Americans offers much to inspire all Americans.

Editor's Pick

Shakes you to your bones
"I approached Kindred about a year ago knowing it was a classic. I don’t usually do well with classics—I get impatient with old-fashioned language and plodding plots—but this wasn’t like that at all. I was thrown off my expectations from chapter one. This story is gripping and fast-paced and uncomfortable and every bit as genius as when it was first released forty years ago. Listening with Kim Staunton’s narration made it, if possible, even more hauntingly real. This one stays with you."
Melissa B., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Kindred

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10,174
  • 4 Stars
    2,925
  • 3 Stars
    839
  • 2 Stars
    215
  • 1 Stars
    89
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9,247
  • 4 Stars
    2,282
  • 3 Stars
    706
  • 2 Stars
    174
  • 1 Stars
    94
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9,014
  • 4 Stars
    2,450
  • 3 Stars
    733
  • 2 Stars
    192
  • 1 Stars
    73

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping

So very well written and performed that it seems as if the author actually did travel back and forth in time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow...

I wish I had found this when I was a much younger person. This had an enormous impact on me has made me so much more clear about so many things. Great story and concept.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!!!

It's very difficult to do justice to this book. It is a timely examination of the cost of slavery on everyone involved, and the tendrils that remain of its grasp today. This is a work of deep literary craftsmanship in the service explicating the original sin of America, with hope. SF serves the author's purpose with minimal distraction. Deeply moving.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

Truly captivating story. I don't usually listen to fiction books but this one was well read. Loved the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Must Read

This is by far one of the best performances and stories I have listened to. I would highly recommend this. Fingers crossed one day this will become a movie or tv series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Was highly recommended to me

I finished the book. It was okay. I think the author had a great idea and did a good job of representing a past age in an interesting way. That being said, I hated the main character. At almost every turn I didn’t connect with her choices or her thoughts. It didn’t help that the narration wasn’t spectacular either. I’m surprised this book received as great of praise as it has.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Kindred walked so Get Out could run!

Great Sci-Fi (Socio) Horror! I loved this audiobook. Listened in one go! The narrative hooks you immediately and you need to know why, how and inbetween trying to survive the circumstances alongside our protagonist. At some points I found the depictions of slavery a bit gratuitous but this is also from the lenses of the end of generation of slave narratives. I think the next generation will have a lower tolerance for these narratives to be commonly used for Black Americans depicted in media. It's emotionally tiring. I, however, would not remove it, as the fear, pain, and longing for freedom are thoroughly instilled in the reader. Our protagonist is empathetic, patient, and a smart cookie - sometimes to her detriment. This is the story the awful movie Antebellum (2020) should've been. Makes me wonder why they'd use that concept instead of just adapting this novel. I recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This story will stay with you

Butler has crafted a powerful and heartbreaking tale of slavery, survival, and time travel with a resilient and smart protagonist.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOVED

Bring a strong white female, raised by a strong proud white man... yes, I am closed minded to my beliefs. After this book, no longer will I give an excuse for my up bringing, area or era I was raised. What is right is right, wrong is wrong. We as humans know the difference and all are equal.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book

I enjoy historical fiction and sci-fi/fantasy and found this book a great mix of genres. Well researched on the historical side blended with a creative story, made for a great listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!