#3016
Mentioned in 16 episodes
Parable of the Sower
Book • 1993
Published in 1993, 'Parable of the Sower' is a dark and vivid portrayal of a future where global climate change and economic crises have led to social chaos.
The story is told through the diary entries of Lauren Olamina, a 15-year-old Black girl living in a gated community near Los Angeles.
Lauren suffers from hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel the pain and pleasure of others.
As her community is destroyed by external threats, Lauren embarks on a perilous journey north, developing a new faith called Earthseed along the way.
Earthseed's central doctrine is that 'God is Change' and cannot be resisted, but can be influenced.
The novel explores themes of survival, faith, family, hope, and community in a world torn apart by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and violence.
The story is told through the diary entries of Lauren Olamina, a 15-year-old Black girl living in a gated community near Los Angeles.
Lauren suffers from hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel the pain and pleasure of others.
As her community is destroyed by external threats, Lauren embarks on a perilous journey north, developing a new faith called Earthseed along the way.
Earthseed's central doctrine is that 'God is Change' and cannot be resisted, but can be influenced.
The novel explores themes of survival, faith, family, hope, and community in a world torn apart by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and violence.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 16 episodes
Recommended by Jarrett Sleeper as a relevant book set in Altadena, featuring a dystopian future with a "Make America Great Again" slogan.
61 snips
Fire Ecology (WILDFIRES & INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT) Mega Encore with Gavin Jones & Amy Christianson (LA Fires Re-Release)
Mentioned by Sam Fragoso as a writer whose work is relevant to the current situation in Los Angeles.
23 snips
The Week That Changed Los Angeles
Mentioned by 
Cara Santa Maria while discussing dystopian fiction and its relevance to current events.
Cara Santa Maria while discussing dystopian fiction and its relevance to current events.
14 snips
The Skeptics Guide #1034 - May 3 2025
Mentioned by Gene Demby while discussing the impact of the Eaton Fire on the Black community in Altadena.
13 snips
What a Black enclave lost in the Los Angeles wildfires
Mentioned by Kimberly Adams in relation to the LA fires and her prescient writing on climate change and social issues.
The rise of private firefighting
Mentioned by John Green when discussing his experience with a psychiatrist.
408: The Green Brothers Often Are Wrong
Mentioned by Adrienne and Autumn Brown as a source of inspiration for creating a go bag, due to its prescient depiction of societal collapse.
From Parable to Practice: Building Your Go Bag
Mentioned by 
Jill Lepore when contrasting Musk's vision of space colonization with the critical perspectives of Afrofuturism.
Jill Lepore when contrasting Musk's vision of space colonization with the critical perspectives of Afrofuturism.
EVENING ROCKET: Decoding Elon Musk’s Sci-Fi Visions of the Future
Mentioned during a Black History Month special series on the ThruLine podcast.
Starting Your Career After College
Mentioned by 
Maddie Safai as a visionary science fiction writer whose work explores cautionary tales and messages of hope and resilience.
Maddie Safai as a visionary science fiction writer whose work explores cautionary tales and messages of hope and resilience.
BONUS: Throughline — Octavia Butler: Visionary Fiction
