Parable of the Talents

Octavia E. Butler

Sep 2007 · Earthseed Book 2 · RB Media · Narrated by Patricia R. Floyd, Peter Jay Fernandez, and Sisi Aisha Johnson

About this audiobook

Best-selling author Octavia E. Butler's acclaimed novels have won numerous awards, and she is a recipient of a "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation. Parable of the Talents was selected as one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly. Environmental devastation and economic chaos have turned America into a land of horrifying depravity. Assault, theft, sexual abuse, slavery, and murder are commonplace. Taking advantage of the situation, a zealous, bigoted tyrant wins his way into the White House. Directly opposed is Lauren Olamina, founder of Earthseed--a new faith that teaches "God Is Change." Persecuted for "heathen" beliefs as much as for having a black female leader, Earthseed's followers face a life-and-death struggle to preserve their vision. Butler's fluid writing and keen observations about race, gender, politics, and religion make for a moving parable that will be pondered for generations. A powerful reading from three standout narrators captures the multi-generational sweep of this poignant tale.

Ratings and reviews

I really LOVED Parable of the Sower. I can't tell if this sequel is just not in the same league for it's writing or if the readers are to blame. On the one hand, the story itself is another exercise in dystopian cruelty, but it really meanders all over the place. Ironically, for the theme of change, i'm not sure the main character makes any changes at all. But perhaps more importantly the readers are SO MELODRAMATIC. The youngest reader's accent is all over the place and all the readers appear to only have one speed--which would have me turning the volume down out of embarrassment--it sort of feels like babysitting theater kids.

Warns of the dangers of apathy in regards to compassion,justice,government, politics, environment,and crime. once the American people stop being concerned with these aspects of society, the few zealots will be the only ones running our country. also, when we support hatred and intolerance,and we allow others to take our free will and abilities to choose.those are the very ideals the zealots, now in charge and in power,will encourage or demand. every citizen should be actively promoting free will,choice,and tolerance. after all if one group of people with the same belief system deny the rest of us choices,they are also taking away their own. It's a give and take...I'll respect you and your freedom if you respect me and m freedom. we need not actively support briefs in opposition to our own but we can and should respect the right to choose.

A powerful and well told story that paints a picture of a future while strongly reminding us of the past. The continuation of Lauren's story is wonderful. The readers for the book are wonderful. Octavia E. Butler was a wonderful writer. If you read, Parable of The Sower, then you have to read this book.

About the author

Science-fiction writer and novelist Octavia Estelle Butler was born in Pasadena, California, on June 22, 1947. She earned as Associate of Arts degree from Pasadena City College in 1968 and later attended California State University and the University of California. Her first novel, Patternmaster, was the first in a series about a society run by a group of telepaths who are mentally linked to one another. She explored the topics of race, poverty, politics, religion, and human nature in her works. She won a Hugo Award in 1984 for her short story Speech Sounds and a Hugo Award and Nebula Award in 1985 for her novella Bloodchild. She received a MacArthur Grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The award pays $295,000 over a five-year period to creative people who push the boundaries of their fields. She died in Lake Forest Park, Washington on February 24, 2006 at the age of 58. Peter Jay Fernandez is an actor who has appeared on the stage as well as the small screen. He is also a voice actor most notably the voice of Alex Cross, one of James Patterson's most recognizable characters.