Parable of the Sower

exceptional book, written as fiction but coming true

It's 2024. California, and much of the rest of the world, is drifting towards total chaos, with communities reduced to walled enclaves, government services gutted, and unrest fuelled by a pyromaniac drug-craze. Lauren lives with her preacher father, step-mother and brothers in one of these enclaves, struggling to keep it together and constantly on the watch for invaders and thieves. When, finally, their enclave falls, Lauren loses what remains of her family and is forced onto the road with just two fellow survivors, where they head north on the slimmest of prospects of jobs and safety. Despite all this, Lauren draws hope from her self-written creed, Earthseed, a philosophy founded on self-reliance and the mantra that God is Change, and - cautiously at first - she teaches this to inspire others. However, due to an accident of her birth, Lauren is also burdened by hyper-empathy, a sharing of the feeling of others that can strengthen her but can also weaken her when pain surrounds. And balancing these on the journey north will test Lauren to the limit. Because of its reputation, I've meant to read this for years, but never got around to it till now - and then only really because it tipped me over the free P&P limit! However, it's easy to see why it has this reputation with a well-realised edge-of-catastrophe world and a constant feeling of desperation. While this makes it a challenge to read, Lauren's humane outlook centres the novel, helped by her calm planning and all-too-credible weighing of risks. This contrasts with Cormac McCarthy’s similar (but later) novel, The Road, where desperation has already won-out and survival is all that there is. Butler’s novel instead wants to show how, against terrible odds, something can still be pulled from the wreckage. While the novel's Earthseed is a nice aspect that feeds into the narrative, I was less convinced by the hyper-empathy. At first, it seems like it's going to be very important, but then it largely gets lost, only becoming intermittently relevant, and then only to hamper Lauren in very practical ways. I don't think Butler maybe got what she wanted from this. In any case, while an oppressive read, an enjoyable one. And, with its extrapolation of negative societal trends, it's quite the thing to read at the start of 2024.

I am lost for words about this book. The fact it was written in the 90s , set here and now in 2024 to 2027 - the foresight is astounding. Take everything that's wrong in the world and times it by 10 and this is what you have. Although there are many real world issues if you examine it deeply enough . Such as drug addiction, homelessness, modern day slavery, having to pay for basic resources, economic and climate collapse, child abuse ,,food shortage. The list goes on. It is an extremely bleak, hard hitting story . Lauren is the 18 year old narrator, who is wise beyond her years. She is a balance between cold, harsh, doing what needs to be done and kind, compassionate when needed and has a vision for a better world. Her hyperempathy is such an unusual condition and it makes it seem empathy is a negative in this situation. There is a huge age gap romance , that made me super uncomfortable and gave me the ick. Badly. It has left me extremely thoughtful about whether or not we are already living this type of dystopian existence ? Please check triggers as mentioned above. Also R@pe ( graphic) , Canaballism , child abuse/ neglect and lots of graphic gore .

Post-apocalyptic literary scenarios have been a dime a dozen since well before Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome , and these days it takes something quite remarkable - like Cormack McCarthy's sublime The Road - to raise even a flicker of interest in this genre from all but the dullest sci-fi fanboy. Octavia Butler's essay on the same theme is now getting on for 20 years old, and stands up well - indeed, it so closely anticipates McCarthy's novel that you have to wonder whether he was aware of it. That is not to suggest plagiarism, however, for the similarities are general indeed: an un-described catastrophe has caused the total breakdown of society and forced a family unit on the road, where they fend for themselves against allcomers in vain hope of a promised land. While Butler employs a couple of nice devices - the P.K.Dick -eque hyperempathy condition is a neat literary device - much better in fact than the hokey "Earthseed" concept which gets unwarranted prominence in the story - but Butler doesn't do nearly enough with it to make it worthwhile. In other aspects, the novel is a little flat. There's not a much in the way of a plot arc - it's more linear: things sort of episodically muddle along to a fairly uninvolving conclusion - and nor do the characters get well fleshed out or developed. Like her protagonist Lauren, Butler throws quite a lot of "seed" about which then appears to fall on stony ground: Lauren's father disappears, presumed dead but unresolved - to no effect. Likewise, Lauren's original sweetheart is introduced, developed, and disposed with for no discernible plot-functional reason. My hunch is that Butler was more interested in developing a quasi-religion than writing a science fiction novel, yet 20 years later, the post-apocalyptic road story is the only part that really holds up. But, all the same, it pales in comparison with Cormack McCarthy's bleaker, more eloquent visualisation, and ultimately I couldn't recommend this novel over, or even really as a complement to, The Road. Olly Buxton

this book was written in the early 80's in the form of a diary. it is a very easy read, but of a harrowing vision of the future where clean drinking water has a value that can lead to murder in order to get it. It is a view of a future that has climate change at its centre and corruption at its core. it is a struggle for survival within a world that has become savage, a world where survival means having a gun and those without are powerless to those who have power. it is a corrupt world that is described. the second book in this series (written in the early 90's) has a US politician who seeks election to 'Make America Great Again'...

I came to this having read Kindred by the same author. That was a book grounded in slavery but with a time travel story, which I found a bit bolted on. Having said that, I did really enjoy it, which led me picking this up. Like Kindred this has a main story type, that of being a dystopia of sorts. Again, Butler uses a separate device to attempt to give the book some form of originality or greater substance; namely a religion called earthsea. Again, I found this plot device bolted on, and for me didn't really offer anything to the book, making this not particularly different to other books in the genre. However, I found this a really good read despite these issues. It has great characters, cracks along at a great pace and is told in a way that really resonates with me and the ideas in the story and the peril it exudes really hit home. Overall, this was another book by the author and I will be reading more, especially the next book in the series.

Written back in the 90’s but set in the time we are living in now; this book is a sad and thought-provoking dystopian portrait of environmental and societal breakdown where many people today already are and where many more are headed. It is a beautifully written book. Totally absorbing. A little quirky in terms of some of Lauren’s ideas and philosophies but nevertheless a haunting and powerful read.

Parable Of The Sower is the first half of Octavia Butler's Earthseed series, and introduces us to a near future dystopia in which society has all but disintegrated following an ecological collapse. While the novel centres itself on the Western seaboard of the USA, it is implied (though not specifically confirmed) that the effects of the collapse have been felt worldwide. The story is presented through the eyes of the novel's protagonist, Lauren Olamina, a teenage girl who initially lives with her father, step-mother and step-brothers in a walled community on the fringes of what's left of Los Angeles. Lauren also has a condition which Butler calls 'hyperempathy', an ability which causes her to feel the perceived pleasure and pain of those around her. The story itself follows Lauren as she begins to develop her own religious system in the form of Earthseed, a philosophy that revolves around the idea that God is change, and as such isn't something to be worshipped but instead something to be recognised and respected. The first half of the novel gives us a good look at Lauren's life at home, and does a good job of imparting her fear of the future, that the violence and chaos taking place outside the walls of her home community will one day come through the walls and tear down the fragile safety she has grown used to. Despite her attempts to warn others of the danger she perceives she is quietened by her father, a minister whose own fears are that if the community is forced to recognise the danger then they'll simply lose hope and ultimately give in to the ongoing degeneration around them. Eventually Lauren's fears become real, and the community is attacked and destroyed in a single night of violence and fire. Fleeing from the destruction, and having lost everything she considered important, Lauren heads North, hoping that somewhere along the way she will find a safe haven from the violence. On the way she joins with a growing group of travellers, relying on numbers to provide security. Some of these begin to show an interest in her ideas regarding Earthseed, eventually leading to the group settling down on land owned by one of the pilgrims to form the first Earthseed community. I found this to be a riveting read, despite it being a dark and somewhat depressing view of the future. Of the books I've read by Butler it's definitely my favourite so far, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one. I would certainly recommend it to others, and would suggest that if you've not read any Butler so far you make this the first one you pick up.

A Amazon me entregou o livro em péssima condição, com as páginas completamente deterioradas nos lados. Pedi substituição e me entregaram a mesma coisa! O defeito já é bastante evidente, me entregarem assim uma vez já achei bem ruim, duas vezes achei clara má-fé.

A tale about dystopian future very riveting and gripping tale by Octavia E butler.

This is a tough SciFi - the events describe are not so far-stretched, and it definitely hits home. I loved the jornal narrative and Lauren's reflections on religion & community. Highly recommend, but be mindful that we are in a apocalyptic scenario.

For a good society and better world, the entire community (ies) must prosper, and we must take one another along. This is so relevant today and will always be...

Growing up I had never been exposed to much about religion. To this day my thoughts on religion are never substantial; sometimes I’ll have an occasional deep thought, but a fleeting one at that until I turn back to the life in front of me. Lauren Olamina, the protagonist in Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, on the other hand was brought up into an intensely religious household that she learned to resent. Lauren’s father was a Baptist minister, raising her and her brothers in an intensely religious fashion in a post-apocalyptic time outside of Los Angeles. The post-apocalyptic America is not one ravaged by supernatural creatures or extreme weather conditions, but an extremely plausible world set into motion by drought and racial tensions. America is at the bottom of a downward spiral with Lauren’s gated California neighborhood being the only thing keeping the drug addled maniacs and thieves from raiding her community on a daily basis. Disaster is constantly right outside of Lauren’s gate causing the extremely bright but mentally damaged young woman to attempt to find her place in collapsing America. Refusing to believe in the religion her father preaches to her daily, Lauren begins establishing her own beliefs in God that translate into what she calls Earthseed. To Lauren, God is change. Earthseed presented through Lauren is Butler’s way of examining our own society. By predicting what will become of our society if it does not overcome individualism, racism, and tendencies towards violence, Butler presents her solution through Earthseed. When society crumbles, so does 99% of the population. Anyone not protected in a gated or guarded society immediately turns towards looting, pillaging, rape, and especially arson. A new drug has been introduced on the streets dubbed “pyro” that makes watching a fire more exhilarating and enjoyable than having sex. Lauren being born in 2009 (the novel was written in 1993) has known only this nightmarish America her entire life. Racial tensions are at an all-time high, water is more expensive than food, and the government has basically collapsed. While the adults are fine with attempting to live life the way it used to be, preaching the same bible verses over again, and still believing things may eventually return to “normal”; Lauren is the next generation learning to live in this new society. Living in this new society and not understanding the old, Lauren rejects her father’s God. Lauren believes in a new religion she has discovered entitled Earthseed. Lauren claim’s she has not invented or made it up, but discovered it. There is no all mighty being or supernatural element to the God in Earthseed, God is only change. The book presents little Earthseed scripture and its beliefs throughout, which later make more sense towards the end of the novel. Earthseed believes that praying does nothing but assist the prayer, and that effort should be put into action to make change. The more the proverbs are read in the book the more the reader is able to comprehend Lauren’s beliefs. Lauren literally believes that God is change. Some of Earthseed’s texts give more insight into her complex thinking “We do not worship God. We perceive and attend God. With forethought and work, we shape God.” And “God is Power- infinite, irresistible, inexorable, indifferent. And yet, God is Pliable- trickster, teacher, chaos, clay. God exists to be shaped. God is Change”. I really loved the thought put into Lauren’s complex world view and it makes complete sense considering the dangerous world she learned to grow up in. Lauren is forced to leave the only home she has ever known when crazy drug addled arsonists come to pillage and destroy her neighborhood. If I grew up in that type of world I am not sure what I would believe in, but Lauren’s views are all justified and change is the belief and system that keeps her alive in post-apocalyptic California. Butler, through Lauren, is expressing that she believes that to get through the hard times any nation is facing, they need to be adaptable, diverse, and learn to embrace change. Another quote from Earthseed demonstrates Butler’s thoughts on diversity, “Embrace diversity. Unite—or be divided, robbed, ruled, killed by those who see you as prey. Embrace diversity, or be destroyed”. My main issue with Butler’s Earthseed is the way that she presents it. At first Earthseed is not exactly referred to as a religion by Lauren until other people she meets on her journey refer to it as such. My problem with Butler deciding to refer to Earthseed as a religion is that it is too distinctly different from any other religion to be classified as such. A religion is classified by most sources as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, purpose, and nature of the universe; and the Gods that preside over it. Earthseed perfectly fits the set of beliefs and practices used and agreed on by a group of people, but when addressing its God of Change, it is not actually referring to a deity as is every other religion. Also converting the people Lauren traveled with to even accept the idea of something they were referring to as a religion would not go as quickly as it did in the book. It is hard enough reaching out to someone without a religion to think about one, but trying to convince a devout religious individual about a new way of thinking seems like it would not be possible. Reading Butler’s essay “Devil Girl From Mars”: Why I Write Science Fiction, made it clear where Lauren’s attitude and beliefs came from. Butler believes in a well-educated, literate, news observing, and accepting society. Butler seems to view society on a macro level more so than a micro one, focusing on big picture issues and the state of the human race as a whole. Butler understands that global warming issue an issue in our society which is why she chose to have that be the cause of the draughts and erratic weather in her novel. From focusing on global warming in many of the novels we have read so far I believe Butler paints the most realistic picture of the consequences of ignoring global warming. I agree with Butler’s focus on the continuing productive existence of the human race. I often also have thoughts about human society as a whole and believe Butler made well educated and productive points, the things that she exaggerated for the sake of her novels are actual issues we need to be focusing on today. Overall Parable of the Sower was one of the more realistic and enjoyable post-apocalyptic books I’ve read. The religious undertone was present but not abrasive, and focused more on religion as a general concept. Instead of focusing on one religion, Butler commented on religion as it fits into society as a whole.