In the debut episode of Everything Hidden, Justine highlights her initial literary inspiration, Octavia Butler, who was a trailblazer in the realm of science fiction and is widely regarded as the Mother of Afro-futurism. During an era when black women authors in this genre were scarce, she emerged as the first to blend science fiction with speculative storytelling—crafting narratives that confront themes like race and gender dynamics, power struggles and fundamentalism, along with issues related to climate change. Each month, Justine will present recommendations for literature by black authors spanning both fiction and non-fiction. Together they will curate a distinctive and well-rounded personal library. February begins with Octavia's Parable of the Sower and explores how her insights resonate profoundly with current societal developments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
