This will come as no shock to most of you, but every video I have ever made about the Parable of the Sower (Octavia Butler) has started going viral again since January 20th. Which, you know...makes sense. Cause you know what they say: we all hate spoilers until we find out the story is about the end of the world.

For those of you who aren't familiar, Parable of the Sower is set in a post-apocalyptic world where climate change and oligarchs have partnered together to bring society to its knees. The middle class have become the poor and the poor have been driven to choose between near-slavery, crime and death. Society has all but collapsed and those who want to survive must hide behind armored walls to keep their children alive or surrender their freedom to malevolent corporations masquerading as humanity's last hope.

The story follows Lauren, a sixteen-year-old Black girl who is uncomfortable with how willing her community is to just accept their fate as it comes. She believes that the future depends on them adapting to their crumbling world and unraveling the ideologies and worldviews that lead to them destroying it in the first place. While the adults around her are desperate to preserve whatever pieces of their life and society that they can, Lauren is focused on reimaging what society, faith and community can look like. She knows that their way of life is not sustainable. Even if their jobs remain steady and their community remains diligent, when the world's destruction is happening by design, there is no outrunning it. There is only adapting enough to break free of the structures that are crumbling around you. Her goal is not to endure, but to reject the design altogether by setting her community on a different path.

I won't lie to you: Parable is a hard read. Especially now. Because Octavia Butler was not just imagining how bad things could get. She was looking at the history of America and predicting, with uncomfortable accuracy, exactly how bad it is designed to get. As we watch her exploring the collapse of her society, it is hard not to see the parallels to the world we currently live in. In fact, in its sequel--Parable of the Talents--there is even a hardline Christian nationalist campaigning for the presidency on the promise of religious extremism and the slogan, "Make America Great Again." This book is an uncomfortable--and for many, unwelcome--look at not just the worst possible future for America, but the one that our current systems of oppression have designed for it.

I share this for two reasons.

First, because I think these two books--Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents--are incredibly important stories that I think everyone should read. And Secondly, because I currently have FIVE copies sitting on my living room table, so... let's do a giveaway.

Here is what you need to know:

• This giveaway was funded by one of my subscribers who wishes to remain anonymous

• To be eligible for this giveaway, you must be subscribed to this Bindery community (All tiers are eligible, including the FREE tier) and living in the United States

• To enter, drop a comment letting me know your favorite Dystopian story (or one you'd like to read)

• For an extra entry, upgrade or subscribe at the $5 tier or higher

• I will be drawing all five winners at random this Friday, February 28th and will contact the winner via email to coordinate delivery

As you know, this community is not only focused on reading incredible books...but also publishing them. And that work takes meaningful community and real help. If you are not already subscribed, please consider doing so. If possible, at the $5 or $12 tier, to help us fund these projects. Our first will launch this October, and if you subscribe at the $12 tier within the next few weeks, your name will be listed in that project on a dedicated thank you page. So make sure you upgrade right away if that recognition appeals to you! Thanks!