In the Reader's Guide at the back of my edition, Octavia Butler is reported to have said that she considers Kindred to be a "grim fantasy," not science fiction, as there is "absolutely no science in it." The mechanism by which Dana is "called" from 1976 to the early 1800s is never discussed. It simply is not relevant to this riveting story.

Through the story of Dana, a happily married woman, a successful author of 1976, suddenly and inexplicably thrown, repeatedly, back to a farm in the early 1800s in the slave state of Maryland, Butler examines slavery, the enslaved, and slavery's effects on all the people it touches: those born into slavery, Freedmen and -women returned to slavery, a Black woman from our own era who suddenly finds herself in a slavery-based society, a white man from our era also suddenly thrown into that same society, and those who "owned" other human beings - the slave owners.

She examines the choices slavery thrusts on each of these characters, too. Some of the most interesting parts of this story, to me, were Dana's agonized thoughts as her modern ideals and preconceptions were broken on the rocks of the horrors she saw all around her under the system of slavery. In some instances, she found that the reality of an impossible life made impossible (she thought) choices all-too-possible, for both herself and others.

Octavia Butler thoroughly researched this book by studying the Slave Narratives, first person "autobiographies of nineteenth-century Americans who lived as slaves," as well as other elements of the geography and culture of the era in which Kindred is set. Her meticulous research gives this book a stunning authenticity.

I read this book in one sitting. I literally could not put it down. I would recommend it to anyone.

Anyone interested in Kindred simply MUST read Toni Morrison's Beloved, in my opinion. Beloved is an even better book. Don't miss either one!

When I first looked at this book's details here at Amazon, I was put off by the fact that it is referred to in the category "books for girls." I was afraid it would be some kind of simplified "children's" book. Make no mistake: this is NOT a "children's book!" It is a thoroughly adult classic."

The only good thing I can say about this book is that Octavia has an interesting writing style and the story idea is creative. However, Octavia seems to think that if you are strong in these areas, you can be weak everywhere else. The first major flaw of this book is how extremely mawkish it is. For instance, there is a slave in the book named Tess. Now, Tess never had any speaking lines, so my brain came to referring to Tess as slave x because all the other slaves without speaking lines had no names, so why should Tess? Now, you can imagine how hard it is to make the reader care about slave x who has no speaking lines, so it took me completely by surprise when something bad happened to Tess and I was supposed to feel bad about it. Next, why don't you kill a character before they appear? Then, protagonist Dana spends some time moping over slave x and getting all worked up about it. However, the characters were so uninteresting that I wondered if Tess having a personality would make any difference. The most interesting character was the bad guy tom weylin, but octavia decided to ruin this by not deciding whether I should hate him or care for him before writing the book. This wasn't the only time she couldn't decide if I should hate someone or care for them. The character Alice was in a bad situation, so all too realistically she had Alice lash out at everyone around her. I hated Alice, but it seemed like Octavia wanted me to do differently despite making her a revolting character. Rufus weylin was pretty much a repeat of his father, being nice one second then abusing his slaves the other. The highly obnoxious margaret weylin became a sweet old lady in her old age, freed of racism and with the ability to no longer annoy everyone. This wasn't just with caring about characters, but protagonist dana would switch from being a compassionate pushover to being overly assertive. That's just an example. The story only gets worse as it goes, as nothing new really happens. Slaves are mistreated I GET IT ALREADY! Pretty much every part after the fourth part was redundant. The ending itself was highly disappointing, even for such a bad book. The only reason I can think of to buy this book is if you've never read a book about slavery before. Indeed, the treatment of slaves is accurate to the point that anyone who likes historical fiction will be outrageously bored because that's all their is in the story. No exciting plot twists, no deep characters, what else do I need to say?

I just finished Kindred and was inspired more by the character development and slave narrative than the fantastic aspect of the text. I think Butler handled the historical situation more effectively than she did the actual situation of time travel. I was expecting to be drawn more than I was into the ramifications of the protagonist's time traveling on her present-day life.

I agree that about half-way through the story became a bit too predictable, but I never lost interest, because Butler never slowed the text's pace.

I can't say that I was riveted by the book, but I read it in afternoon, so I mustn't have been bored either. I would recommend the book for high school students specifically. (I am a teacher and I think the book would be one students would be interested in.)

Ms. Butler combines the slave narrative with conventions of science fiction in this novel. Dana is a black woman living in the late 1970's with her white husband Kevin. She is transported back in time to the 1800's in order to save the life of her white, slaveholder ancestor. Once, Kevin is transported with her. She spends quite a bit of time in this period and is treated as a slave. Her 20th century upbringing and sensibilities quail at this and she tries to affect some change, at times with disastrous results. She is forever changed, both physically and mentally by this experience.
While I am quite used to stories of time travel, the slave narrative is new to me. This book was loaned to me by my African American co-worker when she found out I liked science fiction. I would imagine this book reads more like a slave narrative than science fiction, as the time travel is just a device to place the protagonist in this setting. Her experiences are heartbreaking, and remind us that it wasn't too terribly long ago that people of African decent were treated as less than human.

Unfortunately, this inspired writer recently died. I encourage ALL to review her works. This novel was my introduction to Octavia E. Butler, and I would advise any enthusiasts of speculative and science fiction to investigate it, and her multiple works!

THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN JAMES MCBRIDES NEW BOOK.
THE CHARACTERS ARE RICH AND SO BELIEVABLE THAT YOU FEEL YOURSELF GETTING ANXIOUS WHEN SHE TRAVELS BACK FROM THE MODERN 70'S TO THE HORRIBLE TIMES OF SLAVERY.

A REAL PAGE TURNER, IT'S ONE OF THOSE BOOKS YOU REMEMBER YEARS AFTER YOU READ IT. ALSO RECOMMEND A BOOK "GAL" FOR THOSE WHO LIKED THIS BOOK.

Well written, challenging and emotional. The book really draws you in like a great story should, makes you feel the hope, pain and loss which the characters go through. I am glad I read it.

Kindred is an okay book. It got boring for me in the middle. As some people have pointed out, it is written from an African American point of view, which is unlike Bulter. She usually seems to write from the perspective of a being, flawed and connected to all others somehow. Race is usually a minor detail. I think that she attempted to connect African American's with the past in this book.She wanted to make slavery more real to us, so that we wouldn't forget the history of this country and our history in it. But she is a science fiction writer and this was not science fiction, so it wasn't one of her more focused and consice books. It is my least favorite of all her writings, but I urge everyone to read all of her sci-fi books because she is truly an amazing author.

What a thought provoking book.
From the beginning till the end, this story fascinated me, kept me thinking about the world today.
I've always wondered why people in general let things happen to them...like slavery. Why did the enslaved people not stand up their enslavers?. This story gave me the answer dead on. Before you know it you adjust to your situation. You become a product of your environment, slaves and enslavers alike.
This book is a must read!!
The world lost a great treasure with Ms Butler's dead...

This is my first Octavia Butler book and surely not my last. The story of a modern black woman transported into the days of slavery is compelling enough even just from her perspective; the perspective of the people who surround her is even more fascinating. It is as vivid as if Ms. Butler had actually been the traveler. I loved it.

I bought this book for my niece, who needed it for school. She said that it was a very good book, and was a very interesting story to learn about. Received it in excellent condition, and was a quick and easy transaction.

I love time travel books! What I don't love is long-winded, implausible explanations of how time travel is possible. This book skips the crazy explanations and goes right to the good part--what happens. The hero is repeatedly sucked back to the time of slavery and must cope with living as a slave until she gets sucked back to the present. It makes you examine modern day prejudice with absolutely no preaching, yet reminds us all of how lucky we are to be living in modern times. I read this book cover to cover in one or two days.

Like watching Hotel Rwanda, this book is hard to take--and for that reason, everyone should read it. Butler brings us right into the sheer terror of the experience.

Octavia Butler cleverly answers the question "how can one become a slave" in her quasi sci-fi novel _Kindred_. Along the way, the complexities of gender, class, and racial relations are explored both in the ninteenth century as well as in the present.

The protagonist, Dana, is called back to the early 19th century to save a distant ancestor and slave owner. The conundrum she faces is, if he dies, she will not exist. As she is repeatedly pulled back in time, Dana begins to understand not only how a slave is made, but struggles with her own identity and concept of "home." The slave owner, as brutal as he is, is her kin.

Butler does not sugar coat the institution of slavery, but her characters (black and white) are neither all good or all bad, doing both good and evil as circumstances (and position) permit. Butler seems to suggest that both slaves and owners are products of their time, therefore demanding a more nuanced view of the antebellum south.

The story itself is fantastic. I am not a fan of science fiction, but the characters, story and the masterful way Butler unfolds events so utterly consumed me I read it in almost a single sitting. A recommended read.

I am usually not a fan of Sci-Fi novels. But, this book is an excellent choice for someone like me who is new to the genre. I consider it quasi science fiction and not hard core sci-fi. It is definitely a page turner that will keep you mesmerized for hours.

Sonya Armfield

Dana, a 20th-century black woman, is suddenly and inexplicably sucked into the past, to a Maryland plantation in the early 1800s, in order to save the life of a young white child who would eventually live to be one of her forebears. Over and over, she returns to the future for barely enough time to reorient herself before she is transported into the past to rescue him yet again. Between each of her visits, several years have passed in the past, and the child grown older. Her visits become not only lengthier, but, especially for a black woman in the 19-century South, more and more dangerous.

As Kindred opens with a bang, the reader can't help but become immediately absorbed, getting a glimpse of how the book ends before even learning how it begins. Though the detailed depictions of this era of slavery are hard to swallow, they bring the period to life and add an in-your-face sense of realism. I couldn't put it down.

Octavia Butler leads the reader on a trail through time in this novel that emphasizes the strong connections of past to present. The slave characters develop identites and the characters from the present must question their own values and their connections to past generations.

Ever wanted to know what you would do if you had to go back in time and be/act like a slave? This story gives you a good headstart. This was a good story, however I wanted more. More what? Brutality, blood, angst... something!

I read 'Fledging' first and was OVERWHELMED with how good that one was, so I guess I just wanted what that book had.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of this book caught my eye with its recommendation by Walter Mosley, whose work I admire. While characterized as science fiction, the novel also represents the work of imagining the past which many of us undertake when trying to understand history, especially the history of our own families. By sending a contemporary 20th c. couple repeatedly back to the ante-bellum South, Butler pulls us deeply into the experience of African-Americans, slave and free, and whites on a southern plantation. By her narrator's direct experience, she forces us to imagine how people were formed by the events they lived.

Her provocative work doesn't allow any of us to rest easily. Her characters are complex, with mixed motives, strengths and weaknesses. Her 20th c. couple are an African-American woman Dana, who knows of at least one white ancestor (whom she must save repeatedly as the plot unfolds), and her white husband Kevin. Their different experiences in the 19th c. South highlight how the past has shaped contemporary America, too, and suggest their future may be different from what they imagined before the time travel began.

It's a fascinating look at power relationships from many different viewpoints. Butler also demonstrates the positive power of slave societies and the webs of relationships they formed in community. I highly recommend it.

I find it incredible that this book has 155 reviews 4 and a half stars and does not appear to even be in publication. If you get your hands on this book -- read it! A friend passed it along to me and it looked like an intriguing story, but I had no idea. I finished it in 2 and a half days and now it's in my husbands hands. What made this book so fascinating was the authors ability to place the reader so directly into experiencing what slavery must have been like. She succeeds so fabuously at doing this because she has a modern day black woman travel through time to a slave planation and experience it through modern eyes. Some of the scenes make me shudder just recalling how realistic it was. It pulls you right in. This was a valuable read to me.

Don't be "turned off" by the fact that this book is typically categorized as science fiction. I can't stand traditional sci-fi, but had to read this book for a college class and loved it. The character development and plot line grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the entire book. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

I enjoyed reading this book. First Afro-scnetric Sci-Fi book I got to read. Will be reading more of Octavia Butler's work.

This is my first novel by Ms. Butler and I'm sad to say that I'd never heard of her until her death. Overall, I do find Kindred and interesting story and for most of the book I had to take in account the year it was written for what I conceived were flaws or things that were really pushing the limit of believability. By far and large the most intriging character was Rufus. A man of his time-a man possessed. He truely was fascinating. However, the setup to this sudden time travel was more than troublesome. It just happened. No rhyme or reason and the author was fine with just letting that be. I of course thought at first that it must be the apartment. It was new and they were just moving in, afterall. But that never seemed to occur to anyone and whenever they reappeared, they would just shower and wait for the next occurance. What?
Then I was disturb by how quickly, Dana and Kevin accepted and expected for her to disappear and again and how they were preparing for such a trip. My point is none of the characters reactions to this phenomenal ring true. Even the charaters in the 1800's. She would pop up and disappear in front of people's eyes and no one was blown away by it. You pop up in and out my house like that, I'd be more than just a little of afraid of you and I'm in a time where science fiction and the fantasy of time travel have at least been heard of. People of that time would have been terrified of her. Still it was a fast and interesting read, but by no means, at least in my head, believable.

Wow. This is one of the top time-travel stories I've read. Through the eyes of Dana we learn about the horrors of slavery. Through her skin we learn of the pain of being black in the early 19th century Maryland. Through the words of her husband, we learn of the temptation for a white man to slip into that life. Through the actions of a slave-owner, and not a 'bad' slave-owner we learn of the inhumanity of humans.

In addition to having written a chilling and terrifying portrayal of the day-to-day indignities of slavery, a matter discussed by many reviewers, Butler also deserves credit for not clinging closely to any genre identification. Yes, this is a time travel book, and yes, Butler does make something of the differences between 1976 and the 1820s in matters such as medicine, transportation, and even style of writing letters. But these are treated simply as matters of fact rather than becoming central to the plot. Butler never loses track of the deeply human aspects of her story.

Butler also wears her historical research lightly. Her portrayal of the slave community -- the ways in which slaves did their best to build their own coherent society and their own rituals within the limitations imposed on them -- rings completely true yet never sounds preachy. One can learn more from Kindred than from ten historical accounts of the era of slavery.

I gave the book only four stars because I found Butler's writing style a bit flat and lacking drama. Still, an unforgettable book.

As a black woman this book was very hard for me to read without putting myself in Dana's place and making those trips back in time with her.

That made this book an excellent read, but a painful experience. It also made me thankful yet full of sorrow for the work that my ancestors were strong enough to endure.

Highly recommended. A great story.

"Kindred" was the first book I've read by Octavia Butler and I was mesmerized by it. Her natural style of writing, somehow combined with great emotional depth and a very subtle creativity amazed me. The story is simple (I won't reiterate it here) and the time-travel hook never explained, but it is to Ms. Butler's credit that you aren't left needing some technobabble or otherworldly explanation; the story simply IS, and a very good, moving story it is indeed. I read this book in just a few days and immediately went on to read "Dawn" (first of the Xenogenesis series) (see my review of that separately). Kindred should be required reading in every high school in the country, but don't let *that* opinion scare you off, this is adult stuff, beautifully written. It's just too important to stumble upon accidentally as I did after hearing about the author's recent death.

I was assigned this book in my African American Studies class and I was so impressed. Ms. Butler's use of science fiction and drama made the characters spring to life. She mastered the art of time travel within the book and she made the reader understand the time differences and shifts with ease. The characters were characters within themselves almost like people you or I could know. I was enthralled in this book and I look forward to reading all of Ms. Butler's works.

My brother recommended this book to me after reading it for a lit class and I couldn't put it down! The idea is very unique and the story is exciting. I don't usually enjoy science fiction, and i suppose that's what this is, but I love the characters and the story in general and recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy, entertaining read!

I had this book cross my path when I was in high school and had to read it as part of a project. This story is so engrossing that I quickly read the entire thing within a single night. Even though we only had to read the first three chapters. Kindred is in a league of it's own, and for a good while I couldn't find it. But the Death of author Octavia E. Butler brought this novel across my path once more. This book is excellent, and well worth owning. Octavia Butler is a talented and shamefully underated author. My only wish is that her death will bring kindred and many more of her novels to the forefront of african american literature.

This book was more of a fictional/pseudo "memoir" than it was science fiction, but it was great no matter what category you place it in. The harsh realities of slavery were dealt with in a raw, unbridled and realistic manner. At some points, it was painful to read because of the significant degradation and sub-human manner in which African-Americans were treated in the antebellum south.

What made this book a unique work of art was the juxtaposition of the protagonist's two lives. She (Dana) was not only a modern day African-American woman who was living in the present day of 1979 . . . she was also a slave who was forced to go back in time more than 125 years in the past to secure her own birth and future existence. Interestingly enough, the story began and ended on two "birthdays." Dana's birthday started the story and the story came full circle by America's birthday on the 4th of July.

As the book unfolded, the reader came to understand African-American slaves in the antebellum south as complex individuals - full of hate yet loving; understanding yet intolerant; self loathing yet selfish.

This would be an excellent book for a book club to discuss. There is much symbolism and it was a wonderful story to ponder days after the book was finished.

This book was assigned for a Masters program class: Slavery in history and literature through CSUDH. More often than not, I rarely read an entire book--but I read this in two nights, reading late into the evening (I could have read it in one night if I didn't have a child with an early wake up call!). This book was so powerful and moving and amazing...wow. Read it!!!

Kindred is the story of a young black woman named Dana who is transported back through time to help save the life of a plantation/slave owner named Rufus, an accident-prone white man who is actually the father of one of Dana's distant ancestors. Dana (and occasionally her white husband Kevin) go back to the early 1800s, where Dana finds herself treated as most other blacks were at that time: less than human. Though beaten at times, she is allowed certain privileges because she saves the life of Rufus. The book ends the way it began, with the ending explaining the beginning, and providing a stirring metaphor to boot. Kindred is extremely well written, with clean, clear prose, and a narrative so interesting that it will keep you reading late into the night...and first thing in the morning, as it will be the book you reach for when you awaken. It's not really science fiction...more like horrible fantasy when you think about it. In any case, labels don't really matter. Do yourself a favor and read it. Now.

I heard today of the weekend passing of Octavia Butler. She is is in the "Hall of Fame" as an alumna of John Muir High School, Pasadena, which all four of my children attended.

"Kindred" was, for many years, required reading at Muir. It was through this connection that I was introduced to her writing by my daughter. She is my youngest son's favorite author, a tribute to her ability to transcend gender, race, and age in presenting ideas that no one else could ever have imagined. We were looking forward to meeting her as part of Pasadena's "One City, One Story" program which had chosen "Kindred" as this year's selection.

Butler was certainly not a "black author" in any limiting sense at all. She blasted open the SciFi gates of gender and color with her extraordinary vision, imagination, and courage. The choice of "Kindred" is a fitting tribute to the diversity of her hometowns of Pasadena and Altadena and the Pasadena Unifed School District in which she was educated.

It is rare that a passing of someone I have not personally met so saddens me. She is in a world without limits now.

I heard today of the weekend passing of Octavia Butler. She is is in the "Hall of Fame" as an alumna of John Muir High School, Pasadena, which all four of my children attended.

"Kindred" was, for many years, required reading at Muir. It was through this connection that I was introduced to her writing by my daughter. She is my youngest son's favorite author, a tribute to her ability to transcend gender, race, and age in presenting ideas that no one else could ever have imagined. We were looking forward to meeting her as part of Pasadena's "One City, One Book" program which had chosen "Kindred" as this year's selection.

Butler was certainly not a "black author" in any limiting sense at all. She blasted open the SciFi gates of gender and color with her extraordinary vision, imagination, and courage. The choice of "Kindred" is a fitting tribute to the diversity of her hometown of Altadena and the Pasadena Unifed School District in which she was educated.

It is rare that a passing of someone I have not personally met so saddens me. She is in a world without limits now.

A dizzy spell heralds the beginning of many trips that Dana, a young Black woman from 1976 California, makes to the antebellum South of 1815. Upon her arrival, the first thing Dana sees is a young boy drowning. She saves him, and discovers that his name is Rufus; son of a plantation owner, and one of Dana's white, slave-holding ancestors. Over time, Dana is summoned back to the South in again and again...always to save Rufus's life. Each time she does so, recognizing that he plays a key role in her own future existence; but as Rufus grows and matures, Dana realizes that he is becoming more like his father and less the sweet little boy who summoned her all of those years ago. Ill-equipped to deal with the harsh realities of slavery life, Dana soon becomes less concerned with saving the life of Rufus...and more concerned with sparing her own.

With vivid imagery that paints very real pictures of the inhumanity of slavery, Ms. Butler examines the many different relationships forged within this tale and the different dynamics of each. A fabulous, gut-wrenching novel that is not easily forgotten.


DYB

It has to be said African-American writers are finally making waves in the Fantasy/Sci Fi genre. Walter Mosely hit a home run with "The Wave." Andre Coleman also scored with "A Liar's Tale" and Octavia Butler does a phenomenal job with this book, taking her main character back in time again and again, and soon she finds herself in danger in the past.

BRAVO - BRAVO ...

Put the kids to bed, kiss the husband good night and start your reading because you will not want to be distracted. This book will hold your attention to the end.

I thought this book was a total page-turner that kept me captivated! I've never heard of such a 'retro' type story since Terminator. Ms. Butler's writing style flowed so well for me that it was very easy to picture her 'travels' between time & space. Bravo!

It's not often you come across a book that will grab your attention from paragraph one. KINDRED is this book. This in no way insinuates that this is the best book I've read in my entire life, but it was a good story.

Dana Franklin, a writer living in the 20th century, finds herself inexplicably transported back and forth into the past. She has no clue how she has gotten propelled into this situation, but she has figured out the reason she is sent back, is to help Rufus, her ancestor, through his childhood and adult years.
Helping Rufus to stay out of trouble, ensures her ancestors birth, and obviously her own.

Dana gets called into the past whenever Rufus's life is in danger and back to the future when she fears for her own [life]. During her moments in the past, she is forced to take on the disturbing role of a slave. This is her only means of survival. She is put through extreme measures of danger to help Rufus out, dangers that include whippings, beatings, and indescribable personal violations.

In KINDRED, Butler expressively revisits the harsh realities of slavery and its effect on American society. Perhaps the book wasn't to be read as deeply as I took it, but it was simply all too real and wholly emotional. There were a few times where I had to put the book down because of this. All in all, it was a complicated story put together by a talented and sentient individual.

I wasn't too crazy about the end, because I felt that it left a lot of the questions that I had unanswered. But as one of my friends and member of my book club stated, in Sci-Fi you can't expect answers to the impossible... hence the genre being SCIENCE Fiction.

Pick up KINDRED, I definitely recommend it.

I really liked this book it was very interesting how she kept going back in time. I usually don't like reading but this book was interesting and I wanted to keep reading. The only part I didn't like is that it was pretty long but otherwise it was a great book.

I liked this book and thought it was very interesting. It not only has a good story and plot to it, but also gives you a glimpse of history and what it might have been like to live in the past. The character of Dana had to face many challenges that really tested her strength, which was interesting to read and follow. By the end of the story, I really had a feel for the characters personalities and could almost second-guess what they might do or say next. I think that Octavia Butler did a brilliant job in portraying the characters and in setting the tone of the story. When reading Kindred, I was really hooked and wanted to know what would happen next which doesn't happen with too many books for me.

I liked this book so much not because I thought that it was relevant to today, because it wasn't, and not because of any social commentary it may have made about slavery or anything quite as noble as that, I liked it because, simply put, it was a good story. As someone who has never read or been interested in the science fiction genre I found `KINDRED' by Octavia Butler to be right up my ally. I was a bit skeptical when I picked up `KINDRED' because as I stated I was not interested in reading science fiction but it had come so highly recommended that I decided to try it and now I see what everyone was raving about! I loved the way Butler transported the reader back and forth from the 20th century to the 18th century so seamlessly and managed to keep me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. In fact I liked Butler's work so much that I think I will even read more of her books...despite the fact that they are science fiction. (don't gang up on me all at once science fiction fans :-)

I read the first few sentences of this book and never wanted to put it down. Octavia's depiction of a woman snatched into slavery times in order to protect her slave master ancestor is captivating, frightening, enlightening, and utterly amazing.

I've been a fan of Octavia's science fiction for quite some time but this was my first time reading Kindred. I gave it to my son as a gift.

It's a story that must be told, and should be passed on to future generations.