Can’t travel? Let books take you there.

Parable of the Sower is a warning. African American science fiction writer, Octavia Butler, wrote this in 1993, as a tale of what the future will be if climate change is not halted. Its narrator and protaganist, Lauren writes a series of journal articles of her thoughts, experiences, and violence, and eventually forms her own religion from her journal. As a child of a Baptist minister, she strays from the church and develops her own faith in God. Although a believer, her religion comes to resemble a type of secular humanism.

Interpersonal relationships, like religion, are heavily examined in this book. As an individual with “hyper-empathy”, a condition caused by Lauren’s mother’s prenatal drug abuse, she has a much more connected relationship with others. Lauren can feel their pain and pleasure, and her life is shaped by this rare trait. She regularly encounters violence on the road and will have to push this unique trait to its limits. The first half of the book features Lauren’s relationships with her family members and her journal is somewhat melancholy, but after her father and brother disappear, it’s clear Lauren was destined to be free. After her town is attacked by people addicted to “pyro”, it takes off quickly.

Lauren’s brother is tortured and murdered by pyros, having his eyes gouged out while he’s still living. He thought he’d made it big as a drug dealer, but in a short 50 pages, went from buying his family gifts to his father discovering his disassembled corpse. Later in the story, Lauren’s father disappears. They find a detached arm from a Black-skinned body, but it does not appear to belong to her father. Lauren delivers a eulogy for her father at his funeral, at their church, furthering her strong faith.

Lauren and her surviving acquaintances set off on a journey to Oregon where things are said “to be better” and where “water is as cheap as gas”. Walking up “The US 101”, they encounter many fascinating characters along the way and have to fend off extreme violence. Lauren and her following are armed, but don’t have the firepower necessary to ward off the suffering populace. Their travels upward California are wonderfully complex and entertaining. The last half of the book is emotionally challenging for the reader. It’s as painful as Lauren’s hyper-empathy, but despite the pain, I wasn’t able to put the book down.

Butler writes a masterful piece and I’m thrilled to read the sequel. She combines faith and secularism in a brilliant way that appeals to readers of differing religiosity. The author takes a unique stance on drug abuse and incorporates race frequently in her novel. She brings suffering and joy together. The novel’s characters are multifaceted and well developed, existing in levels of grey. Most vitally, Butler’s novel is a warning for the human race: Change your damning, unsustainable ways or be prepared to live with your repercussions. This is one of my favorite books that I’ve ever read and I implore you to check it out!.

If you’re a fan of Octavia Butler or have read Parable of the Sower, comment below!