Written in 1993 and set in 2024, Butler's vision of a future America in decline at the mercy of climate change, corporate greed, government corruption and unchecked poverty, still seems very possible. I especially liked the restraint with which this was written and Butler's emphasis on race, gender and economics.

Lauren Olamina grows up in her community, a cluster of 11 houses protected, like many others, by a wall that keeps out predators and the growing number of desperate poor. Robledo, a former bedroom community of L.A., is much changed. America still exists, and there is a modern world out there, but it is harder to reach and dangerous for those without money. The adults bemoan the changes to the world and wish for the good days to come back, but for Lauren and her peers a life restricted to their cul-de-sac is normal. 

Additionally, Lauren has a weakness that is kept hidden outside her immediate family. Her deceased mother had been an addict of a smart drug that permanently altered body chemistry. Lauren inherited hyper-empathy - she feels the pain and pleasure of others when she witnesses it. In their world on the brink of chaos this is a dangerous trait to have.

Though their life is normal and privileged compared to many, Lauren can't help but notice the decay around her. Pressures outside are harder, more and more within their close-knit community can't find work and the prospects of her generation are bleak indeed. Lauren becomes obsessed with change at a young age and tries to prepare for the inevitable collapse and "discovering" the new religion of Earthseed.

Half of the novel is spent in Robledo, the other half follows Lauren and some companions on the road to a better life up North. The novel is bleak and the reader is shielded from it in part by Lauren's often flat narration. This may be a byproduct of her conditioning to show no emotion, but it works in a way. The novel gets a bit preachy, and Lauren is totally a cult leader, but her philosophy of accepting and preparing for change works a hell of a lot better than traditional thinking. 

This was good, the open ending paves the way for the sequel, but a sequel isn't strictly necessary.

Earthseed

Next: 'Parable of the Talents'

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

So the thing is this is my least favorite of Butler's works. The story had a lot of plot holes that the graphic novel of course cannot and does not fix. 

Taking place in 2025, we follow the character of Lauren Olamina and her family that are living in what remains of areas around Los Angeles. Told in the first person, we get Lauren's "insights" into her family, friends, community, and what the world is turning into. The whole Earthseed concept never really works though at least in graphic novel format it's okay to have stilted sentences like "God is Change." 

I think graphic novels in the right hands can really rock. I love re-reading The Gunslinger series via graphic novel format and the novel "Speak" recently as heart-wrenching to read via that format. Duffy though doesn't really grab me with his art. Everything is shadowy and dark. A few times I wondered if the ARC I got had finished art or what. 

Here is a link to my review of the novel where I still had some of the same issues while reading this graphic novel: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1590307786?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

 Booklikes-opoly 2019 Edition

hosted by Moonlight Reader & Obsidian Blue

Roll #3 landed me on the Free Parking square, which meant I had to roll again; this subsequent roll gave me:

From the rules, "A 2 or a 3, sends you to the robot":

From my 10 options (above), the randomly generated number is:

which corresponds to:

Title: The Orkney Scroll

Author: Lyn Hamilton

# of Pages: 284

Value: $3.00 upon completion

Current Bank Balance: $31.00

Source/Cost: Personal Library/$0.00 (Smashwords freebie)

Date Acquired: Jul 2016

Book Description: Lara McClintoch’s professional pride is hurt when an antique cabinet she thought was genuine is deemed a fake. When the antique dealer who sold it for a million dollars is murdered and the money goes missing, Lara follows the forgery trail to Scotland’s Orkney Islands, once ruled by the Vikings. The place is pretty and the people kind, but Lara feels danger closing in on her.