Parable of the Talents [School & Library Binding]

Butler, in her afterword to this book, indicates that Parable of the Sower and this book where conceived and partially written as one book. It's therefore somewhat surprising that not only do you not absolutely have to read Parable of the Sower first (though I highly recommend you do so), but that Talents is, perhaps, the `better' half. Butler includes enough background information on the happenings of Sower that the current situation is fully understandable.

And the current situation is the stuff of nightmares. Not only is America wracked by the effects of massive climate change, a badly frazzled economy, and a society turning inward upon itself, but anarchy, slavery, utter lawlessness have become rampant. In this world we have Acorn, the small community established by Olimina, who has a vision, a new religion, Earthseed, based on two items: God is Change, and the Destiny of Man is the stars. The depiction of this community's daily life, its struggles to establish stability and some form of security for its residents, is starkly realistic. Not all of its inhabitants totally buy Olimina's vision; there are doubters, slackers, whiners, those with different visions of how to proceed in the world. But all the plans go by the wayside when the community is not just attacked by members of the `fundamentalist' Christian America group, whose nominal leader has been elected as President of the US, but all its residents are forced into slavery, and their young children taken away for fostering in `Christian' homes.

This section of the book is highly depressing as the picture of humanity portrayed here is not only extremely ugly, it is all too believable. Fanatical beliefs in anything always seems to lead to behavior like this - after all, if you know that only your way is right, you can justify and rationalize almost any action against those who don't believe as you do. Butler's descriptions of the degrading conditions, the brutality Acorn's members experience, is horrifying (I just wish she'd had descriptions this powerful in her Kindred, as that was about the only flaw I could find in that excellent book). But this book is not just a screed against fundamentalist `Christianity', but against any belief system that calls for blind acceptance of its dogma. Butler presents not only Olimina's viewpoint, but also that of her husband, brother, and daughter (who was raised not even knowing that Olimina was her mother), and these viewpoints show that even Olimina's own vision, her religion of `Earthseed', is not without flaws of its own, and Olimina's obsession with spreading her word sometimes leads to decisions that are not in the best interests of all involved.

Each of these characters comes to life in this book. These are some very different people from one another, and their different viewpoints adds tremendously to the believability in the events portrayed.

The poems Butler presents as part of the `Word' of Earthseed are finely crafted and have enough power to make you, the reader, believe in their being a part of a new religion. Their message of strength to manage a world of constant change is, perhaps, the best part of Butler's themes, showing that there is hope for a better future, if only man will actually use all of his abilities to manage both himself and the world around him.

A finely crafted work, rife with emotional power, horrifying in its believability, with a message that cannot be ignored.

---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

Governments and religions are big subjects. It's amazing that Octavia E Butler can make them seem so accessible; that the answers to the squabbles over 'who's right and who's wrong' could actually be so simple, if only we were prepared to be honest with ourselves.

This is a book that speaks to the here and now. If you're concerned about what is happening in the world today, read it. If you have ever asked yourself about religion and the function it serves in our society, read it. If you just like a good book with a strong storyline, read it. It can offer something on all of these levels, and personally speaking, I have yet to stop thinking about the questions it raises.

Consistent with her other novels, Octavia Butler creates characters that you trust, understand, and love; characters who are up against substantial odds. Her vision of a dark future void of the securities that we all take for granted is a stark example of "divided we fall."

Perhaps not all readers will be as enamored, as I am, with the truths and promises of the Earthseed Destiny but I think all can appreciate Butler's prediction of human misery when tolerance and democratic rights are trampled.

Religion is a balm, an inspiration, a scourge, and a trap but it is a fundamentally human creation, sprung from our abstract vision. Butler explores our need to formalize these abstractions. When she redefines "God" in Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents she tries to avoid the pitfalls that are inevitable where religion is concerned.

Butler provides many dissenting views of her protagonist, Olamina. Allowing your faith in the character to be tested. Olamina is not perfect but her recognition of the power of a belief system and her refusal to transform the core truths into something comforting or theistic makes her a trustworthy prophet.

Read this novel and you will draw many conclusions about the state of the world today.