Quotes from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“Our ancestors dreamed us up and then bent reality to create us.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“And for those of us from communities with historic collective trauma, we must understand that each of us is already science fiction walking around on two legs. Our ancestors dreamed us up and then bent reality to create us.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“Because many of the people who were taken by the wasting disease happened to be white, God was not a viable culprit.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“Visionary fiction” is a term we developed to distinguish science fiction that has relevance toward building new, freer worlds from the mainstream strain of science fiction, which most often reinforces dominant narratives of power. Visionary fiction encompasses all of the fantastic, with the arc always bending toward justice. We believe this space is vital for any process of decolonization, because the decolonization of the imagination is the most dangerous and subversive form there is: for it is where all other forms of decolonization are born. Once the imagination is unshackled, liberation is limitless.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“Together they unlocked potential in one another. They worked hard and played harder, until the work felt like play. Everything”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“hipsters and entrepreneurs were complicated locusts. they ate up everything in sight, but they meant well.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“She felt the night air on her, pretending she was somewhere else, in some other time. She often did this before she did something reckless. Her hope was that, if she died, her soul would travel to the last beautiful place she imagined.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“He turned and looked her solemnly in the eyes. “Is it too much to ask for a happy ending?” She smiled sadly. “I don’t think there are any happy endings left.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“Billions of little silver holes poked through the darkness but never threatened to break the fabric.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“God is one answer to our need to explain ourselves, to make sense of ourselves. But the moment you just accept yourself, then no explanation is needed, and god is everything together and nothing in particular.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“and she noticed who stayed, and it was the same people who had always been there.”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

“You know, even if we succeed, some of them aren’t going to want to come with us,”
― quote from Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements

Popular quotes

“So? When do you want to be turned?” “I didn’t agree to turn,” Valerie squawked with amazement. “You haven’t, but you will,” he said with a shrug. “What makes you think that?” she asked warily. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to have to wipe your memories and have you returned to your life and neither of us wants that,” he said simply. “Anders said I could have time to decide,” Valerie protested, and then frowned and added, “And what do you mean, neither of us wants that? Why would you care?” “You saved my wife and children, Valerie. And Leigh adores you. You’re family now.” “Oh.” She stared at him nonplussed, wondering if he meant that. “I mean it,” he said firmly. “Leigh has decided it’s so, so it’s so. She’d be disappointed if you didn’t become one of us and I won’t have her disappointed.” Valerie scowled slightly. The last part sounded like a threat. “As for Anders saying you could have time to decide,” Lucian continued. “What do you need time for? The nanos have paired you, you’re meant to be together.” “You make it sound so simple,” she said wearily. “It is simple. Don’t make it hard.” “Great, the nanos paired us. But what about love?” she asked. Lucian shifted impatiently. “Do you like him?” “Yes,” she admitted. “Respect him?” She nodded. “Trust him?” “Of course,” she said without hesitation. Lucian nodded and said dryly, “I don’t need to ask if you want him sexually.” Valerie flushed and raised her chin. “All those things combined make up love,” Lucian assured her. “Whether you realize it or not, you already do love him.” Valerie swallowed, knowing in her heart he was right. She bit her lip, and then blurted, “But does he love me?” “Ah.” Lucian nodded. “So that’s the holdup, is it? He hasn’t said it yet.” Valerie sighed and looked away, muttering, “When he asked me to be his life mate he went on about finding peace and being able to relax and be at peace. It was all peace, peace, peace,” she added with frustration and glanced to Lucian, eyes narrowing when she caught his lips twitching. If he laughed at her, she would— “Don’t you feel at peace with him?” he asked, and then added, “When you’re not hot and bothered, I mean.” “Well, yeah, but—” “But you want to hear that he loves you,” Lucian said and shrugged. “I guess you’ll have to ask him then.” “Ask him if he loves me?” she asked with dismay. Lucian sighed with exasperation. “You took on Igor and staked him, saving yourself and six other women in the process—” “Four,” she corrected unhappily. “Two died, remember.” “And then,” he continued heavily, ignoring her interruption. “You took on Ambrose and saved my wife and unborn twins by crashing the van you were all in and repeatedly bashing the man over the head until help got there. You are not a coward, Valerie, so stop acting like one. Ask him. And when he says yes he loves you, I will personally oversee the turning and pay for the wedding.”
― Lynsay Sands, quote from Immortal Ever After

“I found myself wanting the monster because it was honest, a level of honesty most go their entire lives without confronting, always content to hide behind their social masks and business cards. It”
― Kitty Thomas, quote from Comfort Food

“If you are not afraid of the voices inside you, you will not fear the critics outside you.”
― Natalie Goldberg, quote from Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

“Every soul is a story shelved away in an infinite library in the sky.”
― Karen Amanda Hooper, quote from Grasping at Eternity

“Bein' here with you . . . you've really got under my skin."

"You want to break the rule?"

He nods slowly. "Yeah."

"Why?"

“Because I’m tryin’ to push you away when all I want to do is hold you. I know you say you don’t want a hero, but damn I’d like to be that guy who’ll save you from spiders and whatever and whoever else hurts you.”

His words seep deep into the core of my heart. With our eyes locked, I straddle him on the chair. “I want to break the rule, too.”

My heart pounds rapidly and I grab his shoulders so he can steady me. I’m dizzy with wanting him to love me as much as I love him. He’s soaking wet and now I’m soaking and rain falls on us and around us. I don’t feel hot or cold . . . I’m too caught up in being with Derek, here in the dark in the middle of the night.”
― Simone Elkeles, quote from Wild Cards

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