A harder read in 2025
4 stars
Content warning No specifics, but does reference the book's ending
There were a jarring number of similarities between American politics of the 2030s as described in Parable of the Talents, and America's actual politics of today. Of course, there is the literal use of "Make America Great Again", which others have pointed out, but Jarret's rise echoes Trump's in other ways as well, and he is ultimately just as hollow.
From a literary perspective, the fact that this book shows us multiple characters' perspectives, rather than just Olamina's as in Parable of the Sower, makes it much more complex and thornier to read. I'm left wondering how much we are actually meant to identify with her religious movement, although obviously it's still more sympathetic than Christian America.
If anything, I would say that my main complaint is that the story seems to wrap up too quickly and conveniently. It's unfortunate that Butler never got around to writing a third Earthseed book, because I feel like there was a lot more to explore there.