Good ideas are few and far between, especially in the polluted waters of popular fiction. Occasionally one manages to surface, and if given the right boost and supporting cast, it can affect those who come across it and maybe even change lives.

Octavia E. Butler has stumbled upon one of those good ideas in her 10th novel, Parable of the Sower-(Four Walls Eight Windows), but has managed to distort it with unnecessary and self-righteous excess.

Set in the shaky genre of science fiction -- where space monsters and sorcerers are more frequent than ground-shaking truths -- Butler has created a startling look at the not-so-distant future, a vision that could easily become a reality. She uses the sci-fi medium but avoids the familiar doomsday cliches.

Butler's 21st century America is a crime and drug-ridden wasteland where a few poverty-stricken walled communities try to hold off the inevitable scavengers and gangs, as well as strung-out pyromaniacs. Her America of tomorrow is plagued by environmental and economic hazards created by mankind, without the natural disaster or nuclear war most science fiction tales use.

This pessimistic foresight is not so unusual, but Butler's uncanny portrait of denial stands out. Her heroine's diary displays the stubborn attitude and lack of acceptance that caused this predicament.

Butler also subtly touches on less familiar sci-fi topics such as race and gender, staying true to her status as a black female writer.

Unfortunately, Butler also brings in a few uncomplimentary elements that clutter the story. Her main character, 18-year-old Lauren Olamina, sees the reality of her world, but instead of simply trying to educate and prepare others, she creates a new religion based on a polymorphic vision of God.

Lauren begins each chapter with long-winded verses from her "Earthseed" religion and tries to convert everyone she meets. The premise of "Earth-seed" isn't too terrible -- a lifestyle accepting continual and endless change. But its corniness sharply contrasts Butler's initial objectives.

Lauren also has hyperempathy, a condition than causes her to feel the emotions of others. Although hyperempathy is an interesting concept, it doesn't affect the plot and distances Butler's visions from the present.

In spite of herself, Butler manages to relay an invaluable lesson about society's destination. Even with its cutesy quasi-utopoian ending, when Lauren and her ragged followers set up shop and live off the land, Parable of the Sower has much to offer.