Published in 1993, Parable of the Sower is a classic of Black feminist science fiction. Characterized by classic sci-fi tropes, such as a post-apocalyptic world, a character with strange psychic powers, and a belief that it is humanity's destiny to take root among the stars, Parable of the Sower offers both a stunning (if not cynical) look into the not-too-distant future, as well as a biting commentary on current affairs.
In the words of critic Jim Miller, Parable of the Sower presents a dystopia that is but "20 minutes into the future." In the very near future—the 2020s, written in the mid-1990s—gangs run amok in cities, schools have been shut down, sanitation is nonexistent, and...
