commit a78a28386056b6f2614360529733e7c17699a0d2
parent 50c09b045ead69e32e1995db4e0cb5f06a1099db
Author: Martin Ashby <martin@ashbysoft.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:39:52 +0100
Book: Parable of the Sower/ Talents
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diff --git a/content/posts/2023-10-01-parable-of-the-sower.md b/content/posts/2023-10-01-parable-of-the-sower.md
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---
title: "Book: Parable of the Sower / Parable of the Talents"
date: 2023-10-01T22:23:00+01:00
-draft: true
+draft: false
---
-By [Octavia E Butler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_E._Butler).
+By [Octavia E Butler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_E._Butler). *Note, spoilers*
-I primarily read sci-fi. 'Parable of the Sower' stood out to me in my local library's tiny sci-fi section: truly an original story, not a film adaptation or a fanfic, not aimed at teenagers, but a really original story. It doesn't tread lightly: racism, sexism, violence and abuse are core themes throughout, in a story which . The protagonist herself suffers immensely. the author herself switched after researching and writing this pair to deliberately writing more light-hearted material.
-\ No newline at end of file
+When I read fiction, I primarily read sci-fi. Some of my favourite authors include Iain M Banks, Terry Pratchett, Steven Baxter. I also enjoyed Frank Herbert's original Dune series, and some of Issac Asimov's short stories (particularly I Robot).
+
+'Parable of the Sower' stood out to me in my local library's tiny sci-fi section; I'd not previously read anything by Octavia E Butler. It doesn't tread lightly: racism, sexism, violence, abuse and slavery are core themes, in a story where North America is tearing itself apart over a generation through crime, fear, and disorder. The protagonist Lauren Olamina suffers immensely, and yet she holds onto a dream of not only improving her own situation but changing the whole outlook of humanity; setting us on a course for the stars. The epilogue of the latter book sees an elderley Olamina watch the first starships launched through her organisation's work.
+
+I enjoyed the story immensely, although the brutality made it difficult to enjoy the book. Butler herself said at interview that the research for the novel was ['overwhelming'](https://web.archive.org/web/20051112234721/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05%2F11%2F11%2F158201), and her writing took a more light-hearted turn rather than continuing this series.
