DirkReading reviewed Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (Earthseed, #1)
A shocking, well written classic. Yet, it annoyed me.
3 stars
After seeing this book on numerous recommended lists, I finally added it to my own. Having finished it, I understand why this story is so widely beloved. Butler is a fantastic writer; the book is perfectly paced and depicts a world that feels scarily plausible.
However, I did find myself getting annoyed. For starters, I had a hard time with the constant presence of Earthseed, the main character's specific flavor of religion. There are lengthy discussions about it and every chapter begins with a verse. While this might be easy to accept for those with deep Christian roots, it felt like a repetitive gimmick to me.
The second aspect I struggled with was the specific brand of dystopia. Butler describes a world that feels like a crossover between Blade Runner and the Wild West, which is a somewhat tiring prediction. Americans seem to have a very specific idea …
After seeing this book on numerous recommended lists, I finally added it to my own. Having finished it, I understand why this story is so widely beloved. Butler is a fantastic writer; the book is perfectly paced and depicts a world that feels scarily plausible.
However, I did find myself getting annoyed. For starters, I had a hard time with the constant presence of Earthseed, the main character's specific flavor of religion. There are lengthy discussions about it and every chapter begins with a verse. While this might be easy to accept for those with deep Christian roots, it felt like a repetitive gimmick to me.
The second aspect I struggled with was the specific brand of dystopia. Butler describes a world that feels like a crossover between Blade Runner and the Wild West, which is a somewhat tiring prediction. Americans seem to have a very specific idea of how the world goes to hell, and it always involves a mix of religion, weapons, and corporate enslavement. To be provocative: taking the cliche Wild West, stripping away human collaboration, putting guns in everyone's hands, and sprinkling in shocking violence and cannibalism is intellectually lazy. It makes for a predictable story, regardless of the era you set it in.
All that said, Butler is a competent author and she pulls it off. I assume most readers wouldn't share my complaints because the book does feel relevant to today's America. One could argue she simply amplifies certain tendencies for dramatic effect and clarity. I might still read the second book, or perhaps try her other novels, as she clearly knows her craft.
