nhoa_book_nook's review against another edition
3.0
⭐3.5⭐
A ver... ni un pero le pongo a la pluma de Octavia. Esta señora es una artista y una visionaria. Sin embargo me he desconectado de esta lectura en varías ocasiones... hay mucha información que procesar y a veces te pierdes la emoción de la historia por estar pendiente de los conceptos.
De hecho la lectura me ha llevado mucho más tiempo del habitual en mi...
No obstante es una historia interesantísima, por momento realmente impactante. Recomiendo mucho su lectura a cualquier amante de la ciencia ficción.
A ver... ni un pero le pongo a la pluma de Octavia. Esta señora es una artista y una visionaria. Sin embargo me he desconectado de esta lectura en varías ocasiones... hay mucha información que procesar y a veces te pierdes la emoción de la historia por estar pendiente de los conceptos.
De hecho la lectura me ha llevado mucho más tiempo del habitual en mi...
No obstante es una historia interesantísima, por momento realmente impactante. Recomiendo mucho su lectura a cualquier amante de la ciencia ficción.
meghanlpickett's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
genhuggins's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jemofjam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
emmyella's review
4.0
Three books that fit into one condensed volume, they are far too entwined for one to exist, be read singularly, without the others. Aliens, the human spirit, self-destruction, genetic inevitability, racism, tentacle sex, so much more. Im impressed by Butlers ability to create an entire species that feels real enough I was often considering the moral questions (or sometimes certainties) she posed as if they were, well, real! The genuine personalities she built and the social structure that resembles parts of our own, but in other ways is entirely foreign.
I found myself agreeing with Lilith in most cases, and I know if I were to be placed in that situation I would stay with the Oankali. There was so much back and forth in my head- is it wrong to force humans to mate with this alien species or be exiled as infertiles? Is it wrong to force humans to make hybrid babies against their wills? it simply what must be done? The human race was doomed without Oankali influence, and I knew that if this species really existed I couldn't begin to comprehend reading genes as clearly as I can read the world of color and light and sound around me and feeling Certain beyond doubt that the human race would be doomed again if left to their own devices??? So much to consider.
The resistant humans were often cruel, violent, and patriarchal. I felt embarrassed by their actions as if they reflected my own somehow, like I am forced to chose a side in this fictional world and "my people" are the wrong side to chose. So much complexity... I cant detail even half of the thoughts I had while reading all 750 something pages. I felt disgusted alongside the other humans by the tentacles and the sensory hands and all that probing. Other times, I was drawn in by Butlers sensual and beautiful descriptions of intimacy that made reading about alien x human organisms far from trashy. It was sexy and passionate, full of genuine emotion. So much detail within her human and nonhuman characters that I couldn't always find her own perspectives and opinions, which is truly a relief after being stuck with so many author insert sci-fis. She was lilith, and she was Nikanj and she was the staunchest resister.
I was sometimes upset by her outdated depictions of gender and the nature of men and women. In this novel, all women have an innate desire to procreate, and men are basically all the same archetype with slight cultural variations. As a gay person, I understand why we were not included in this narrative, but I felt that exploring that could have been an interesting inclusion. What about the humans who didn't want to resist the Oankali and live away in the jungle but also didnt have any interest in rearing children? What would that have looked like? I can see why she chose to simply her human characters a bit, but it was a little frustrating at times.
Much of the rape that occurred at the hands of human men made me align myself strongly with the Oankali and their peaceful ways. I felt significant comfort in the prospect of a species that would go out of their way to avoid causing any pain whatsoever, with an upmost respect for life and a desire to bring pleasure to all others. Thats such a wonderful concept I found myself forgiving their accidental ignorance towards the will of humans. Do we REALLY deserve a second chance at repopulating earth, or any planet for that matter? The beauty of humanity could be found in any of the construct children, it isnt like the Oankali destroyed any chance at preserving the human spirit. I'm conflicted, which makes this book all the more enjoyable.
Overall, I recommend it. Its weird and cold at first, its long and drawn out and tells a multi-generational story, its irresistible. the oankali are a truly interesting concept and I feel lucky to have gotten the chance to read about them and their culture.
I found myself agreeing with Lilith in most cases, and I know if I were to be placed in that situation I would stay with the Oankali. There was so much back and forth in my head- is it wrong to force humans to mate with this alien species or be exiled as infertiles? Is it wrong to force humans to make hybrid babies against their wills? it simply what must be done? The human race was doomed without Oankali influence, and I knew that if this species really existed I couldn't begin to comprehend reading genes as clearly as I can read the world of color and light and sound around me and feeling Certain beyond doubt that the human race would be doomed again if left to their own devices??? So much to consider.
The resistant humans were often cruel, violent, and patriarchal. I felt embarrassed by their actions as if they reflected my own somehow, like I am forced to chose a side in this fictional world and "my people" are the wrong side to chose. So much complexity... I cant detail even half of the thoughts I had while reading all 750 something pages. I felt disgusted alongside the other humans by the tentacles and the sensory hands and all that probing. Other times, I was drawn in by Butlers sensual and beautiful descriptions of intimacy that made reading about alien x human organisms far from trashy. It was sexy and passionate, full of genuine emotion. So much detail within her human and nonhuman characters that I couldn't always find her own perspectives and opinions, which is truly a relief after being stuck with so many author insert sci-fis. She was lilith, and she was Nikanj and she was the staunchest resister.
I was sometimes upset by her outdated depictions of gender and the nature of men and women. In this novel, all women have an innate desire to procreate, and men are basically all the same archetype with slight cultural variations. As a gay person, I understand why we were not included in this narrative, but I felt that exploring that could have been an interesting inclusion. What about the humans who didn't want to resist the Oankali and live away in the jungle but also didnt have any interest in rearing children? What would that have looked like? I can see why she chose to simply her human characters a bit, but it was a little frustrating at times.
Much of the rape that occurred at the hands of human men made me align myself strongly with the Oankali and their peaceful ways. I felt significant comfort in the prospect of a species that would go out of their way to avoid causing any pain whatsoever, with an upmost respect for life and a desire to bring pleasure to all others. Thats such a wonderful concept I found myself forgiving their accidental ignorance towards the will of humans. Do we REALLY deserve a second chance at repopulating earth, or any planet for that matter? The beauty of humanity could be found in any of the construct children, it isnt like the Oankali destroyed any chance at preserving the human spirit. I'm conflicted, which makes this book all the more enjoyable.
Overall, I recommend it. Its weird and cold at first, its long and drawn out and tells a multi-generational story, its irresistible. the oankali are a truly interesting concept and I feel lucky to have gotten the chance to read about them and their culture.
chantelbrenna's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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
5.0
nickel_is_neat's review
2.0
I thought the morals were highly engaging, but both the writing style and plot points were not for me.
dbrooklyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Very interesting premise for a story, humanity has destroyed itself and the Earth, then is saved by an alien race, the Oankali. In order to save humanity, it is fundamentally changed by being incorporated into the Oankali. Lots of interesting issues to consider through these three books