Rating: 
Summary: A strong, disturbing novel
Review: Dark and disturbing, this chilling tale of a young girl's attempt to find unity and love in a chaotic world is an excellent read. It starts far strong than it ends; Butler's message, while never particularly preachy, reiterates itself too many times. Certainly a fine book for any Octavia Butler fan, and a good "bridging" book for non-followers of the science fiction genre. It contains an important message without being overly technical/scientific. Well done, Ms. Butler.
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Summary: Exceptional Writer....Exceptional Story
Review: I've heard about Ms. Butler's talents for about a year now, but this is the first of her books that I've read. I wound up devouring it in just under two days. A frightening vision of the future and from one that lives in L.A., on some days, not all that implausible. I found the description of re-decent into legalized slavery and company towns, all with federal and local blessings very frightening. I agree with a previous reviewer that the Earthseed religion did not add all that much to the story, but taking it as a story of human preserverence over chaos and evil, it was a great read. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Butler's novel was awesome and extremely fascinating!
Review: I utterly enjoyed reading the novel. It is truly a treat. I never thought of myself as a science-fiction reader; however, Butler changed my beliefs. Lauren's journey in a not-so-distant world of destruction and cannibalism is fascinatig! I recommend Parable of the Sower to everyone from young adults, college students, and professional adults. Butler has definitely obtained a number a numbr one fan!
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Summary: SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAPPEN TOMORROW
Review: 1998: Killer climate; people eating people, dogs, and basically anything they can get their hands on; highway robbery prices for inferior products and services; places to complain about services but no one to care (even if they listen); scary neighbors; scary gangs of youth and adults drugged out on the latest street drug; neighbors you hate but tolerate; classism, sexism, racism; people killing babies, children, and women; guns everywhere and for a price no matter what the laws; poor city services for poor people; public officials and law enforcement on the take. 2025: same stuff only these conditions can not be ignored with money, religion, or simply wishing bad things away.I hope this vision of the future is NOT what we have to go thru in order to come together as people. Great book, good read, you want to know what happens to these folks once the book ends.
Rating:
Summary: A true page turner
Review: I read Parable of the Sower along with my bookclub after one of the members introduced the author to the club, we were all impressed by the book and kind of scared because the gated communities and destuctiveness seem as though it can happen for real if society continues with being corrupt. I think it was a great idea how Lauren put together a survival kit. this is something my bookclub is trying to do, one for the home and one for the car, because stuff happens. I will have to read all of her works. It's great to see an African-american sista producing such stimulating works. I hope Oprah does her bookclub justice by adding this piece to read.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbing book...yet it draws you in
Review: The was the first Octavia Butler book I had ever read. Her story has great plot and character development. You feel for these people and wonder how could this ever happen to the world? You can see today's iamges in her book. Gated communities, criminals who have NO regard for life, and people attempting to survive anyway they can. A definite must read.
Rating:
Summary: Butler evokes a frightening future with great skill
Review: Parable of the Sower is artfully written. Every detail of life in a depleted, violent future Califoria is plausible, and anyone who's been an adolescent can instantly relate to Lauren, the narrator and protaganist. The unflinching realism of the rest of the book makes the Earthseed philosophy into an unconvincing afterthought. Could a band of multi-culti ragtag survivors make it out of the imploding city and up to the relative haven of Northern California? Yes, Butler makes me believe. Does that human triumph have anything to do with the mystic pseudo-faith espoused by Lauren in her diary and in the chapter headings? I'm unconvinced.
Read this book for the author's unflinching apocolyptic vision and the very human hope which springs from it, and leave the poorly articulated spiritual element behind.
Rating: 
Summary: IT'S OKAY!
Review: It was a slow moving story. The overall premise is very good, but to me something of the story was lacking. I would have like to know how society got to that point where everyone lived in gated communities and community services such as the police department have to be paid for out of pocket etc. However, I found the character's concept of Earthseed fascinating.
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Summary: FIRST BOOK OF NEW EARTHSEED SERIES
Review: I am sure that there are many more Octavia Butler fans out there that will love this book and wait avidly for the sequels. Certainly, Butler can't write just one.
I also can't belive that I am writing the first review. Maybe there is another one at the 'trade paperback' site. Anyway, another rich offering from the Nubian Queen of sci-fi. The heroine lives in LA 20 years from now when society has deteriorated enough for people to live in armed enclaves but not enough for the money to be bad. She is consumed with her philosophy, 'earthseed', but anxious about her slightly more priviliged life and the envious, poorer masses surrounding her home. The inevitable happens and she ends up on the road in a frightening, falling apart America. She gathers people to her with the force of her personality and starts spreading the word of earthseed.
We are waiting, Ms. Butler, for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: A Realistic Feature to Scary to Think About
Review: Another reviewer stated that this book will change your perception which it did for me. Octavia's book, "Parable of the Sower", is a powerful look at what could be, and it doesn't look very optimistic with the decline of society to a point were city/community states must protect themselves from the chaos around them with force. However for me the novel teaches me that we cannot isolate ourselves for the chaos around us and that we must face it head on and try to make the difference no matter how painful. Octavia does a tremendous job at engaging the reader and not letting go. Can't wait to read the sequel
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