I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in this series. I read and reviewed the first book last June (https://racheleanne.wordpress.com/2020/06/20/review-parable-of-the-sower/) and although I felt like it was a really important read, I am do not feel like I would like to continue on with the series. Thank you for giving me the chance to review both books, and again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

This book is brilliant, but also a massive bummer. Octavia Butlers Earthseed series imagines a society collapsing into dystopia and oppression that feels eerily prescient. This second book follows Lauren as she ensures abuse and hardship at the hands of those who would have her give up Earthseed. At times it's quite a difficult and upsetting book to read, but it's a really important one too, particularly in the current political climate.

Parable of the Talents (sequel to Parable of the Sower, which should be read first), was published in 1998 but is amazingly prescient about America today. In fact, if published today, it might feel too on the nose about the effects of climate change, religious fundamentalism and the dangers of electing a president based on populism and fear of outsiders. If you have enjoyed any other feminist dystopian type fiction (e.g. Vox, The Handmaid's Tale, The Power) then you may well enjoy this.

I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed the first book in the series, Parable of the Sower. I enjoyed the characters more in this one and the themes explored.

I was drawn to these two books as I enjoyed Kindred so much when I read it earlier this year, but unfortunately I didn't get the same thing out of these two books as I did out of Kindred.

My thanks to Headline for a digital edition via NetGalley of Octavia E. Butler’s ‘Parable of the Talents’ in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second and final book in Butler’s acclaimed Earthseed series first published in 1998 and reissued on 20 August 2019 in a new paperback edition.

It continues the story of Lauren Oya Olamina through her journals and adds the voice of her daughter, Asha Vere (born Larkin), who as an adult reflects on the life and work of her mother. Lauren’s husband and brother also have short entries to provide alternative views.

Again, this was quite grim reading with some scenes of shocking violence and degradation; though it also contained messages of hope for the future. I am not drawn to messianic characters or themes, so I found that I felt less for Lauren’s philosophy and more for Asha’s approach to life.

There are some passages in the opening chapters where the far-right presidential candidate, Andrew Steele Jarret, rallies his supporters with the slogan “help us to make America great again”. I stopped my reading to again reflect on Butler’s prescience.

This felt so even though other presidential candidates have used a similar phrase; perhaps because we are now only a few years away from the setting of the novels and that the current holder of the office of President holds extreme views not dissimilar to Jarret’s.

Overall I didn’t find this as strong a narrative as ‘Parable of the Sower’ even though it was awarded the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1999. It is sad that Butler didn’t live to complete her proposed third Earthseed novel. It would have been interesting to see if the descendants of her characters would travel to the stars.

I do feel that both Earthseed novels are important works of dystopian fiction (with some SF elements) and am grateful to have had the opportunity to read.

Again, I obtained its audiobook edition, narrated by Patricia Floyd, Peter Jay Fernandez, and Sisi Aisha Johnson. This allowed for an immersive read/listen experience.

An interesting sequel, I didn’t find it as powerful as the first book but it was still entertaining

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is the second book in the Earthseed series. In this one, we follow Lauren's (who was the protagonist in the previous book). daughter, Olimina.
I find both books very relevant since the topic of climate change is very important. I liked first book a bit better than this one, but . I think as a sequel it was also intersting.

Thanks a lot Netgalley and the publisher for this copy . in exchange for an honest review.

A powerful and in many ways terrifying book, given it's almost prescient nature, the Parable of the Talents is the second in Octavia E Butler's Earthseed series. It takes its name from a biblical story and once again the theme of the dangers inherent in organised religion ( in this case a type of almost Fundamentalist Christianity) is prevalent. This time the story is told from the perspective of Lauren Olimina's daughter as well is by Olimina herself through her writings and diary entries. Those who found the first book difficult due the horrific acts of violence portrayed should know not to expect any respite in the continuing story which describes what happened to the original Earthseed colony and it's members. I found there was less emphasis on the Earthseed philosophy and proselytizing , though both are still there. Though originally published decades ago, the book feels very current given the political climate in the USA, and in that context it makes for frightening reading.
I read a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.