A Literary Feast Presented by Shanley Smith
Do you watch Black Mirror, despite the chills it gives you? Did you enjoy the Hunger Games as a child? Then you are hereby invited to a literary feast, orchestrated by Dimly Lit. The main course features the novel Parable of the Sower: Earthseed #1 by Octavia E. Butler. The story captures a not-so-distant future in America in which climate change, economic crisis, and political corruption reign. The protagonist, Lauren Olamina, lives on the fringes of Los Angeles in a neighborhood threatened by pyromaniacs and gangs that quickly force her away from her familiar world. To make matters more complicated, Lauren has hyperempathy, a condition that forces her to share the physical pain of others around her. Accompanied by other survivors from her community, she begins to venture north. As she does, she begins to share what she thinks might be the start of a new path forward, a new religion even… Earthseed.
In elevator pitch fashion, I can leave it at this: Octavia Butler’s book The Parable of the Sower is a quickly fulfilling prophecy. It paints a picture of the year 2024; California is decimated by wildfires, jobs that pay a living wage are nonexistent, and water is only available to the wealthy. Published in the year 1993, this work of eco-fiction looks hauntingly like our world today as well as where it’s heading. Have we arrived on the fourth floor yet?
To add some additional context, I think it’s important to highlight the author of this novel. Octavia E. Butler was a general and absolute badass. She wrote sci-fi and dystopian novels; the general consensus being they’re all absolute page turners. Her books and short stories bring light to Black injustice, the climate crisis, and women’s rights. Butler lives on through her works and continues to influence literary movements such as Afrofuturism, feminism, science-fiction and ecofiction.
I thought this book was a fitting feature for this month’s collection because it pretty much nails this month’s theme, Rot. In fact, it zooms in on the subject in high def., i.e.: dead bodies depicted decaying on abandoned highways. It’s not just the physical decay that brought this book to mind. Butler also gives us governments, social structures, and religions that are decomposing. And much like the natural cycle of decay, Butler also plants the seed (lame pun intended) for what can grow amidst the breakdown.
Now that you have a little background information on the book, I present to you the special pairing menu for the literary feast and an exclusive interview with Dimly Lit's Chef.
An Interview with the Chef:
Shanley: What’s the flavor pallet of this book?
Chef: The flavor pallet of this book is a complex one. It contains notes of char, grit, and smoked salts: the kind you put on a tender steak. It brings new flavor and nuance to everything else that’s sitting on your plate.
S: What time of day is it best enjoyed?
C: Whenever existential dread won’t get the best of you. I didn’t pick this one up between meetings, but I did spend many Saturdays and Sundays ripping through the pages.
S: What album or movie soundtrack does this book pair best with?
C: The Backbone video game soundtrack. That video game itself received some criticism, but that album has some serious strap-on-your-combat-boots dystopian vibes. It also features Arooj Aftab, whose music I adore. Sidenote, any Aftab album or collaboration makes for great background music for writing, if any writers need tunes to fuel their sessions.
S: Who shouldn't I recommend this book to?
C: Your aunt who prefers Hallmark movies. She’ll likely be oblivious or overwhelmed by the environmental narratives throughout the book, which are spookily similar to the climate crisis we face today. Violence and despair emerge on every page: dogs are shot, babies are stolen, and no character can be trusted. The American government is undergoing its political demise. Oh, and the main character is a teenage girl, Lauren Olamina, who leaves the Baptist church in order to create her own religion. Sorry, Aunt Sarah, not your cup of tea!
S: Well, thanks so much for giving us a sneak peek into this literary feast.
C: You're welcome. Thanks for taking the time to highlight my menu. I hope any readers that choose to partake in the evening enjoy the experience!
Shanley Smith resides in Holland, Michigan where she spends her days writing, teaching, advocating for the environment, and walking her dog. She proudly serves as Dimly Lit's head editor and founder.