Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) in The Alternative Worlds

Jan 09, 2012 Regina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, post-apocalyptic, dystopia, gender-studies, favorite-authors, african-american

I am going to start this review off by asking a theoretical question. There is a huge wave coming, it will wash you and everyone you love out to sea. What do you do? Do you back up away from the water? Move to higher ground? Build a boat to ride it out? Or do you turn your back on it, play on the beach and pretend that it isn’t coming? Now imagine that it isn’t a wave of water, but a wave of violence, crime and people that will be unstoppable. No wall will hold them back. You may have nowhere id I am going to start this review off by asking a theoretical question. There is a huge wave coming, it will wash you and everyone you love out to sea. What do you do? Do you back up away from the water? Move to higher ground? Build a boat to ride it out? Or do you turn your back on it, play on the beach and pretend that it isn’t coming? Now imagine that it isn’t a wave of water, but a wave of violence, crime and people that will be unstoppable. No wall will hold them back. You may have nowhere ideal to go. But you have access to books, learning materials and you have time to prepare, pack. Octavia Butler speculates that most people would ignore the coming onslaught and attempt to go about their daily business, not prepare and not learn. It is scary to move forward and change behavior and scary to imagine the world as we know it is ending. But change is necessary to survival, according to Butler. This is what Parable is about – change, adaptation and working together in a community to accomplish the change in order to survive.

The main character in Parable, a teenage girl named Lauren, is an agent of change. Lauren is unwilling to turn her back on the huge wave she knows is coming; instead she teaches herself through books everything she can learn and she prepares for what she knows and fears is coming. Lauren is inspired from inside herself and is somewhat of a prophet of a new religion and philosophy. Her belief is “God is Change,” and she goes out to preach it. The creation of the religion is a vehicle for Lauren’s story to be told and for hope to be seeded among her followers.

Octavia Butler published her book in 1995, so many apocalyptic novels have come after hers have incorporated elements that are present in this book. It is interesting for me that Butler appears to have less acclaim but she is the predecessor of so many well-known novels.

There are books that tell the story of the world ending by an apocalyptic event and then there are books that show you what the world would be like during an apocalyptic even – without holding back. Parable of the Sower is the latter. The images of lives being destroyed and violence being wrought on people just for living and just for having something, anything that is wanted by those who do not have anything – these images are described in details. They are not described, I think, for the delight of reading gore, but to serve as a marker of how far society has fallen. And it is a scary world that Butler describes; scary and realistic. Despite that I have absolutely no point of reference for the scenes described in this book, while reading I felt as though it could have been happening right outside my door. There is nothing about this apocalyptic world that is romantic.

In Parable, much of society’s downfall appears to have been caused by environmental devastation, which has in turn caused economic and political devastation. Polluted water, toxic chemicals, failed pharmaceutical and science experiments resulting in dangerous addictive drugs. Butler’s book is a scary warning of pushing consumer and corporate demands to the extreme.

Reading this book created questions in my mind. Is this book really about an apocalyptic event? It does take place in the US (California) and the society that is disintegrating is American society, but is this an apocalyptic event or the failure of one society? So many apocalyptic books describe world changing events; but in Parable, it is shortages – gas, water, food, governmental collapse (or increasing ineffectualness) but some infrastructure remains. There are police, but they investigate and then charge user fees; there are property taxes and there are colleges; there is electricity and there are entertainment outlets (like televisions, etc.); there are insurance companies and resources --- but everything for an elevated price and most people do not have the ability to pay for these items and services. What happens is that these institutions are not efficient, they are not accessible to most individuals and there is a heavy cost to purchase their services. There are still jobs and corporations and apparently very successful corporations. People without education and without jobs, crowd in to smaller housing and share space. Corporations dominate certain sectors of society and provide protection and infrastructure to those who can afford it. Punitive debt policies and employment policies are in place that hurt individuals but benefit corporations. Isn’t this describing the current state of some countries in this world right now – maybe even in this hemisphere? Where there is no protection for the individual beyond what they can obtain from people in their community and families? Don’t people already go on migrations to new places (bordering countries, mega cities, factory rich regions) with nothing but a small savings and a hope for anything different? I see this book as an envisioning of what if these situations happened in the United States. The scenarios described in Parable, the extreme violence, the extreme fear and the absolute lack of choices are just so out of the realm of anything most people in the US experience while living in the US that it is hard to imagine, understand and relate to images like written in this book that we may read about in the news, blogs or in non-fiction books. Butler brings it home; she recreates it here and it is absolutely terrifying.

At one point in the novel, Lauren travels disguised as a man but she travels along side a woman who is described as highly desirable, Zahra. Zahra encounters problem after problem because men will just not leave her alone – and in a threatening way. There is no government, no structure – and no laws to protect the weak. Butler describes horrible crimes that happen to females of all ages and most of them sexual. What point is Butler making about the physicality of being a woman? Is she saying that in the absence of the protection of a societal framework a woman is more at risk, simply because she is a woman? Does this mean Butler believes this threat is inherent? I have a hard time accepting this concept, but I also know I approach this concept of equality and physical integrity from an extremely privileged position. The mass rapes that happen in war torn countries, the use of rape as a weapon of wars, and the kidnapping and use of children soldiers – these horrors that take place and demonstrate this fragile place in society that women and children can occupy.

But again, from my extremely privileged position, I have a hard time grasping that in the absence of government and infrastructure, human beings will turn violent and devoid of empathy. The mass chaos Butler describes is only kept out by walls, guns and guards. However, I have mentioned this and been told by some people, very intelligently, that it does not take a majority to create chaos. A minority of criminals and desparados are enough to create the chaos that endangers people, the forces them to withdraw from society and that puts women and children at risk. If the natural condition in a situation devoid of an effective government is chaos and danger, how could society have evolved? Why would we be here? I do think the answer is that people would join together, form a community, work as a group and attempt to protect the community members. And that, is what I think this book is about – community, bonds, joint action and moving forward as a group. The acceptance of change and the trusting of each other.

For more reviews like this one check out my blog: www.badassbookreviews.com ...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: speculative-fiction

I read this book in its entirety on the bus from New York back to Baltimore. It's a strange thing reading a dystopian novel on public transportation. After every chapter I paused and looked around: at the cars traveling in both directions, obeying commonly accepted rules of the road; and at the forty five strangers sitting around me, all adopting a social contract in which we sit quietly for three hours, keep our own personal space, and leave others to their seats, their money, their food, their ...more

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Jul 21, 2010 Danielle The Book Huntress rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: black-african-or-aa-heroine, all-things-summer-challenge, audiobook, science-fiction, not-for-the-faint-of-heart, heroine-i-loved, epistolary-narrative, futuristic, coming-of-age, 2011-reading

For this pleasure reader, there wasn't much pleasure in reading this book. Even still, I was compelled and drawn in. Octavia Butler was a very good writer, and I am glad I did get a chance to finally read one of her books. The narrator, the actress Lynne Thigpen, did an incredible job. Now, when I think of Lauren, I will picture her voice, feminine but strong and rich. I also liked the way she varied her voice to reflect the different characters speaking.

Lauren was a protagonist that rubbed me t For this pleasure reader, there wasn't much pleasure in reading this book. Even still, I was compelled and drawn in. Octavia Butler was a very good writer, and I am glad I did get a chance to finally read one of her books. The narrator, the actress Lynne Thigpen, did an incredible job. Now, when I think of Lauren, I will picture her voice, feminine but strong and rich. I also liked the way she varied her voice to reflect the different characters speaking.

Lauren was a protagonist that rubbed me the wrong way at times (as she did those who knew her in this book). And yet, her strength and the powerful humanity of her won me over. I love reading about strong women, and that is definitely Lauren. For her young age, what she accomplished, despite the odds, must be recognized. She is a true leader, and she is the kind you want to follow, because they ask no more of you than they demand of themselves. I loved the way she brought a small group of survivors together, empowering them, and encouraging them to protect each other and themselves.

The world was bleak, depressing, disturbing, disheartening. Any joy was fleeting, any laughs and 'happy' moments as I listened were greatly appreciated. Hearing of the atrocities that were normal in this post-apocalyptic California setting was not an easy thing for me. At times, I had to remind myself that it wasn't truly the reality (although the way thing are going, this story seems like prophecy). When I got out of my car, I had to pull back out of this book and get back to my normal reality. And I am grateful that this was just a book, even though my senses didn't seem to accept that at times. This book has a powerful message in it that is very timely. The society that we know and love is on the brink, and if we don't stand up, we might find ourselves working as wage slaves, having police and government who hurt us more than they protect us. Politics are not something I go on about in reviews, but this is something that struck me as real about this story, so I have to talk about that in this review. This scary message definitely gets me thinking, and hoping that the United States doesn't end up like this. Not destroyed by some catastrophic event that you might usually find precipitating societal collapse, but chipped away and slowly eroded into a horrible future like a nightmarish dream. More scary because it is so very plausible.

I have to say that I liked that Lauren founded a spiritual movement that kept her small band of compadres together. But, on the other hand, I deeply disagreed with the mantra that "God is change." I was taught (and believe) that God is the same today, yesterday, and forever. My mind and heart won't accept that God is malleable and that we shape God. I can understand that Lauren is about empowering and allowing oneself to be shaped, and to shape back by the forces around them; to survive no matter what, to grow stronger. I just don't think that we have to make God into some concept that is far from the truth to feel strong. In my mind, what I believe is that God is our rock--although we are buffeted by the harsh things we suffer, we can stand on His never-changing promises. Anyway, I don't mean to preach in this review, I am just saying what I feel about the Earthseed religion that Lauren founded. If I was in this story, I would be on board with her mission of creating a home and a community, but I could never accept her concept of God as change. I am glad that she found strength in it and was able to inspire her friends and companions though.

One other thing that I liked about this story is that more than half of the main characters are non-Causcasian. Not that I don't like reading about white characters. I am totally fine reading about any character of any ethnicity. However, it is good to see a main character who is black, who embodies many traits that I love and respect in a protagonist. To see people of color finding their way through some horrible circumstances, seeing the strength from within that compels them forward. Diversity is important to me, and I loved that Lauren's band was diverse, ethnically. And for all their diversity, they were a found family, helping, standing for and with each other, protecting their unit against all threats.

This is not the kind of book I will read often, because I like to read stories that take my mind off the ugliness of life, and that empower me by giving me hope and enjoyment. There is both empowerment, and a tentative hope in this story. But it's a long, hard journey to reap the harvest of those kernels, those small seeds, in my consciousness. Ms. Butler did such a good job of sowing that seed in the tough, unfertile ground of this story, and for that I commend her.

When I eat my Wheaties, I will try more of her stories. ...more

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Jan 11, 2022 Kara Babcock rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, 2022-read

Perhaps not the most uplifting book to start my new year with, but you cannot beat Octavia E. Butler’s skills. Seriously, she can write. Moreover, this might be my favourite novel of hers so far. It combines some of the insistence on change that marks Lilith’s Brood with the discomfort and hardship of Kindred, yet it does so in a way that hits much closer to home in both respects. I also enjoyed the ending for how it strikes the perfect note between optimism and realism. This is not a dystopian ...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Maree rated it really liked it

I definitely liked aspects of this book, but I'm not sure how to distinguish it all from the idea of change as religion. I probably would have liked the book even more if I'd ignored the parts about religion, but in looking at only the title it's obvious that the new religion of Earthseed is meant to be a major part of the story. I would have been fine that if instead of founding a new religious community, they established a new government with the same ideals.

We had our tough female character w I definitely liked aspects of this book, but I'm not sure how to distinguish it all from the idea of change as religion. I probably would have liked the book even more if I'd ignored the parts about religion, but in looking at only the title it's obvious that the new religion of Earthseed is meant to be a major part of the story. I would have been fine that if instead of founding a new religious community, they established a new government with the same ideals.

We had our tough female character who is the leader and keeps it together. Lauren is wise beyond her years and smart, able to figure out what needs to be done and to do it, despite the difficulties and her relative youth. She's great as our narrator and guides us through the difficulties just the same as she guides her growing flock.

But I'm not sure how much overall change there was in where they ended up. They start in a community where the people protect one another from those that would harm them outside the wall and they end up (view spoiler)

I guess the biggest problem I had with the idea of Earthseed was something that another character brought up as well: why make it a religion? The answer was that religion lasts longer than an idea. I don't like that. Is it true? I don't know. I don't really have an aversion to religion, it's more when people get all high and mighty about it or try to force you to think what they think. I'd much rather just believe in tenants like "Treat others as you want to be treated," and other common sense things like that. Earthseed is mostly like that, so why does it have to be a religion? Why can't people just live with the spirit of ideas to guide them?

But the story itself is good, and I can definitely see this world where so much of human nature is survival. ...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Denise rated it really liked it

Shelves: women-2021

A re-read for me. Such an intense atmospheric book. I read this slowly as it felt too real and depressing. So many of the issues in the book are current issues: racism, fires, lack of water. But there’s a hopefulness throughout that emphasizes acceptance of, not just change as is clearly stated, but the need for both self-responsibility and caring for others, if others are also making responsible choices. Consequences are not related to greed or caused by aggression, but logical. I love the Eart ...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Melissa Ruhl rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-and-speculative-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I would like to say I enjoyed this book, but I cannot find that particular word for getting a certain intellectual fulfillment from something that can in no way be compared to joy. Perhaps fulfillment is a better term, though that term is also insufficient. Perhaps I'm looking for "intriguingly challenged." Hm, still too playful.

I digress. I liked this book. Lauren was a complex character who was neither the unblemished hero nor the tragic failure. She was rigorously human, even in her propheti I would like to say I enjoyed this book, but I cannot find that particular word for getting a certain intellectual fulfillment from something that can in no way be compared to joy. Perhaps fulfillment is a better term, though that term is also insufficient. Perhaps I'm looking for "intriguingly challenged." Hm, still too playful.

I digress. I liked this book. Lauren was a complex character who was neither the unblemished hero nor the tragic failure. She was rigorously human, even in her prophetic orient towards the world. This is the story of a prophet, but not of a saint. Her followers were tentative, her actions sometimes questionable, her mission solid, yet the reader did not necessarily share the validity of her mission. I like that. I like that a lot. Parable of the Sower is a story through and through. It is not a plot in that it does not feel contrived. We are seeing the story of a person who lives in the world.

The world was equally dynamic. What happened to her father? Was the the person producing the horrible gurgled scream? What happened to Curtis? Why was Keith killed? We know vague answers to all of these questions and though we feel Lauren's urgency in each crisis, we know that it is a fact of the world that not every character can be accounted for. The unfinished nature of the stories is precisely the world. My biggest criticism of the book, however, comes from the lack of relationships in the second half of the book. In the beginning, we know all the characters of the town, we understand how they differ, and we feel the tension--good or bad--between them and Lauren. I didn't feel those the characters were as well developed in the second half. Many of the characters blended together and I didn't feel the kind of pain when Jill died that I had felt with the previous characters. Perhaps this could be attributed to the nature of their flight, yet I didn't feel it was a necessary part of the world. I did like her relationship with Bankole, but he was maybe the only really dynamic relationship of the second half.

Back to the good to conclude. The pacing was fantastic. I really liked the diary form because it allowed Butler to skip what wasn't important because Lauren didn't see it as important. I also really like that the other characters commented on her writing. It wasn't just a tool to deliver a story, it was a legitimate form through which the story was delivered. Yet again I absolutely loved how pragmatic and real everything about the book remained. ...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Suz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, science-fiction, dystopian, non-men-sff-authors, feminist

I <3 this book.

This is pretty amazing, and alarming.

In the not-so-distant future, life has continued on the path we're on now. Rampant despoiling of the earth, rampant despoiling of the people. Well off people are living in walled compound/mini societies protecting themselves from the poor, the abused, the uncared-for violent (which, btw, is happening right now if anyone is paying attention), and corporations are everything (ditto).

The main character, Lauren, is a girl living through these times ...more

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