A review by literaturesciencealliance
Survivor by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous hopeful 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

4.0

I can see why this would be a work Octavia Butler would not want in her cannon, although I still find it to be a pretty enjoyable story. I enjoyed the format of once again having a past timeline and present timeline side by side to keep the pace moving along. I do think it was pushing against some tropes that existed in the 70s and 80s around humans interacting with "primitive" alien cultures but also is not perfect. I enjoyed the love story and was surprised that it was similar to a beauty and the beast retelling, which is not something I would expect in a Butler work. I think all of these things are probably why she eventually disavowed it but I enjoyed the story and seeing the work in all its messiness. I found the Kohn species interesting and although the one push against colorism and genetic rights to be strong was the villain I felt other parts of their creation and study were really interesting. Alanna is a really interesting character to follow as a mixed race person, an adoptee and then a hostage and how she uses her learned instincts to survive. There is more good than bad in this one and I am glad I was able to get a hold of it.