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Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
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Parable of the Talents

by Octavia E. Butler

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775114,825 (4.15)23
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Grand Central Publishing (2000), Edition: Warner Books Ed, Paperback, 464 pages

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Tags:Science Fiction
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In the quality of the writing, Parable of the Talents was a notch below Butler’s Parable of the Sower but just as equally full of good thought provoking ideas. I understand why Butler tore down what Lauren Olamina built in the first book, but I think story-wise it didn’t work as well because the building up of the next stage seemed so rushed at the end. But it’s only lesser in comparison to the previous book. Lauren Olamina’s story is very good and gives you a lot to chew on.

(Full review at my blog) ( )
KingRat | May 31, 2009 |  
A reread of Parable of the Sower reveals a dark vision of the near future that is eerily reminiscent of the pictures we all saw on TV following Hurricane Katrina, a frighteningly realistic portrayal of poverty and anarchy that is all too easy to imagine following on the heels of global warming’s devastation. The follow-up, Parable of the Talents, is even more grim and harrowing than its predecessor in its depiction of an America plunged into chaos. Butler deftly picks up the threads of the major issues facing us today — climate change, the widening gap between rich and poor, the privatization of education and social services — and follows them to the inevitably disastrous results if these problems aren’t addressed. Most frightening of all is the depiction of an America in the grips of Christian extremists who murder and enslave people and separate children from their parents, just because they do not hold the same beliefs.

But Butler’s story is one of hope too: of a prophet leading her people toward a better future, following a spiritual practice that makes more sense to me than most organized religions I know of, and of a goal — to sow the seeds of humanity throughout space — that I have always believed held the key to our survival as a species. God is change, indeed, but instead of fighting it or surrendering to it, just recognize it and use it to make your goals a reality. This message is contained within a work of fiction that paint a frightening picture of the future, but it rings very true to me. ( )
sturlington | Mar 14, 2009 |  
This is the first book of Octavia E. Butler I have read.
It’s a story that flows well and one is always wandering if it is set in the future or in the present. A thin line divides humans from animals, a line that is often crossed. Civilization is a precious thing but can vanish very easily.
The most interesting thing, for me, in this book was the evolution of a religion.
In the beginning, the thoughts of this new religion are shown to others by example and as it grows, proselytism begins and later a burocracy is born, generally defending is own interests This happens in religions, cults, political parties and even in science. With growth, rough members appear and violently apply their own version.
Do we have to abandon all hope in humanity, leave for a desert island or a lone star and begin from scratch?
These are some of the themes one can find in this interesting book that will stay with us for a long time. ( )
labirinto | Jan 29, 2009 |  
We've kown for a long time that there's more to Kareem than skyhooks. In On the Shoulders of Giants, he shares his passion for history. He describes the Harlem Renaissance from several points of view: the social history that led up to it, the significant thinkers who contributed to it, the black basketball teams that originated there, and finally the jazz music that flourished in Harlem. He ties up each section with a couple of pages about how that facet affected his life. Not superficial but not terribly deep either, the book gives overviews of key topics and fascinating descriptions of key individuals, and it can serve as a guide for further investigation for the reader who is so inclined. I enjoyed it quite a bit. ( )
Jim53 | Sep 27, 2008 |  
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Series (with order)
Canonical Title
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Awards and honors
Epigraph
Here we are-- Energy, Mass, Life, Shaping life, Mind, Shaping Mind, God, Shaping God. Consider-- We are born Not with purpose, But with potential. From EARTHSEED: THE BOOKS OF THE LIVING by Lauren Oya Olamina
Dedication
To my aunts Irma Harris and Hazel Ruth Walker, and in memory of my mother Octavia Margaret Butler
First words
They'll make a god of her.
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
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Blurbers
Book description
Parable of the Talents (the sequel to Parable of the Sower) tells the story of how, as the U.S. continues to fall apart, the protagonist's community is attacked and taken over by a bloc of religious fanatics who inflict brutal atrocities.

Amazon.com (ISBN 0446610380, Mass Market Paperback)

Octavia Butler tackles the creation of a new religion, the making of a god, and the ultimate fate of humanity in her Earthseed series, which began with Parable of the Sower, and now continues with Parable of the Talents. The saga began with the near-future dystopian tale of Sower, in which young Lauren Olamina began to realize her destiny as a leader of people dispossessed and destroyed by the crumbling of society. The basic principles of Lauren's faith, Earthseed, were contained in a collection of deceptively simple proverbs that Lauren used to recruit followers. She teaches that "God is change" and that humanity's ultimate destiny is among the stars.

In Parable of the Talents, the seeds of change that Lauren planted begin to bear fruit, but in unpredictable and brutal ways. Her small community is destroyed, her child is kidnapped, and she is imprisoned by sadistic zealots. She must find a way to escape and begin again, without family or friends. Her single-mindedness in teaching Earthseed may be her only chance to survive, but paradoxically, may cause the ultimate estrangement of her beloved daughter. Parable of the Talents is told from both mother's and daughter's perspectives, but it is the narrative of Lauren's grown daughter, who has seen her mother made into a deity of sorts, that is the most compelling. Butler's writing is simple and elegant, and her storytelling skills are superb, as usual. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in what promises to be a moving and adventurous saga. --Therese Littleton

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:53 -0400)

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