Event Details

Parable of the Sower is a 1993 speculative fiction novel by award-winning American science fiction writer Octavia Butler. Beginning in July 2024 on a post-apocalyptic Earth that has been deeply ravaged by climate change and social inequality, the book follows Olamina—a teenager displaced from her home—as she navigates a world that has descended into lawlessness in the wake of uneven power differentials.  

Often lauded as a prediction of the future, Butler’s text mirrors present day America, right down to the fires in Los Angeles. Reading a book that instills both fear and hope, we’ll discuss connections to our current climate, parallels to our work, and what we can learn from Butler to create a better future for the next generation. Butler rebuked the idea that she was clairvoyant. Instead, she simply paid attention to what was going on around her and what the implications would be for the future. Following Butler’s lead, we’ll talk about what we’re seeing, feeling, and experiencing today to understand its impact for the future.  

We encourage you to purchase a copy of the book from your local independent bookstore, bookshop.org—an online retailer which supports independent bookstores, or to borrow a copy from the local library. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the book but are still interested in participating, please reach out to Rachel Dortin at [email protected]