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Parable of the Talents

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Parable of the Talents

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Patricia R. Floyd, Peter Jay Fernandez, Sisi Aisha Johnson
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About this listen

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.

Best-selling author Octavia 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.

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.

©2007 Octavia Butler (P)2007 Recorded Books, LLC Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Emotionally Gripping Paranormal

Critic Reviews

  • Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1999

"Octavia E. Butler is one of the finest voices in fiction....period." (Washington Post Book World)
"These...are the keynotes of Talents: family and characters, warmth and endurance, hope and determination. It's a worthy book, well up to Butler's standard for thoughtfulness and insight." (Analog Science Fiction & Fact)
"Though not for the faint-hearted, this work stands out as a testament to the author's enormous talent, and to the human spirit." (Publishers Weekly)
All stars
Most relevant  
So many parallels with the modern world.

A work of fiction that should be required reading for anyone who can read.

Prescient and Terrifying

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Butler was ahead of her time and her books are very much in tune with the concerns of today. According to Earth Seed God is change and we can shape it. We have certainly shaped it very poorly to date. So much food for thought.

I loved this!

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Having adhd and autism reading is my number one thing that relaxes me.
It is also one of the only ways to help me not grind my teeth. Even in stories like this I find it hard not to grind my teeth, as Mrs Butler has decided to let us the audience see the full storyline of Acorn and we get to know our characters way much more.
I loved having resolution to this story line from the first book parable of the sower - these books are just black excellence at its most finest!
No wonder she has won the nebula award.
This sci fi - dystopian will have all fans of the community of GOD IS CHANGE and ACORN to be at the edge of their seat waiting for what Lauren does next.
I love the themes that Octavia e. Butler has used in this book once again, social and economic devision that is set in the very near future around the corner however still relevant completely relevant today - and that is what is scary - what if his is change is that this is the world that we continue to change - but not for all the right reasons (eg Donald trump, corona virus)
Total book cult classic!

We need more Octavia E. butler Books on Audible ! God is change!

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true sf it shows us to ourselves using the near future. Frightening in its accurate depiction of our present written 25 years ago it offers hope of a better future.

Outstanding

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This author is outstanding! It brought slavery into a lived perspective. It brought Right wing fanatical christianity it a new but dreadfully recognisable perspective. Change as the fundamental truth is a simple all- encompassing concept. Think and feel it than guide one’s actions accordingly.

Amazing future sight

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And the ways in which different parts of society deal with it. Even here, Elsewhere is offered as the main hope, even by those who continue to work with a broken Earth. Look to the oldest living culture on Earth to know that, long ago, the Universe was turned upside down. Our solutions are here.

An enunciation of intergenerational trauma

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Absolutely terrifying in this climate. I struggled through this book. I could not help but feel the pain the characters went through. I am so glad to have read this book. I feel changed.

Riveting and so painful.

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A magnificent sequel. I was worried that it would be too hard diving into this straight after Parable of the Sower, but it wasn’t. What an incredible series. Required reading for everyone. This book will live with me.

Parable of the Talents

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loved it. little sad about acorn though. cosmically informed. wish she wrote more about the car

delish!

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Loved this story but feel like I may have just read someone's vision of the not to distant future which is also terrifying.
Really Enjoyed this book, If Earthseed was a real religion, I think I'd be converting!

Fantasies or Prophecies?

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