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Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

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Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby Revi » Thu 04 Dec 2008, 22:21:32

What a great peak oil book! I just got finished reading Parable of the Sower. It takes place in California in 2025. Things are beginning to unravel in the beginning of the book, then things take a turn for the worse. The main character is a young black woman who has hyperempathy for other's feelings because her mother was a drug addict. She lives with her family in a walled compound. At first this is a haven from the dangerous outside world, and then the outside world finds its way in.

I think it's a must read for all peak oilers worried about the immediate future. The way she describes the future is very plausible.

I picked it up yesterday at 6pm and stayed up until midnight. Hard to put it down! Lots of action, lots of interesting plot lines.

I ordered Parable of the Talents at the same time. I haven't read it yet, but I think it will be this weekend's read.
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby dunewalker » Thu 04 Dec 2008, 22:41:55

Yes, both of these books are etched into my paranoia about the future. I even made a "bankole cart" out of an old hand-pulled golf club cart from the dump--great inspiration! Good books.
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby Rubin_Flagg » Fri 05 Dec 2008, 00:05:40

They are some of my favorite books. I rank them up with Dune and LOTR. The whole philosophy of Earthseed is pretty excellent.

Its perfect doomer porn.
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby RedStateGreen » Fri 05 Dec 2008, 11:54:06

I love Parable of the Sower. I think it's the most plausible future for the US, unfortunately. :(
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby Revi » Mon 08 Dec 2008, 12:17:02

I just finished Parable of the Talents. It was darker than the Sower, believe it or not. Both these books present a very plausible future for the US. I see aspects of this happening already. Gated communities, lots of unemployed people. I hope it doesn't get as bad as it is in the story.

You really get wrapped up in the characters.
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby Cog » Mon 29 Dec 2008, 17:59:34

Thanks for the heads up on these two books. The library had them and I have finished them over the Christmas holidays. Excellent doomer porn. Sort of reminded me of a cross between Mad Max and the Grapes of Wrath.
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby Revi » Mon 29 Dec 2008, 18:36:28

I really liked them, but I tried some of her other books and couldn't get into them. Those two are the best, probably because the science fiction was kept to a minimum.

I love the whole future dystopia genre.

If you liked them you will love Last Light by Alex Scarrow.

It is a great read as well. I hope it's a series.
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby joewp » Tue 20 Jan 2009, 22:59:12

I just finished reading "Sower". It was quite believable. She paints a picture of a world that could happen very swiftly in America, simply because everything is so interconnected and cross-dependent. It gave me a chill when I realized that Lauren (the protagonist) was/will be born this year...
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Re: Parable of the Sower/Talents by Octavia Butler

Unread postby Revi » Wed 21 Jan 2009, 18:43:42

Yes, kids born this year are going to have a rough time of it, I'm afraid. It isn't such a far fetched scenario any more, is it?

Wait until you get into the Parable of the Talents. I thought it was a little harrowing in the first book, but you ain't seen nothing yet!
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