Young people who have read Octavia Butler’s 1993 novel say it’s not only prescient, but also carries lessons for today. She did not shy away from being “political.” Still, readers are left wondering what happens when science fiction resembles reality so uncannily. Within the first few pages of the novel, Lauren pulls readers into a bleak futuristic version of L.A.:None of us goes out to school any more. “All of Butler’s work focuses very specifically on hierarchical power and how it affects us. Early in the book, Lauren argues with her father on the privilege of being able to ignore something.