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) ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )