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Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:The futures of both mankind and an alien species rest in the hands of one hybrid son in the award-winning science fiction author's masterful sequel to Dawn. Nuclear war had nearly destroyed mankind when the Oankali came to the rescue, saving humanity�but at a price. The Oankali survive by mixing their DNA with that of other species, and now on Earth they have permitted no child to be born without an Oankali parent. The first true hybrid is a boy named Akin�son of Lilith Iyapo� and to the naked eye he looks human, for now. He is born with extraordinary sensory powers, understanding speech at birth, speaking in sentences at two months old, and soon developing the ability to see at the molecular level. More powerful than any human or Oankali, he will be the architect of both races' intergalactic future. But before he can carry this new species into the stars, Akin must decide which unlucky souls will stay behind. At once a coming-of-age story, science fiction adventure, and philosophical exploration, Butler's ambitious and breathtaking novel ultimately raises the question of what it means to be human. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Octavia E. Butler including rare images from the author's estate.… (more)
User reviews
Shortly after humanity destroyed itself in war, the Oankali arrived and rescued the few remaining fragments doomed for extinction. However, their actions weren't entirely altruistic--they plan on genetically merging with the surviving Humans in order to continue their own race. Akin is the first Human-born male construct to exist. Genetically engineered, he is both Human and Oankali, an important link in the creation of the next generation. Kidnapped as a young child by Human resisters, he is forced early on to confront and understand what makes the Humans so dangerous and yet so appealing to the Oankali. Ultimately, he may be the only hope for the Human race's survival.
Even when the narrative perspective changes to another character, the book is still very intimately about Akin. His importance to the Humans (both resisters and partners) and the Oankali is paramount to the novel. As a Human-Oankali construct, Akin must earn acceptance from others, but even more so he must learn to accept both sides of his heritage. One of the things that I liked so much about Dawn is that the characters weren't static and changed as the novel progressed--particularly Lilith (Akin's mother). Unfortunately, Akin seemed to stay very much the same person throughout Adulthood Rites despite his traumatic experiences and his eventual dramatic physical transformation. The Oankali are very strange, and Butler captures this superbly. I'm not sure if it's because I took so long between threading the first and second books, but some details did seem inconsistent--but I could just be misremembering. Sometimes it seemed like Butler was just making things up as she went along, especially in regards to Oankali culture. Then again they are supposed to be truly bizarre from the perspective of a Human.
While the book didn't capture me quite as much as Dawn, Adulthood Rites still explores a plethora of engaging ideas. Much of the novelty of Oankali gender relationships has worn off, but their relationships with Humans continue to be tense, uncomfortable, and a little creepy. Butler's style in Xenogenesis is very direct with very little superfluous description. I really wish that I hadn't waited so long between books because of this; many important elements and details were lost or forgotten. I definitely will be picking up the last book in the trilogy, Imago, sooner rather than later.
Experiments in Reading
Although this is a middle book from a trilogy there was no feeling that it was a bridging beween the start and end of a story that you sometimes get in such cases. I think the switching of primary character certainly helped with this and Akin's tale is certainly an interesting one. As with the previous volume there are a lot of important questions being asked throughout the story but the main theme for this time around is identity. Can a child born into two very different cultures be truly accepted by either. Would it be right to choose one over the other. If he can help bring a greater understanding between them then is it his duty to try? This is a book that expands on the Oankali vision hinted at in the first of the series providing a much greater insight into their culture but also looks at whether the human race is destined for extinction without some kind of intervention for the path it's taking, Are we destined to ultimately destroy ourselves? This is another enjoyable and thought provoking entry into the series and I'm looking forward to reaching its conclusion in the third book.
Pros: Writing, Characters, Plot
Cons: N/A
Overall Recommendation:
This book in my opinion is better than Dawn. It could just be because I like the outcome more in this book than the other. But I would recommend this book to anyone that has read the first. But it is important that the books are read in order, so of the important themes and events are needed to make the story make flow accurately.
So
But it's also out of character that they would never look for him in the one resister village that they were most familiar with. What the hell! And they seem really good at finding their way around. Based on every characterization of Oankali up to that point, they would have zero trouble tracking down Akin.
I think I'm going to go down to four stars on this book. It was great, but I do not appreciate such a terrible plot hole. It's like Butler knew there was no way Akin would be left that long, so she tried to handwave it away.
Still highly recommended.
This is very inventive sci fi, with extensive world building- Butler created a species, the Oankali, that is very complex, and she is really thoughtful about lots of details around how they live, procreate, heal, etc.
One of the challenges of
Butler doesn't do that. She rather has characters spend long paragraphs explaining to each other or in inner monologues all the rules of the society and all the powers that the Oankali have. And in the end, that's why I find these books a little unsatisfying. The books are too filled up with world-building explanation, and there isn't enough room to make the characters interesting.
So the story is cool, the Oankali are a fascinating society, but I don't love the writing.
Anyway, this book follows the childhood and growth of Akin, a child of Lilith and the first male Oankali-human "construct". He is kidnapped early on, as a baby, by human "resistors", those who choose not to join the Oankali in their project and who are therefore made infertile.
A different spin on this could have been following plucky humans struggling to take control back from the Oankali, but that's basically a non-starter, as the Oankali are too superior in every way. So it's about Akin growing up and struggling with how to deal with the Resistors.
It takes a pretty dim view of human nature - humans have already destroyed the world with nuclear war once, and they basically stay unreasonable and violent here too.
Quick read anyway, and I'll be checking out the last book in the trilogy. But I find Butler's sci fi to be just OK.
I'm enjoying the series, and the author gets the reader thinking about the content - if only all scifi was as good!
But, having said that, this second
But I'll be back for the final volume.
This is book 2 of the Xenogenesis series, developing the theme of a post-apocalyptic world, where the few surviving humans are saved and genetically adapted by the alien Oankali. This species
In this second book, the first of the human/Oankali hybrids are born, and have to bridge the gap between the two parent species. The first male is a danger to both species, and himself.