Book Review - Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

Title: Parable of the Talents (Earthseed # 2)
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Genre: Science Fiction/ Fiction
Published: 1998
 
Description: It continues the story of Olamina in socially and economically depressed California in the 2030s. Convinced that her community should colonize the stars, Lauren and her followers make preparations. But the collapse of society and rise of fanatics result in Lauren’s followers being enslaved, and her daughter stolen from her. Now, Lauren must fight back to save the new world order.
 
Review: “Parable of the Talents” is the sequel to Octavia E. Butler’s “Parable of the Sower”. That was one of the most compelling dystopian novels in modern literary history. The first book emphasized the journey and survival in a collapsed America, this second book focuses on the daunting task of reconstruction, the preservation of humanity, and the destructive power of ideological blindness.
 
The story picks up in the early 2030s. Lauren Olamina has founded a thriving and peaceful community in Northern California called Acorn. Here, she puts into practice the principles of her self-developed philosophy and religion, Earthseed: the belief that God is change, and that humanity must seek its ultimate destiny among the stars. However, the fragile peace is brutally disrupted by political shift in the country. The new, populist president, Andrew Steele Jarrett, is gaining popularity with the promise to restore order and purge America of sin. His followers, organized into violent Christian fundamentalist militias, begin hunting down anyone who doesn’t fit their mold. Acorn becomes a target, with catastrophic consequences for Lauren and her loved ones.
 
Butler’s depiction of a polarized America, including the literal campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” of the dictatorial President Jarrett, demonstrates her unparalleled sociological insight. This book was written in 1998. She predicted the rise of populist nationalism and religious extremism twenty years before it dominated the world news.
 
Unlike the first book, which consisted purely of Lauren’s diaries, this book introduces multiple perspectives. The most significant addition is that of her daughter, Larkin (Asha Vere). Her bitter, retrospective comments cast a critical light on Lauren’s actions. This creates a moral conflict: was Lauren a visionary savior of humanity, or an obsessed mother who abandoned her own child for a higher cause?
 
Butler spares neither her characters, nor the reader, at any moment. The chapters describing the occupation and systematic abuse in Acorn are extremely raw, graphic, and depressing. This heavy tone means the book at times pushes the limits of what is bearable. It’s not an easy read. But it’s absolutely essential.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5