#18 in Comics
Parable of the Sower
- 336
- Pages
- about 6 h
- Reading time
- NYT bestseller · 1 week on the list
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About the book
Parable of the Sower is a 1993 speculative fiction novel by American writer Octavia E. Butler. It is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth heavily affected by climate change and social inequality. The novel follows Lauren Olamina, a young woman who can feel the pain of others and becomes displaced from her home. Several characters from various walks of life join her on her journey north and learn of a religion she has envisioned and titled Earthseed. The main tenets of Earthseed are that "God is Change" and believers can "shape God" through conscious effort to influence the changes around them. Earthseed also teaches that it is humanity's destiny to inhabit other planets and spread the "seeds" of the Earth.
Reading order · Earthseed
- Parable of the SowerThis book
8.28.2 / 10 - Parable of the TalentsParable of the Talents–Not ranked yet
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.3 across 1,164 ratings. With that many, the reader vote carries 86% of the weight and the score stays at 8.2 — the Comics average of 7.8 barely moves it.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.7 | 56 | 5% |
| Hardcover | 8.3 | 1.1K | 95% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“Okay the book was excellent, but also... depressing... and I say that as someone who was [gladly] emotionally wrecked by Sunrise on the Reaping. I think this just felt too real. Too much of what our future could hold with our very unserious approach to climate change and the gen ai-ification of literally everything (despite the environmental impact.) Do i like this book? Yes. Can I recommend it? Idk maybe not in good conscience. lol”
“One of the rare times I know I've just read a masterpiece. Thoughtful, realistic, depressing and plausible, it leaves just the right amount of room for hope and explanation. The themes are more current than ever. Not being a religious person at all, the concept of religion in it really struck me. It's something I feel like I've thought of before, but only now have I found someone who's expanded on it and put it into writing. Sometimes we think that nonfiction is better as a genre to convey this type of meaning, but this book is another example of how fiction is so much better and powerful. In …”
“I have such an aversion to religion and cult-like organizations, the Earthseed portions of this really rubbed me the wrong way. The writing is nice and it's obviously very prescient. And I do agree that change is the only hard truth.”
Frequently asked
What is Parable of the Sower rated?
8.2 out of 10, from 1,164 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Parable of the Sower worth reading?
Readers give it 8.2/10 from 1,164 ratings, which puts it ahead of 43 % of the Comics shelf.
How long does it take to read Parable of the Sower?
About 6 hours at an average reading pace — 336 pages.
Where does Parable of the Sower rank?
#18 in Comics on the current snapshot.
Was Parable of the Sower a bestseller?
Yes — 1 weeks on the New York Times list, peaking at #12. Sales are shown here but never scored.
Which volume of the series is Parable of the Sower?
Volume 1 of 2 in Earthseed. The full reading order is one tap away above.
How long is Parable of the Sower?
It has 336 pages — shorter than 53% of the ranked books in Comics.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Comics — with scores between 8.2 and 8.3, closest to this book.
