Kindred

By: Octavia E. Butler

Narrated by: Kim Staunton

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

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)

Wow, that was awesome.

Holy Moses, that was an exceptional story. I can't believe I have never read it before. I highly recommend it.

Amazing!

I would have never been able to finish this book without Audible. Thanks a million!

Great book with great reader.

Unusual take on time travel. Not your run-of-the-mill sci-fi novel. Well thought out, well-written plot. Keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what will happen next. I learned a lot too.

Very Engaging. Great Performance by Kim Staunton.

Would you consider the audio edition of Kindred to be better than the print version?

Because of Kim Staunton's performance, I would say so.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how it showed how slowly things had changed and how circumstances could vary greatly from one plantation to another. I also liked how it showed the prejudices were shaped by surroundings and not born into the children.

Which character – as performed by Kim Staunton – was your favorite?

I think Dana was.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were several points in the book where I had extreme reactions; most prominently, anger and sadness at the treatment of black people.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend this book both for the story and for the narration.

Amazing

I finished this in 2 days. I highly recommend this book. Go get this today.

Yes!

I admire the imagination of Octavia Butler. She is one of my favorite authors and was way before her time. The narrator brought this book to life it was an experience I won't forget!

An unbelievable, awesome read!

I was drawn to this book after purchasing another of Octavia Butler's novels as a BOGO, to which I am currently listening. I did a little research and decided to purchase this book also, as it is Butler's most notable piece.

I am very sympathetic to the problems of African Americans as I myself am of mixed race. But I wasn't looking for a BLM read even though at the time I write this review, the country is in chaos due to the COVid pandemic, protests, riots, massive unemployment and the effects of being locked down. I enjoy time-travel books and came into "Kindred" in this way. This fantastic book took me to the heart of the African-American experience, and I am forever changed. I ABSOLUTELY recommend this book -- all of Octavia Butler's books -- for the sense of a "You are there" experience.

I entered the world of this young educated, black woman who is inextricably thrown from 1976 into 1819 Maryland. We are not told how this anomaly occurs, but it keeps throwing her from one time to the other throughout the book. She gets to experience the daily life of a slave woman for minutes, sometimes hours or years before returning to the present where only minutes or hours have elapsed.

Her husband, who is white, is taken along with her at one point, and the pair have to deal with and owner/slave relationship just to get by in 1819 Maryland in the home of a plantation owner, his wife and young son. It is all too real, as this harrowing tale moves forward through 25 years of life on the plantation against two weeks in the present.

This book is definitely a classic, and should be required reading in every school in America. It rightfully won a Hugo award when it was published. It is a lesson for your soul. Octavia E. Butler is the most amazing author I have read since Asimov.

Profound and moving.

Great story and reading. Took me a while to suspend my disbelief but once I did … wow!

Took me by surprise

This book was excellent. I first saw the TV series and noticed that it was based on the book Kindred. Don't let this deter you from reading this book. It keeps you involved and waiting for what's to come. I highly recommend this book. This is not a genre that I usually read, but the insight into the historcal past was excellent.

The book is goddamn gud

I am honestly somebody that almost never ever reads books only when my teacher makes us read a book for our grade. I struggle some much getting to know my context that's why i make no effort on trying to read and give up easily on a book,but oh my god this book is so GREAT. The book kept me interested and made me read more and more. There were some points of the book where i was like wtf what is going on? eventually everything start to makes sense and u start to getting a bunch of emotions of angryness,sadness or confusion throught the book. I love kindred such a marvelous book.