Set in 1976 California, Kindred is the story of a 26-year-old black woman who disappears from her home and is transported to 1819 Maryland. She saves a white boy named Rufus from drowning then is immediately brought back to her present. Dana returns to the past again and again, each time staying for longer and under more dangerous circumstances. ( )

One of the best books I’ve ever read. So good! ( )

What a book. I stayed waaaay into the wee hours reading this, I just could not put it down. ( )

After reading the book I wouldn't classify it as science fiction. It's a time travel book where the heroine travels from the contemporary time (it's 1976 then) to the beginning of the 19th century when the slavery is still not abolished in the United States. The time travel element is not really scientific, there is some unclear connection between Dana and her ancestor Rufus - when he is scared and/or his life is in danger, Dana appears in his time. Alternatively, she can get back to her time only when her own life is in danger. Aside from this time travel element, it's actually mostly historical fiction depicting the slavery through the eyes of a contemporary person and showing how easily slaves are made and kept enslaved. ( )

Butler's exploration of slavery, its fluid and varying types and degrees of impact on different people depending on their race and the type of power they held was very effective and interesting and her use of a contemporary Black woman's perspective, knowledge and sensibilities was essential to this approach. Despite that, I found the time travel element of the book jarring, especially because the periods in the modern era felt irrelevant except as a plot devise and lacked the writing power of the portions during slavery.

Her other books, such as [b:Lilith's Brood|60926|Lilith's Brood (Xenogenesis, #1-3)|Octavia E. Butler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439247785l/60926._SY75_.jpg|3739] and [b:Parable of the Sower|52397|Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1)|Octavia E. Butler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442169447l/52397._SY75_.jpg|59258], were so brilliant, this one was a bit of a disappointment. ( )