Bloodchild and Other Stories
by Octavia E. Butler
Not all of the stories were absolutely brilliant (I didn't have that much use for the writing advice), but the ones that stuck with me REALLY stuck with me. Engaging, enjoyable, interesting, intelligent, and very thoughtful = excellent science fiction. I was also intrigued by the range of sci-fi here, from plausible diseases and decisions in a reality much like our own, to alien invasions and to alien worlds.
To sum it up, I'm planning to hunt down the rest of her novels and read them ASAP.