Monday, November 06, 2006
book report: Fledgling
Fledgling
by Octavia Butler
This is the last book published by Octavia Butler before her death, sadly. It's a creative vampire novel, about a young female vampire with dark skin who can tolerate exposure to sunlight. In Butler's concept of the vampire myth, vampires are a separate species from humans that have special abilities. The main character is a hybrid of vampire and human parents who has strengths from both races.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was similar enough to existing vampire stories that I could enjoy it as a familiar retread, but it also had unique ideas that made it more interesting. As usual with Butler's books, there were characteristics that made me a bit uncomfortable... like the sexual bond between the vampires and their human companions, and the fact that the main character had the appearance of a pre-pubescent girl but still had sexual relationships with her companions.
I would've liked to read more stories in this series. It's so sad that Octavia Butler died in such an untimely fashion.
by Octavia Butler
This is the last book published by Octavia Butler before her death, sadly. It's a creative vampire novel, about a young female vampire with dark skin who can tolerate exposure to sunlight. In Butler's concept of the vampire myth, vampires are a separate species from humans that have special abilities. The main character is a hybrid of vampire and human parents who has strengths from both races.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was similar enough to existing vampire stories that I could enjoy it as a familiar retread, but it also had unique ideas that made it more interesting. As usual with Butler's books, there were characteristics that made me a bit uncomfortable... like the sexual bond between the vampires and their human companions, and the fact that the main character had the appearance of a pre-pubescent girl but still had sexual relationships with her companions.
I would've liked to read more stories in this series. It's so sad that Octavia Butler died in such an untimely fashion.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
book report: Imago
Imago
by Octavia Butler
With the untimely passing of Octavia Butler, I plan to read more of her work. I both enjoyed and was repulsed by the Xenogenesis series, of which "Imago" is the third and final installment. I wrote about Book 2 here, and Book 1 here.
In this book, another one of Lilith's hybrid children, Jodahs, undergoes metamorphosis to adulthood and discovers that he is growing up to be an ooloi. The ooloi is the third sex of the Oankali race, and controls the reproductive capacity of the species. Jodahs leaves his family and runs into a secret human population. Due a genetic mutation, these people have been able to reproduce sexually, but the inbreeding has resulted in severe genetic disorders. Jodahs attempts to forge a connection with the secret population, in order to become a part of it.
This story is kind of an analogy for the larger story of the Oankali takeover of Earth. While Jodahs' intentions are not evil, the humans are not so sure they want any part of the trade he offers them.
I think I liked this book the best of the three. It was easier to focus on the idea of hybridization and the sacrifices demanded of the human population when it was taking place on an individual-to-individual level. And Jodahs seemed to grapple with the implications in a more personal, accessible way.
by Octavia Butler
With the untimely passing of Octavia Butler, I plan to read more of her work. I both enjoyed and was repulsed by the Xenogenesis series, of which "Imago" is the third and final installment. I wrote about Book 2 here, and Book 1 here.
In this book, another one of Lilith's hybrid children, Jodahs, undergoes metamorphosis to adulthood and discovers that he is growing up to be an ooloi. The ooloi is the third sex of the Oankali race, and controls the reproductive capacity of the species. Jodahs leaves his family and runs into a secret human population. Due a genetic mutation, these people have been able to reproduce sexually, but the inbreeding has resulted in severe genetic disorders. Jodahs attempts to forge a connection with the secret population, in order to become a part of it.
This story is kind of an analogy for the larger story of the Oankali takeover of Earth. While Jodahs' intentions are not evil, the humans are not so sure they want any part of the trade he offers them.
I think I liked this book the best of the three. It was easier to focus on the idea of hybridization and the sacrifices demanded of the human population when it was taking place on an individual-to-individual level. And Jodahs seemed to grapple with the implications in a more personal, accessible way.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
Thursday, January 12, 2006
book report: Adulthood Rites
Adulthood Rites
by Octavia Butler
This is book 2 of the Xenogenesis series. I wrote about book 1 here.
In book 2, we follow events in the life of Akin, one of Lilith's alien/human hybrid children. Akin is quite human in outward appearance, but has several Oankali "upgrades", like the ability to sense chemical changes, poisons, and so forth with his sensory tentacles (conveniently located in his tongue). When Akin is still quite small, he is kidnapped by renegade humans who have rejected interbreeding with the Oankali. As a result, they cannot bear human children of their own, and are desparate to build their families by any means possible. Akin meets other hybrid children who have been kidnapped by the renegades on his journey... which is a dark and sad one.
Butler seems to make a pretty grim statement about human motivations. While Lilith and some of her human companions have accepted their symbiosis with their Oankali partners, they are not especially happy about the compromise they have made. And the renegades seem downright vicious in their pursuit of "pure" human existence... which I guess is probably quite realistic. Humans often do turn ugly when faced with something unfamiliar.
by Octavia Butler
This is book 2 of the Xenogenesis series. I wrote about book 1 here.
In book 2, we follow events in the life of Akin, one of Lilith's alien/human hybrid children. Akin is quite human in outward appearance, but has several Oankali "upgrades", like the ability to sense chemical changes, poisons, and so forth with his sensory tentacles (conveniently located in his tongue). When Akin is still quite small, he is kidnapped by renegade humans who have rejected interbreeding with the Oankali. As a result, they cannot bear human children of their own, and are desparate to build their families by any means possible. Akin meets other hybrid children who have been kidnapped by the renegades on his journey... which is a dark and sad one.
Butler seems to make a pretty grim statement about human motivations. While Lilith and some of her human companions have accepted their symbiosis with their Oankali partners, they are not especially happy about the compromise they have made. And the renegades seem downright vicious in their pursuit of "pure" human existence... which I guess is probably quite realistic. Humans often do turn ugly when faced with something unfamiliar.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
Monday, November 07, 2005
book forty-nine
Dawn
by Octavia Butler
This is the first book in the "Xenogenesis" trilogy. It's extremely creative in concept - Earth has been invaded by an alien race, the Oankali. The aliens have removed humans from the planet and put them into suspended animation on their vast, world-like ship. The first woman who is awoken by the aliens is Lilith. The Oankali hope she will become a leader, a sort of ambassador between the humans and the aliens. To that end, Lilith is integrated into a group of aliens and lives alongside them for a period of time. She eventually agrees to the ambassador role the aliens have suggested, and chooses a group of humans to awaken from suspended animation. It doesn't go especially well, and Lilith is in an unfortunate position between the aliens and the rest of the humans. What the humans don't seem to understand is that the aliens have made them sterile, and without the participation of the Oankali, humanity cannot reproduce any longer.
Honestly, the book is pretty creepy. The Oankali are not the typical scifi aliens who look like pretty much like humans - they are covered with sensory tentacles, lack eyes, ears, and noses, and some of them have four arms. They're described as being unsettling for humans to look at, which makes Lilith's sexual contact with one of them kind of ooky to read about. I have to give credit to Butler for being so original, though - she managed to get under my skin with this imaginary species, and that shows a gift. I'll post about the other two books in the trilogy as well.
by Octavia Butler
This is the first book in the "Xenogenesis" trilogy. It's extremely creative in concept - Earth has been invaded by an alien race, the Oankali. The aliens have removed humans from the planet and put them into suspended animation on their vast, world-like ship. The first woman who is awoken by the aliens is Lilith. The Oankali hope she will become a leader, a sort of ambassador between the humans and the aliens. To that end, Lilith is integrated into a group of aliens and lives alongside them for a period of time. She eventually agrees to the ambassador role the aliens have suggested, and chooses a group of humans to awaken from suspended animation. It doesn't go especially well, and Lilith is in an unfortunate position between the aliens and the rest of the humans. What the humans don't seem to understand is that the aliens have made them sterile, and without the participation of the Oankali, humanity cannot reproduce any longer.
Honestly, the book is pretty creepy. The Oankali are not the typical scifi aliens who look like pretty much like humans - they are covered with sensory tentacles, lack eyes, ears, and noses, and some of them have four arms. They're described as being unsettling for humans to look at, which makes Lilith's sexual contact with one of them kind of ooky to read about. I have to give credit to Butler for being so original, though - she managed to get under my skin with this imaginary species, and that shows a gift. I'll post about the other two books in the trilogy as well.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
book thirty-eight
(In case you're wondering: I heard about this LiveJournal meme - basically, read 50 books this year and blog about it.)
Kindred
by Octavia Butler
I had never read any of Octavia Butler's work, even though several people have mentioned her to me as a terrific science fiction writer. I ran across her name when I was doing some research on minority writers for my multicultural class, and even though I wasn't going to write a paper on her work, I went ahead and checked out one of her books anyway.
It was really good. The main character is a Black woman named Dana who finds herself travelling in time, back to the time of her slave ancestors and their white master. The master's son apparently has the ability to summon Dana for his own protection - she only appears in the past when his life is in danger. And Dana can only return to the present when her own life is threatened.
It's a powerful book, combining a novel sci-fi idea with an intimate look at slavery and race relations in the wake of it. I'm definitley going to look for more of her work.
Kindred
by Octavia Butler
I had never read any of Octavia Butler's work, even though several people have mentioned her to me as a terrific science fiction writer. I ran across her name when I was doing some research on minority writers for my multicultural class, and even though I wasn't going to write a paper on her work, I went ahead and checked out one of her books anyway.
It was really good. The main character is a Black woman named Dana who finds herself travelling in time, back to the time of her slave ancestors and their white master. The master's son apparently has the ability to summon Dana for his own protection - she only appears in the past when his life is in danger. And Dana can only return to the present when her own life is threatened.
It's a powerful book, combining a novel sci-fi idea with an intimate look at slavery and race relations in the wake of it. I'm definitley going to look for more of her work.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
