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Parable of the Sower
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Parable of the Sower Hardcover - 1996

by Octavia E. Butler

About this book

In acclaimed science-fiction author Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower, we find the world in 2025, crippled by global warming, pollution, and socio-cultural tensions.

'Hyperempath' Lauren Olamina, a black teenager living just outside Los Angeles, flees with her community to escape the dangerous pyromaniacs who are destroying the remainders of civilization.  As she flees, she begins to preach her philosophy, her religion, called 'Earthseed' to the other refugees.

"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought
To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears.
To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists that control the fool
To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen
To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies
To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery."

From the publisher

A writer who darkly imagined the future we have destined for ourselves in book after book, and also one who has shown us the way toward improving on that dismal fate, OCTAVIA E. BUTLER (1947–2006) is recognized as among the bravest and smartest of contemporary fiction writers. A 1995 MacArthur Award winner, Butler transcended the science fiction category even as she was awarded that community’s top prizes, the Nebula and Hugo Awards. She reached readers of all ages, all races, and all religious and sexual persuasions. For years the only African-American woman writing science fiction, Butler has encouraged many others to follow in her path.

First Edition Identification

The first edition of Parable of the Sower was published by Four Walls, Eight Windows, in 1993. The First edition states “A FOUR WALLS EIGHT WINDOWS FIRST EDITION and has a full number line starting with 1. The dust jacket has a $19.95 price stamp on the inside front flap. 


Details

  • Title Parable of the Sower
  • Author Octavia E. Butler
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 160
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Seven Stories Press, New York
  • Date 1996-01-09
  • ISBN 9781888363258 / 1888363258
  • Weight 1.08 lbs (0.49 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.56 x 5.83 x 1.06 in (21.74 x 14.81 x 2.69 cm)
  • Reading level 710
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 93008703
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

About the author

A writer who darkly imagined the future we have destined for ourselves in book after book, and also one who has shown us the way toward improving on that dismal fate, OCTAVIA E. BUTLER (1947-2006) is recognized as among the bravest and smartest of contemporary fiction writers. A 1995 MacArthur Award winner, Butler transcended the science fiction category even as she was awarded that community's top prizes, the Nebula and Hugo Awards. She reached readers of all ages, all races, and all religious and sexual persuasions. For years the only African-American woman writing science fiction, Butler has encouraged many others to follow in her path.

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