Octavia E. Butler

Born June 22, 1947 in Pasadena, California, Octavia E. Butler was a renowned author of several award-winning books. Butler won a  MacArthur “Genius” Grant and PEN West Lifetime Achievement Award for her work. Her works include notable science fiction novels, including Kindred—now an FX series on Hulu—, Parable of the Sower, Wild Seed and Fledgling.

Since her death in 2006, Butler's works have seen a rise in sales and continue to be popular and are now taught in more than 200 colleges and universities. Her impact on science fiction has cemented her as a leader in the genre. If you're looking to dive into Butler's body of work, the audiobooks are a great place to start.