Kari SmolanderJan 10, 2025
Leah Stokes
Cannot stop thinking about how Octavia Butler wrote a book in 1993 about climate change. It opens with deadly fires in LA in 2025. In the story, a fascist President has just won office with the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again." She was a modern day Nostradamus. If only we'd listened.
Jan 9, 2025 at 8:09pmWeb
Show threadbhaugenJan 9, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social
That is amazing! I looked it up and found this story that says it is becoming an opera composed and performed by a couple of my favorite musicians:
https://www.wusf.org/2023-07-14/octavia-butler-wrote-a-parable-that-became-a-prophecy-now-its-also-an-opera
Octavia Butler wrote a 'Parable' that became a prophecy — now it's also an opera

Octavia Butler's novel Parable of the Sower — depicting a dystopian U.S. in 2024 — was published 30 years ago. Toshi Reagon's new musical retelling explores the web of past, present and future.

WUSF
Show threadMichaelJan 9, 2025
@bhaugen @leahstokes.bsky.social
Show threadAndy TonksJan 10, 2025

@bismuth_egg @bhaugen @leahstokes.bsky.social
Looks like she picked up on the MAGA branding from the 1980 Reagan-Bush campaign

https://www.si.edu/object/button-ronald-reagan-1980%3Anmah_522618

Button, Ronald Reagan, 1980 | Smithsonian Institution

Show threadMisuse CaseJan 10, 2025

@leahstokes.bsky.social Only thing she got wrong is how much of a mess America would make of itself before it elected a fascist - the America depicted in the book is much worse for a larger number of people living in it.

It feels like she overestimated the patience and resolve of Americans overall, strangely enough.

Show threadJigme DatseJan 10, 2025
@[email protected] I really didn't want more confirmation that it was scarily close to reality (down to the year and all kinds of other details). Neither of those books were happy books (well I'm not sure any of her books are).
Show threadDagnabbit, Pascaline! 💥Jan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social
And even the name 'Donner' for that new president, reminding me of Donald. It's all so strange and wonderful.
Show threadEric SchutteJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social Found the book, I will read it.
A little part of it (in dutch) 👇🏼
Show threadGjalt-Jorn PetersJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social I guess some mistook a cautionary tale for a playbook 😬
Show threadmichaelpollakJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social I am scared to ask but have to - how does the book end? 
Show threadMike OBrienJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social wow! I didn’t know that. I’ll check it out
Show threadTeri Yaki 🖌️🎹🚲💻Jan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social donald sure did!
Show threadEat This PodcastJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social @PamelaSchure I reckon Cassandra is a better comparison, because the other person was pretty much a fraud. But yes
Show threadChris PurcellJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social my gf is reading this and coincidentally we watched Godspell the other day, which includes the parable of the sower. Interestingly, that parable is about hearing a message and not listening to it!
Show threadDave GoldsmithJan 10, 2025

@leahstokes.bsky.social

I just finished the two Parable stories-- yes, they are a cautionary tale about making communities to resist fascism. I'd say they are a must read for progressives right now.

Where are YOU going to go when the American Nazis come for you?

Show threadPhrankJan 10, 2025

@leahstokes.bsky.social I managed to persuade my book group to schedule this. That was before the fires started, so I'm really feeling the synchronicity.

I say more a modern day Cassandra - always spoke truth but rejected by her listeners.

Show threadChris JohnsonJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social Wow.
Show threadSeventeenth MagpieJan 10, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social I happened to start reading it last year and its sooooo good but oh my gosh if it isn't prescient!!
Show threadDavid JONESJan 11, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social I ordered this 3 months ago, and it is making its way to my library as we speak!
Show threadwoollypigsJan 11, 2025
@leahstokes.bsky.social I had to look up ti's author and found this brilliant article https://www.teenvogue.com/story/la-fires-arent-a-surprise-if-you-study-history-and-climate-change-now-what
The LA Fires Aren't a Surprise If You Study History and Climate Change. So Now What?

This Teen Vogue Take connects the work of the late sci-fi writer Octavia E. Butler to the Los Angeles fires that have so far burned through 35,000 acres.

Teen Vogue