Parable of the Talents

Earthseed #2

by Octavia E. Butler

Paperback, 464 pages

English language

Published Jan. 26, 2000 by Grand Central Publishing.

ISBN:: 978-0-446-67578-9

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(14 reviews)

In 2032, Lauren Olamina has survived the destruction of her home and family, and realized her vision of a peaceful community in northern California based on her newly founded faith, Earthseed. The fledgling community provides refuge for outcasts facing persecution after the election of an ultra-conservative president who vows to "make America great again." In an increasingly divided and dangerous nation, Lauren's subversive colony–a minority religious faction led by a young black woman–becomes a target for President Jarret's reign of terror and oppression.

Years later, Asha Vere reads the journals of a mother she never knew, Lauren Olamina. As she searches for answers about her own past, she also struggles to reconcile with the legacy of a mother caught between her duty to her chosen family and her calling to lead humankind into a better future.

10 editions

reading crustacean reviewed Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

a book I won't forget very soon

4 stars

the writing is fantastic. also there is more... story than in parable of the sower, definitely more things happening and also more hope. somebody (I forgot the source) wrote about this "parable of the sower is about problems, while parable of the talents is about solutions" and yeah, this seems true. it is also still about horrible, horrible problems. some of these chapters were really hard to get through.

also everything seems so realistic - the characters and the choices they have to face, but also the USA/world politics.

the earthseed verses feel so much on point by now. they're definitely the thing I will remember most. as religions go, it's a good one.

EDIT: I wanted to add, if you want to read this book, check out the Octavia's Parables podcast by adrienne maree brown and Toshi Reagon. It is worth it for the songs from the opera "parable …

also everything seems so realistic - the characters and the choices they have to face, but also the USA/world politics.

the earthseed verses feel so much on point by now. they're definitely the thing I will remember most. as religions go, it's a good one.

EDIT: I wanted to add, if you want to read this book, check out the Octavia's Parables podcast by adrienne maree brown and Toshi Reagon. It is worth it for the songs from the opera "parable of the sower" alone!

lukethelibrarian reviewed Parable of the talents by Octavia E. Butler

Jaw-droppingly prescient

5 stars

Jaw-droppingly prescient for a novel written 25 years ago. "Hunting for scapegoats is always popular in times of serious trouble," notes Butler in an interview in the afterword of this edition. "So is hunting for the great leader who will restore prosperity and stability... He turns his true believers - his thugs - loose on those he chooses as scapegoats and he looks around for an external enemy to use as an even bigger scapegoat and a diversion from the reality that he doesn't really know what to do. Because of him, innocent people lose their freedom, lose custody of their children, lose their lives."

Tarheel reviewed Parable of the talents by Octavia E. Butler

Review of 'Parable of the Talents (Earthseed, #2)' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Powerful

Powerful, and heartbreaking.

Also amazingly prescient. Butler died 10 years before Trump was elected but here he is in all his Christo-fascist glory.

Ginny Wood reviewed Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

Review of 'Parable of the Talents' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Powerful

Powerful, and heartbreaking.

Also amazingly prescient. Butler died 10 years before Trump was elected but here he is in all his Christo-fascist glory.

Rev. Dr. Sir Wayne Murillo III reviewed Parable of the talents by Octavia E. Butler

Review of 'Parable of the talents' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

After reading Octavia E Butler's Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents it is crushing to learn that Parable of the Trickster was met with writer's block and remained unfinished until she died in 2006.

To avoid giving much away, I want to say that Talents plot arc is wonderful starting with an immediate fall and a Lauren's gradual rebuilding of Earthseed. The world is prophetic and important to anyone paying attention right now. Read Parable of the Sower and Talents ASAP.