Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - Adulthood Rites

Octavia Butler's second in the Xeongenesis/Lilith's Brood series does not disappoint. The series itself, about humanity's last hope for survival is to join with the alien species that rescues it, continues to show humanity at its best and worst. Great sci-fi/speculative fiction uses the genre to explore modern issues. Here Butler succeeds. What's even better, she doesn't choose sides. Well, not really. People who resist the aliens and those who join them are both shown in as compassionate a way as possible. We are merely spectators in their struggle. We don't get to decide, we get to watch.

The people she gives compassion to are people I wouldn't think deserve it. As the resistors continue to live long lives, they increasingly become violent against each other and the aliens, kidnapping their children, other resistor villages' women and supplies. The story follows Akin, Lilith's human born son, as he tries to find a solution for them. These people aren't painted as monsters for the most part. Some are, but the majority of the people who want to stay human and be human and do cruel things are given more layers and are more complex than I expected.

Overall, the writing is wonderful. It flows and makes sense. Whether we can see what happens coming or not, it's fun to live in the prose. What's hard is the view that having children is what keeps humans going and give them purpose. Like I get it, but it would have been interesting to see some of the resistor villages explore creativity, plays, music, etc. Would that have changed? If humans who resist the alien assistance aren't able to reproduce, what life would people make? What would society be without kids, in general? Are humans designed to self-destruct?

All great things here to explore. Other topics for future justin to think about: Gender spectrum with the Oankali; polyamorous relationships only in the construct/alien culture; Does it matter that some form of humanity would continue? How would queer people fair in this world?

Looking forward to finishing this series and seeing where Ms. Butler takes it.

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

There is just so much to chew on in this world! I really appreciated the reprise of a couple characters from Dawn.
The story starts a bit slow but quickly hits pace once the narrator grows.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only disappointment I’ll note is that we don’t hear much from Lilith in this book. But Akin is a superb character as well.
And there is so much to grab onto besides past characters; from Oankali-Human constructs to life back on Earth, this book hits enough untied plot points from Dawn to stay satisfying.
Not only was this an enjoyable read, but it also pushed me to interrogate and widen my paradigms about humanity and our collective future. Thank you Octavia Butler.

Content Warnings