ext_6119 (
b-writes.livejournal.com) wrote in
50books_poc2009-02-08 11:33 am
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#1: Dawn, Octavia Butler
Dawn is the first volume in a trilogy by Octavia Butler named first Xenogenesis and later Lilith's Brood, the second name being something of a spoiler.
Lilith Iyapo wakes, again and again, in a cold, featureless room. She is interrogated by unseen beings who ask her questions. Eventually, she learns that-- as she had feared-- the Earth has been made uninhabitable by nuclear war, and that-- as she had never suspect-- alien beings have take in the Earth's few survivors. They plan to repopulate the Earth with the few humans left. But they also have other desires, which only become clear as the novel continues.
The aliens want to blend their genetic materials with the humans; it is, they explain, the only way their species can continue. Lilith's confusion and mixed feelings, and her eventual willingness to work with the aliens (Oankali), become the focus of most of the book. The second third or so has Lilith training a small group of humans to inhabit the Earth to come. Things, as they so often do, don't go well, and the book concludes with a pregnant Lilith vowing to do better with the next group she trains.
There are some really nice details here; the multicultural cast, the way the humans initially react to Oankali with horror and revulsion because of their utter strangeness, the way the (never explicit) sexuality is expressed. Oankali have three genders: male, female, and ooloi, and none are dispensable, emotionally or for reproductive reasons.
There are bits that date the book too; rape comes up more often than I think it would had the book been written in 2007 rather than 1987, and homosexuality is only mentioned a few times, generally obliquely. (I am not quite sure what the Oankali would have done with homosexuals; maybe ignored them, maybe incorporated them somehow? But the question is never addressed; the few times homosexuality comes up is in the context of homophobia.)
Overall, it was excellent, but I want a break before I read the next book. Rebuilding humanity always exhausts me.
Lilith Iyapo wakes, again and again, in a cold, featureless room. She is interrogated by unseen beings who ask her questions. Eventually, she learns that-- as she had feared-- the Earth has been made uninhabitable by nuclear war, and that-- as she had never suspect-- alien beings have take in the Earth's few survivors. They plan to repopulate the Earth with the few humans left. But they also have other desires, which only become clear as the novel continues.
The aliens want to blend their genetic materials with the humans; it is, they explain, the only way their species can continue. Lilith's confusion and mixed feelings, and her eventual willingness to work with the aliens (Oankali), become the focus of most of the book. The second third or so has Lilith training a small group of humans to inhabit the Earth to come. Things, as they so often do, don't go well, and the book concludes with a pregnant Lilith vowing to do better with the next group she trains.
There are some really nice details here; the multicultural cast, the way the humans initially react to Oankali with horror and revulsion because of their utter strangeness, the way the (never explicit) sexuality is expressed. Oankali have three genders: male, female, and ooloi, and none are dispensable, emotionally or for reproductive reasons.
There are bits that date the book too; rape comes up more often than I think it would had the book been written in 2007 rather than 1987, and homosexuality is only mentioned a few times, generally obliquely. (I am not quite sure what the Oankali would have done with homosexuals; maybe ignored them, maybe incorporated them somehow? But the question is never addressed; the few times homosexuality comes up is in the context of homophobia.)
Overall, it was excellent, but I want a break before I read the next book. Rebuilding humanity always exhausts me.
Re: homosexuality in Xenogenesis
Re: homosexuality in Xenogenesis
I don't have more sympathy with writers who create a new species that is totally heteronormative. Heterosexuality is not more natural than homosexuality; the idea of either one being exclusive is just as much a social construct as monogamy. It's just a question of which social constructs you want to reproduce and which you want to challenge if you're creating an alien race; it's not like it's actually possible to imagine totally away from the human anyway.
I am in danger of derailing this conversation horribly, I'm sorry! I will go away and be quiet now. :)
Re: homosexuality in Xenogenesis
It occurs to me that it could wildly interesting, if you actually worked out what the hell sort of biology you'd need to have a sapient species that could only be heterosexual (given that same-sex sexuality seems to occur in all Earth mammals, many birds, etc., and that non-reproductive sexuality plays a huge role as a shaper and motivator of interactions), and what impact that would have on their society and culture.
You might end up with some very alien aliens. Then make the viewpoint character a queer human ...
Um, derailing, yes. Should we take this elsewhere?
Re: homosexuality in Xenogenesis
Re: homosexuality in Xenogenesis
But I will add (similarly to rydra_wong below): if the species is basically "Like humans, but everyone's straight" then I agree it's not better. But if the author actually explores how their sexuality differs and all the knock-on effects in their society that could be interesting. Although off the top of my head I'm having trouble thinking of any stories where the aliens are 100% heteronormative and the humans aren't which is where I think the interesting contrast would come up.