Today in “Short Story Club,” Chelsey and Sara are discussing “Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler. This post-pandemic story about the importance of language and communication feels incredibly prescient and relevant, like all of Butler’s work. “Speech Sounds” is a highly discussable, quick read. We’d love to hear your thoughts on it! Join our Patreon community for an extended Short Story Club discussion on Discord.  Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter.  Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. . . . . . . These links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Novel Pairings will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! Chelsey’s Pairings: Speak by Laurie Hals Anderson (Amazon) Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements  (Amazon) Sara’s Pairings: Vox by Christina Dalcher  (Amazon) Severance by Ling Ma  (Amazon) Picks of the week: Chelsey: Why Octavia Butler’s novels feel so relevant today Sara: Blindness by José Saramago