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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said....
I love this series. It's hard to put down. Fascinating world.
An excellent second book in this series. Definitely a different feel than book one, which, in a way, is refreshing for a trilogy.
I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first. Perhaps the originality of the concept introduced in Dawn so fascinated and enthralled me, and the follow-up didn't carry that same element of surprise. It is still surprising, and new, and distinct. These books stand out for their originality in this genre, and, well, in all genres.
One more book to complete the Xenogenesis cycle, and I'm part excited, part sad to finish this strange, stimulating journey.
I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first. Perhaps the originality of the concept introduced in Dawn so fascinated and enthralled me, and the follow-up didn't carry that same element of surprise. It is still surprising, and new, and distinct. These books stand out for their originality in this genre, and, well, in all genres.
One more book to complete the Xenogenesis cycle, and I'm part excited, part sad to finish this strange, stimulating journey.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“All people who know what it is to end should be allowed to continue if they can continue.”
3.5 stars. I forgot about this series for a while, and I'm super glad I came back to it. It's not everything I want out of sci-fi, and some of the themes and ideas have started to seem kinda reductive. But it's still a really original and engrossing story, and I'm fascinated by the ways Butler built this world and the species of the Oankali. We're not in a first contact situation anymore, and indeed new generations of people have been born and grown up, but because so many of the original players are still alive and still remember first contact, it creates a really interesting dynamic. A lot of the main conflicts remain the same: some humans don't want to be changed, refuse to be changed, and the Oankali on the other side are gently insisting that they must change, or they'll destroy themselves. The alien insistence on biology being a determinative factor in so many things is a little upsetting, but it is perhaps meant to be so. I love that we still have Lilith as a character, still nursing her mild bitterness amidst all the joy she has. And seeing Akin's growth from baby to young man was fascinating. He's the first non human character whose POV we really get to follow in the series, and it's really interesting, his different ways of thinking and seeing the world, and additionally, how circumstances and the outside world change what he might have originally been. Butler has a very plain and crisp writing style, which still manages to be emotionally dense, and I really like it.
I mostly read this, but listened to some parts via the audiobook as read by Aldrich Barrett, and I really liked it. I'm actually eager to finish the series, see what other characters and situations we'll meet.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
violence and murder, fire, rape (off page)“That's what Humans are, too, don't forget. People who poison each other, then disclaim all responsibility.”
This is such a weird and interesting series and I'm really enjoying it
“Trade means change. Bodies change. Ways of living must change. Did you think your children would only look different?”
Brilliant. There are so many deep and thought-provoking ideas here: what it means to be human, social structures, and subversive depictions of advanced, alien societies. Butler evokes complex, conflicted characters facing impossible decisions.
I'm excited for more of Butler's work.
Brilliant. There are so many deep and thought-provoking ideas here: what it means to be human, social structures, and subversive depictions of advanced, alien societies. Butler evokes complex, conflicted characters facing impossible decisions.
I'm excited for more of Butler's work.