Are you familiar with Octavia Butler’s works? Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction writer, one of the best-known among the few African-American women in the field. She won both Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant. I have heard her name mentioned a couple of times and when I was looking for a graphic novel, Parable of the Sower appeared on my feed. The book I am writing about today is an adaptation of her original work. Take a look at the synopsis below:
In this graphic novel adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower by Damian Duffy and John Jennings, the award-winning team behind Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, the author portrays a searing vision of America’s future. In the year 2024, the country is marred by unattended environmental and economic crises that lead to social chaos. Lauren Olamina, a preacher’s daughter living in Los Angeles, is protected from danger by the walls of her gated community. However, in a night of fire and death, what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: a startling vision of human destiny . . . and the birth of a new faith.
Content Notes: Rape (off screen but repeated), murder, torture, drug abuse (off screen), violence against children (including torture & death), cannibalism, slavery, body horror, violence against animals, gun violence.
Thoughts on Parable of the Sower
This is one of those instances where I wish I had looked up the content notes. Since this is a graphic novel, there was a lot of body horror and violence depicted in the illustrations. I have not compared this to the descriptions in the book itself but there is definitely something to be said about imagining a scene in my mind and actually seeing it drawn out or enacted for me in print.
On Religion (Earthseed)
Our protagonist is Lauren and we first meet her when she is 15 years old. She lives with her siblings, father and stepmother. She is an avid reader and in her time observing her father’s practice as a Minister of church, and the atrocities around her, Lauren has put together a new religion called Earthseed. Earthseed portrays change as God and strives for humans to be among the stars. In the course of the book, Lauren develops Earthseed more and discusses it with her fellow travellers. Some of them convert to the religion, while others tolerate it. She does not enforce it on anyone and when people need something to believe in, Earthseed is there to give them hope through the harrowing journey to find a safe place in this lawless world.
Many dystopian novels have showcased the emergence of new religions and prophets, including well renowned books like The Book of M, Station Eleven and The Power. I honestly did not like the religious elements in most of these books. Butler’s approach to religion is so refreshing and new even after so many years of publication that it kept me hooked to the story. At the same time, there are people in the book who actively challenge the concept of religion, considering where life has taken them – through burnt cities, a wilderness where dogs are the enemies, food is scarce and everyone is in it for themselves.
A number of questions and misconceptions are posed to Lauren about Earthseed. She often corrects people that she did not invent the religion – it is something she put together by observing the world around her. She is not trying to convert anyone into it; she just wants to create a community that is true to Earthseed teachings, while persevering through this horrendous world.
On Dystopian tales
Parable of the Sower was first published in 1993 (the year I was born) and similar to how Lord of the Rings revolutionized fantasy, it is one of those first works in dystopia. And it is quite dark. Reading it in a graphic novel format brought out the tense themes even more profoundly. Artists Duffy and Jennings have done a fantastic job of creating the desolate atmosphere in their art for this story.
Poverty, lack of water and space, lawlessness, distrust of other people and the need to carry on and look for a better life are portrayed beautifully in the art for the novel. All these aspects are quite important to understand the life in 2024 and the kind of people who we meet in the course of the novel. Brutality and loss of loved ones hits much closer in this book, partly because of Lauren’s hyperempathy condition. When someone experiences pain, so does Lauren and the illustrations emphasize the pain tremendously.
You know how you reflect on some books and realize how much you liked them while when you first finished the book that might not have been the case? Parable of the Sower is one of those books for me! It was a really hard and slow read yet it offered so much to me as I was writing this review! My plan to read the next book, Parable of the Talents, in graphic novel format as well, and maybe one day, I will pick up these two books in Octavia Butler’s original editions.
** Parable of the Sower (graphic novel) is now available in stores. I got my copy at the library so be sure to check your local library and support them. If you have read Butler’s work do share your thoughts below **
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
Cover image: Photo by David McCumskay on Unsplash
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