Octavia’s Legacy: Imagining the Futures She Made Possible

Schedule

Sat Jul 25 2026 at 02:00 pm to 03:30 pm

UTC-07:00
Location

1901 Russell St | Berkeley, CA

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Writers and artists explore Octavia Butler’s lasting influence on speculative fiction and the futures we imagine together.
About this Event

Join us for Octavia’s Legacy: Imagining the Futures She Made Possible, a powerful evening honoring the enduring influence of visionary science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler.

Presented in partnership with Aunt Lute Books, this special panel brings together writers, artists, and thinkers to explore how Butler’s groundbreaking work continues to shape speculative fiction, activism, and cultural imagination.

Featuring , , , and , the conversation will reflect on Butler’s legacy as a literary pioneer who expanded the possibilities of science fiction while confronting themes of power, survival, community, and transformation.

Through discussion and reflection, panelists will explore how Butler’s ideas resonate in today’s world and how contemporary creators continue to build on her vision—imagining futures rooted in resilience, liberation, and radical possibility.

Whether you’re a lifelong reader of Butler’s work or discovering her influence for the first time, Octavia’s Legacy invites audiences to celebrate the imagination, courage, and prophetic insight of one of speculative fiction’s most transformative voices.


About Aunt Lute
Aunt Lute Books is an intersectional, feminist press dedicated to publishing literature by those who have been traditionally underrepresented in or excluded by the literary canon. Core to Aunt Lute’s mission is the belief that the written word is critical to understanding and relating to each other as humans. Through the sharing of stories, we strengthen ties across cultures and experiences, and at the same time honor the hurt, loss, and harm incurred through structural power imbalances, prejudiced and gendered systems, and ancestral trauma. We uplift these voices in order to build a more just future. Read more here.
About Berkeley Public Library
The Berkeley Public Library has served the people of Berkeley since 1893, and looks forward to providing many more years of community service. The Library is one of the most heavily used libraries in California, serving a local population of 118,950 and more from the surrounding area. (US Census estimate as of July 1, 2022). The Central Library, located in downtown Berkeley, and four recently renovated branches ensure easy library access for residents in Berkeley’s many and diverse neighborhoods. Read more here.
About Sistah Scifi
Started in 2019 by Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi is the first Back-owned book store focused on science fiction and fantasy in the US, as validated by the American Booksellers Association. Located primarily in cyberspace, Sistah Scifi launched three Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines at Chapter510, located at 546 9th St, Oakland, CA 94607, and Northwest African American Museum and Distant Worlds Coffee in Seattle, WA, in 2022. Read more here.

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Where is it happening?

1901 Russell St, 1901 Russell Street, Berkeley, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00

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