14808. KINDRED BY OCTAVIA BUTLER. . This paper provides a favorable summary review of Butler’s 1988 novel that created a new genre by combining science fiction, historical drama and contemporary social comment within a single framework. Summarizes the plot (involving a 20th century black woman summoned back in time to the 19th century to save the life of her white ancestor Rufus), analyzes the various plot devices and discusses character development in the novel. Argues that Butler’s story rises above the commonplaces of science fiction, historical melodrama or dull contemporary social comment, because the author gave the novel a structure which suggested a much deeper Biblical or even Cosmic Dimension. KEYWORDS: book review fiction historical novel African American woman. Written 2003. 5 pages, 3 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source. 1,148 words.