"And by the way, I wanted to point out that Kindred is not science fiction. You'll note there's no science in it. It's a kind of grim fantasy"

Octavia Butler is making a difference in between sci-fi and dream in this quote. She is saying that her unique Kindred is not sci-fi since it does not contain any science. Instead, she is suggesting that Kindred is a kind of dream, however a grim one. This is an important difference to make because sci-fi and dream are 2 unique genres. Science fiction typically contains aspects of science and technology, while dream is normally more concentrated on the supernatural and wonderful aspects. By stating that Kindred is a kind of fantasy, Butler is stressing the supernatural and magical aspects of the book. She is also suggesting that the book is a darker kind of dream, which is why she calls it "grim dream".