Parable of the Sower

October 3, 2023

Join Langston in celebrating the literary legacy of Octavia E. Butler on the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking novel “Parable of the Sower.” Explore the cultural impact of this visionary work with our esteemed panelists, including adrienne maree brown, a transformative justice advocate and Octavia E. Butler scholar; Ayana Jamieson, founder of the Octavia E. Butler Legacy Network; and Daniel Simon, editor of Octavia Butler’s novels and champion of dispossessed voices. Moderated by queer Afrofuturist Isis Asare, this interactive discussion will delve into the power of Butler’s storytelling and its relevance today.

In October 1993, Four Walls Eight Windows published the first edition of Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. At the time, Butler was at the height of her literary career. The 1995 MacArthur Fellow already published the Patternist Series, Kindred – which would sell over 1M copies and the Xenogenesis Series with Doubleday & Company.

Parable of the Sower – the first book in an unfinished series – would be followed by Parable of the Talents in 1998. Set in a dystopian California in 2024, Parable of the Sower tells the story of how 15-year-old Lauren Oya Olamina creates community and develops a philosophy centered on the belief that God Is Change.