Happy 25th Anniversary, Octavia Butler!

2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of Dawn, the first book in Octavia Butler‘s famous Xenogenesis series (also known as Lilith’s Brood). Butler was, and perhaps still is, probably the best known African-American female writer in science fiction. She’s also the first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur genius grant, and a list of other science fiction writers who would list her as an inspiration is long. Here, author N.K. Jemisin (whose Inheritance Trilogy is very much worth the read) talks about the effect Butler had on her life and writing.