A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler offers a blueprint for a creative life from the perspective of the award-winning science-fiction writer and “MacArthur Genius” Octavia E. Butler. It is a collection of ideas about how to look, listen, breathe―how to be in the world. This book is about the creative process, but not on the page; its canvas is much larger. Author Lynell George not only engages the world that shaped Octavia E. Butler, she also explores the very specific processes through which Butler shaped herself―her unique process of self-making. It’s about creating a life with what little you have―hand-me-down books, repurposed diaries, journals, stealing time to write in the middle of the night, making a small check stretch―bit by bit by bit. Highly visual and packed with photographs of Butler’s ephemera, A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky draws the reader into Butler’s world, creating a sense of unmatched intimacy with the deeply private writer.
There’s a great resurgence of interest in Butler’s work. Readers have been turning to her writing to make sense of contemporary chaos, to find a plot point that might bring clarity or calm. Her books have become the centerpiece of book-group discussions, while universities and entire cities have chosen her titles to anchor “Big Read,” “Freshman Read,” and “One Book/One City” programs. The interest has gone beyond the printed page; Ava DuVernay is adapting Butler’s novel Dawn for television. A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky brings Octavia’s prescient wisdom and careful thinking out of the novel and into the world.
The papers of award-winning science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler (1947–2006) came to The Huntington in 2008. By the time the collection had been processed and cataloged, more than 40 scholars had already asked for access. Today, the Octavia E. Butler Collection is one of the top two most actively researched archives at The Huntington.
A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky will be beloved by both scholars and fans of Butler, as well as aspiring writers and creatives who are looking for a model or a spark of inspiration. It offers a visual album of a creative life―a map that others can follow. Butler once wrote that science fiction was simply “a handful of earth, a handful of sky, and everything in between.” This book offers a slice of the in-between.
Lynell George is a journalist and essayist. After/Image: Los Angeles Outside the Frame is her first book of essays and photography, exploring the city where she grew up. As a staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly, she focused on social issues, human behavior, visual arts, music, and literature. She taught journalism at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, in 2013 was named a USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Fellow, and in 2017 received the Huntington Library’s Alan Jutzi Fellowship for her studies of California writer Octavia E. Butler. A contributing arts-and-culture columnist for KCET|Artbound, her commentary has also been featured in numerous news and feature outlets including Boom: A Journal of California, Smithsonian, KPCC The Frame, Los Angeles Review of Books, Vibe, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Essence, Black Clock, and Ms. Her liner notes for Otis Redding Live at the Whisky a Go Go earned a 2018 GRAMMY award.
Please refer to the welcome email which you received when purchasing or renewing your membership. At the bottom of this email, you will find your online member discount code. BEFORE checking out, please click on 'view cart' and type in your member code to the 'discount code or gift card' box. Your member discount will then be applied to your order.
If you are unable to locate your welcome email, please contact membership@huntington.org for further assistance.
We endeavor to process your order within 3 days of receipt. Once your order has been processed, packed, and ready to be shipped, you will receive an email with your item's tracking number.
Our couriers are USPS or UPS ground, If you would like your parcel to be shipped via FedEx or other courier, please add a comment in the NOTES section on your order and we will contact you for further information.
If you have selected 'pick up in store' as your delivery method, please wait until you receive an email from us to let you know that your order is ready to be collected.
You do not need a ticket to visit our store or pick up your order.
We accept returns within 30 days of delivery. Please note that food, beverages, teas, coffee, calendars, seasonal items, gift cards, trunk show items, and sale items are final sale and are not refundable.
To initiate a return, please email us at thestore@huntington.org to let us know that you would like to return your order. Then, follow the instructions on the paperwork included in your parcel.
Please note that returns must be received back at our warehouse in original packaging, with tags, and in a clean, resalable condition.
Once we have received your return in good condition, we will process a refund minus your original shipping charge. Please note that funds may take 1-3 days to appear back in your account, depending on your bank's T's and C's or payment method.
