By Carmen Lebar
Content warning: death, physical violence, murder, drug use
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler is a speculative fiction novel that centres around the irreversible consequences of climate change. Starting in the year 2024, it is the story of Lauren Olamina becoming aware of the impact that the world around her will have on her future. Only fifteen at the start of the book, Lauren knows things have to change in her small community of Robledo, California. Throughout the novel, Lauren is optimistic in the face of adversity when her peers are negative or make rash decisions. Lauren’s audacity to be hopeful in this novel is what drew me to instantly consider this novel a classic. Lauren’s perseverance and desire for a community is what shines in this dystopian like novel.
In a small town filled with people surviving in a warming world, Lauren tries to find a way to adapt to the current living conditions. Without water, viable income, or security, the community is not a safe place to be. That’s when Lauren creates her journal, entitled Earthseed: Books of the Living. Throughout the novel, Lauren is writing in her journal about all the ways humanity can survive and live in the future on Earth, and elsewhere. A new belief system is what catapults Lauren into leaving her town and finding a new life. Her determination to survive is admirable, and something she encourages in her community with Earthseed. It’s fascinating to see the way in which Lauren’s new outlook on life molds the plot and the character development of almost every character in the novel. I found Lauren’s perseverance unlike that of any other character in a speculative or dystopian novel I’ve read before. She’s hopeful, positive, and accepting of new followers. Earthseed is what allows Lauren to gather a new community.
When she leaves Robledo, she finds that the open Californian highway is filled with danger and uncertainty. No one is safe on the highway, especially those travelling in small numbers. (Lauren has to disguise herself as a man to avoid unwanted trouble.) With the teachings of Earthseed, Lauren gathers new people to join her group—for security and for survival. By welcoming others into her group, she is creating a community of people who want to survive and learn the teachings of Earthseed. Although not everyone is convinced of Lauren’s views, the idea of surviving and creating a livable life is what entices people to join her. Lauren’s way of community building is to show people how good life could be within the circumstances they live in and how they can build a better future.
Parable of the Sower is a novel that is equal parts a warning and a symbol of hope. Butler makes it abundantly clear in this novel that it is possible to survive in a world that seems unsurvivable. What we take for granted now is what will encourage us in the most uncertain times. Lauren’s determination is inspiring and showcases how speculative and dystopian novels don’t have to be pessimistic or overly dark. Rather, as with Parable of the Sower, fiction can demonstrate that way that the good in humanity can always prevail in the darkest of circumstances. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves speculative fiction and wants a more positive outlook in their reading. I also think this is a perfect novel to read if this is your first time reading Butler.