Space Colonization and Earthseed

If you’ve never seen the utopian space-colony art of the 1970’s (or if you just want to look at it again), try searching “Stanford torus” or “O’Neill cylinder.”  These hypothetical space colonies were not just about futuristic technologies — they were about happy, beautiful communities with pollution-free parks and farmlands. Combine a utopian vision like this with the excitement of exploring the frontier of space and sparking countless new civilizations, and it’s not hard to see how Lauren Olamina might be drawn to space colonization when she creates the new religion of Earthseed. This goal for Earthseed — “the Destiny” — is an especially appropriate choice for Lauren in particular.  Although she grew up with religion, Lauren has a non-supernatural world view.  For her, space colonization offers an alternative version of heaven that feels true. 

The role of space colonization in Parable of the Sower is both important and incidental. It is important for Lauren to have an inspirational, long-term vision for humanity to guide her through almost unimaginably difficult times. But in many ways, it is incidental that this vision happens to be space colonization. Lauren’s companions are not drawn to her for this reason. They crave community and they crave purpose, but that purpose could be many different things. Indeed, there is almost no discussion of space colonization in the novel at all…other than that it happens to be the Destiny of Earthseed.

I have a love-hate relationship with space colonies.  As an astrophysicist and something of an introvert, I am drawn to the technology and to the escapism fantasy of the utopian space-colony vision.  In fact, for many years I taught a course on space colonization.  And there are specific, practical reasons to expand into space despite the expense — for example, developing long-term defenses against Earth-threatening asteroids.  But is there really something intrinsically utopian about space colonies? Even with environmental problems on Earth, isn’t it likely to be more difficult to create a safe and comfortable living environment in outer space?  And isn’t it likely that the problems of inequality, corruption, and disease would continue regardless of colonization?

In the context of Parable of the Sower, the message may be that inspiration has its own value, regardless of its source.  It doesn’t matter that Lauren chooses this specific Destiny — it could equally well have been some other vision for the progress of humanity.  At the same time, it leads to the exciting and personal question of what we would choose instead.  What does each of us find compelling about this Destiny, and more generally, about the God-is-change concept of Earthseed?  Would it be better, for example, to have a goal that is entirely focused on improving conditions on Earth?  If so, exactly what could that goal be?