Unexpected Stories Audiobook By Octavia E. Butler cover art

Unexpected Stories

Two Novellas

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Unexpected Stories

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Robin Miles
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $9.45

Buy for $9.45

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

This exciting collection presents two previously unpublished stories by SF legend Octavia E. Butler.

A Necessary Being precedes the events of Survivor, Butler's third (famously disowned) installment in her Patternist series, and includes characters from it, focusing exclusively on the Kohn, aliens who build their social hierarchies on the blueness of their fur.

In Childfinder, a black woman with the gift of identifying children with latent psychic ability refuses to share her skill with an organization of white telepaths.

©2014 Octavia E. Butler (P)2018 Recorded Books African American Anthologies & Short Stories Science Fiction

Featured Article: The Essential Octavia Butler—A Listening List for Fans and Newcomers Alike


Octavia E. Butler was a renowned Black author who wrote in, and revolutionized, the science fiction genre. Her body of work, including such acclaimed novels as Kindred and Parable of the Sower, is lauded for its trenchant social commentary and continued pertinence. When it comes to sci-fi, there are few authors more impactful than Octavia E. Butler. Here's everything you need to know about the visionary writer.

Featured Article The Essential Octavia Butler A Listening List for Fans and Newcomers Alike
Masterful Storytelling • Complex Emotions • Effortless Worldbuilding • Compelling Characters
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Octavia Butler is one of my favorite authors. She baits you in and takes you on a journey. Nothing is different with these two novellas. She left me wanting to know how the two stories characters will continue in there worlds. I was fully invested and my only let down was there wasn't anymore to read.

Always Interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The first one (4 stars) is a bit longer and will stay in my mind, I think. It reminded me of N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy.

The second one (3 stars) is a modern telekinesis story which would be a great premise for a movie, it left me wanting more.

Two great short stories!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I like reading print, touching paper, turning the page, and stopping to insert a book mark when I read a book. But, I realize the audio format will help me with words that are difficult to pronounce. So now, I will review with an audio format first then read the paper format, because it is more environmentally friendly for the atmosphere on Earth and digital format is harmful to my eyes.

I do love Octavia E. Butler's stories. I read almost all of her books, but I am saddened that her book, Survivor, is unreachable to people like me that can't afford to purchase a new or used copy. I want to read it, so I ask that Doubleday to reprint it. Business wise more money would be gained due the supply and demand for it. Instead of people making "PDF" copies of it and passing it around.
Peace Out!

Print vs Audio

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It's very hard to go wrong with an octavia buttler book. I've liked almost every single one.

Great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having never read or listened to any Octavia E. Butler's creations, I thoroughly enjoyed these two novellas. Adding in Robin Miles' narration and I had the full package of nuanced storytelling and truly excellent writing. No summaries here, simply an exclamation of 2 hour and 24 minutes of pleasurable listening.

Fine getaway experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Octavia Butler creates such wonderful stories. The 2 novellas are beautiful now i need more. Thank you

Loved the stories

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This shirt work was very enjoyable. O.B. at her finest. I'm hungry for more. Excellent narration

I'm a huge O . Butler stan. great work!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am always amazed at how I easily allow myself to accept the worlds that Butler effortlessly creates. This was my first time reading her shorter works and each one made me want more. She approaches issues of tolerance, peace, power, land stewardship, aging, psychic gifts and more like no other. Dig in!

And I will read ANYTHING that Robin Miles narrates. She's incredible!

Amazing Short Read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am a Butler fan from way back. These stories are worth a good listen.

amazing as usual!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
These stories made me even more grateful for Octavia Butler's resolve to share her gift and make the reader feel through words. They also made me miss her equally.

Long Live Octavia Butler's Masterful Storytelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews