Butler's pair of Earthseed novels (Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents) are pure genius. In "Sower," Butler introduces us to Lauren Olamina, a teenage girl with a crippling sense of "hyperempathy" coming of age in a crime-ridden, economically depressed suburb of Los Angeles. She believes she has discovered a way for humanity to lift itself out of madness and travel to the stars. Indeed, she believes that this is humanity's destiny and only hope. She calls this path to salvation "Earthseed." When Olamina's cul-de-sac neighborhood is invaded and destroyed by a drug-crazed mob, Olamina finds herself on the road to the North. Along the way she gathers followers and allies, and begins to teach others her creed.
"Earthseed" is a powerful story of a young woman coming into adulthood, with themes of religion, philosphy, race and womanhood. Olamina is of "mixed" parentage, with a black father and white mother. Her companions on the road are various shades of black, brown and white skin. They speak mostly English, but some also speak Spanish and other languages. In short, they are typical Americans.
The first novel follows the well-trodden path of the post-apocalyptic journey, with one important difference - the apocalypse is happening all around Olamina as she travels north. The further she gets from LA, the worse the disintegration of society. There is hope that a new President will help set things right, but the one who is elected is a hard right-wing Christian who promises to "Make America Great Again." (This novel was written in 1990's, long before Trump became President.) "The Parable of the Sower" ends with Olamina marrying a much older man and starting a community in the woods, far from any large cities or towns. There is a sense of sweetness and hope. It looks like Earthseed will flourish and grow in the Northern forest.
"Parable of the Talents" picks up where "Sower" left off, but the story is told partly from the point of view of Olamina's grown daughter, who sees her mother in a critical light. Olamina's community is invaded (again) by fanatic white Christians, who enslave the village, rape the women systematically and viciously beat and torture anyone who tries to fight back. The slaves are fitted with collars that can be used to deliver painful shocks, and which will kill the slaves if they try to escape. The villagers are forced to attend church services and memorize Bible passages. Some of the villagers eventually turn against the others. Olamina tries desperately to keep her community together, and with the help of the other women, plans their escape.
"Talents" is a much deeper and thougtful novel. Butler gives Olamina and her family a complex story and vibrant human characters. Although Olamina is seen by her followers as a kind of saint, to her daughter she is a selfish, deluded idealist who abandoned her daughter in search of fame. Olamina's brother, a former slave prostitute, grows into a conservative Christian patriot, who joins the church that destroyed the first Earthseed village and so terribly abused its people. Even when shown clear evidence of the evil done in the name of his religion, he refuses to give up the Church. He tracks down Olamina's daughter, who was stolen by the Church, and raises her to adulthood, keeping the girl apart from her mother, and lying to them both.
Both of these novels are terrific, and together they form one of the best science fiction stories I have ever read.
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Reviews with images
Octavia Butler does it again!
This was a wonderful continuation of Olamina's story through her daughter's voice. Ms. Butler never lets me down.
Top reviews from other countries
Aaron
Read parable of the sower first
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2024
Stephanie
If you like Octavia Butler you’ll enjoy this novel
Reviewed in Australia on April 1, 2019