Parable of the Sower

by Octavia Butler, Octavia E. Butler
Parable of the Sower cover
Good Books rating 3.88
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99 Hardback • £18.99
Amazon
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  • ID: 1159
  • Added: 2025-09-27
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9781472214775
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2014-03-27
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 4

Parable of the Sower is a hauntingly prescient dystopian novel that explores a fractured America where chaos and violence reign. Lauren Olamina, a young woman with the extraordinary ability to feel the pain of others, documents the decay around her in her journal. Her world is upended one night, forcing her to flee and seek a better future for herself and those she loves. Through her vision and resilience, Lauren's ideas begin to take root, offering a glimmer of hope in a desolate landscape. Octavia E. Butler's masterful prose and unnerving foresight make this novel a timeless exploration of humanity's potential for both destruction and renewal. Praised for its relevance and powerful storytelling, Parable of the Sower is a must-read for fans of thought-provoking science fiction.

Reviews
LibGirl Books · 2025-05-09
mixed 3.50

The book is profoundly violent and cuts deep, deserving to be pondered.

LibGirl Books describes 'Parable of the Sower' as a profoundly violent and thought-provoking book that cuts deep. They mention that while they didn't love every aspect of the book, they appreciate its raw and unflinching portrayal of human cruelty and the harsh realities of survival. The reviewer also notes that the book's themes are deeply relevant and deserve to be pondered. They highlight the book's ability to evoke strong emotions and its impactful exploration of societal collapse. Overall, the review is mixed but acknowledges the book's significant strengths.

Quick quotes

    It cuts deep and deserves to be pondered.

    I can't say I loved everything about this book.

    It's profoundly violent, featuring human cruelty and the harsh realities of survival.

Grimdark Magazine · 2024-06-30
insightful 4.50

The book effectively blends social criticism with compelling characters and a timeless narrative. It balances thought-provoking themes with an engaging story.

Grimdark Magazine highlights how Parable of the Sower strikes a perfect balance between social commentary and character development. The reviewer appreciates the timeless quality of the story, which remains relevant and thought-provoking. The novel's exploration of societal issues is seamlessly woven into the narrative, making it both engaging and intellectually stimulating. The reviewer commends Butler's ability to create a world that feels both familiar and dystopian, making the themes resonate deeply with readers.

Quick quotes

    Parable of the Sower hits the spot perfectly, balancing social criticism and complex characters with a timeless story.

    Butler's ability to weave together a dystopian narrative with profound social commentary is truly commendable.

    The novel's exploration of societal issues is seamlessly woven into the narrative, making it both engaging and intellectually stimulating.

Reddit - r/collapse · Jamrock · 2023-01-01
insightful 4.00

The novel is a profound and underrated work of collapse fiction. It offers a bleak but insightful vision of a near-future America.

This novel is a profound and underrated work of collapse fiction. It offers a bleak but insightful vision of a near-future America ravaged by climate change and economic disparity. The story's exploration of human behavior in the face of societal collapse is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the consequences of environmental and economic decline.

Quick quotes

    Octavia Butlers 1993 novel Parable of the Sower is, I think, the most underrated work of collapse fiction.

    Butler is eerily prophetic. Written in the 1990s, the novel paints a bleak vision of a near-future America ravaged by climate change, economic disparity, and societal collapse.

    The story's exploration of human behavior in the face of societal collapse is both thought-provoking and deeply moving.

Novel Notions · 2022-09-20
mixed 3.50

The prose is engaging and vivid, though the initial sections of the novel can be challenging. The reviewer found the story compelling despite a slow start.

Novel Notions praises Butler's prose for being engaging, accessible, and vivid. However, they admit to struggling with the first quarter of the novel, finding it a bit slow to start. Despite this initial hurdle, the reviewer finds the story compelling and worth persevering through. They appreciate the depth and complexity of the characters and the thought-provoking themes that emerge as the narrative progresses. The reviewer acknowledges that while the start may be challenging, the payoff is substantial.

Quick quotes

    Butler's prose was engaging, accessible, and vivid.

    I struggled a bit in the first quarter of the novel.

    The early sections of Parable of the Sower can be challenging, but the payoff is substantial.

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