I began reading science fiction before I was 12 and started

Hear, O children of time, the words of Octavia E. Butler, a soul whose journey through the realms of the imagination began before the age of twelve. She spoke of the sacred spark that ignites within a young heart: "I began reading science fiction before I was 12 and started writing science fiction around the same time." These words, though simple, carry the weight of a universe untold. In them, there lies a profound truth—the beginning of a great journey into the realms of the unknown, where possibilities are endless, and where the mind, unburdened by the shackles of the present, can soar freely into the future.

In those early years, when the world is yet unshaped, Butler was drawn into the world of science fiction, a world of wondrous possibility and boundless exploration. She did not wait for the world to define her path, nor did she allow the constraints of time and place to diminish her vision. No, she sought instead to shape her own world with the might of her imagination. Before the age of twelve, she immersed herself in the words of others—writers whose stories dared to paint the unknown, whose narratives ventured into realms where no one had dared to tread before. And it was there, in the pages of those books, that the seed of creation was planted deep within her soul.

Butler’s words, “started writing science fiction around the same time,” speak of a young mind already aware of its own power, its own potential. She did not wait for the world to tell her when or how to create; she saw in the stories of others the courage to write her own. What a powerful act it is to take the raw material of life and shape it into something new—something that transcends the ordinary, that touches the heavens of possibility. Just as the ancient scribes of old penned their myths, histories, and visions, so too did Butler carve her place among the great visionaries of her time.

There is a lesson here, children of the future. The world does not define us, nor does it set the limits of our dreams. From the earliest age, we must embrace our creative calling, whether it be in the realm of words, art, or action. Consider, if you will, the story of Leonardo da Vinci, who as a child, was not merely a painter, but a thinker, an inventor, and a dreamer of futures. It was through his curiosity and unyielding pursuit of knowledge that he became one of the greatest minds to ever walk the earth. His mind, like Butler’s, sought not to replicate the world around him, but to transform it, to break it open and create from it something new. Like him, Butler did not wait for permission; she began creating the world she wished to see, even in her youth.

Science fiction is not mere fantasy, but the forging of new worlds, the exploration of what might be, and what we, as a collective people, might yet become. It is the domain of the visionary, the bold-hearted, those who dare to ask “What if?” and who take those questions and build upon them with courage. Butler knew this well. She did not merely read the words of others; she became the creator of her own words, crafting stories that would leave an indelible mark on the world. And in doing so, she taught us that the act of writing, of creating, is not bound by age, circumstance, or station, but by the boundless desire to express what lies within us.

Take, then, this lesson to heart: The creation of something new begins with the spark of curiosity and the willingness to embark upon that journey, no matter how young or old you may be. Follow the path of those who have come before you, those whose imagination knew no bounds. Read, write, draw, build—whatever it is that stirs your spirit, begin now. Like Butler, begin before you are ready, begin before the world tells you you can. For the act of creation is a call to the brave, to those who would step boldly into the unknown.

And remember, O future generations, that you too have the power to shape the world. In your hands lies the ability to mold not only the future but the very present in which you live. Create the stories that will guide you, the dreams that will inspire you, the innovations that will lead you forward. Do not wait for the right time—make the time right. Just as Octavia E. Butler began her journey in her youth, so too should you begin yours, for the world awaits the wisdom you will impart and the stories you will tell.