Review: PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Octavia Butler I consider a prophetic genius, as is shown out in her 1993 masterpiece of Speculative Fiction, PARABLE OF THE SOWER (followed by 1998's PARABLE OF THE TALENTS). Not only did Ms. Butler prophesy Climate change, natural disasters, economic trauma and societal collapse [and yes, imminent political fascism as citizens seek a leader with a firm hand on policy], she also accurately timed it, as the novel erupts in an already Dystopian 2024 and on into 2025.

Certain elements are mind-boggling and stomach-churning and heartbreaking; but I found the key underlying element to be Hope: Hope and the triumph of the Human Spirit and Drive to Achieve, through the subtle creation and establishment of a new religion ("Earthseed") based on God as Change and the truism that God shapes everything and we too shape God. Earthseed considers Humanity's destiny to be "ad astra":
"The Destiny of Earthseed Is to take root among the stars." (from PARABLE OF THE SOWER).

Octavia Butler's works are Classics of Science Fiction, and Classics of the Feminist Science Fiction tradition as well. Not to be overlooked.